St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-16

but where it is now we don't know, but we
do know where it ought to be-that is, in the
Historical society, carefully preserved. In his
first issue the editor said: ssWe print and
issue the first number of the Pioneer in build
ing through which the outdoor is visible
by more than 500 apertures."
JAMES N. GooDHUE AS MAN.
James NJ. Goodhue, the first editor of the
first paper published in the state of Mime
sofa, was one of the finest paragraphistF
ever in the west He was a good sized man
given little to staggering motion when
he walked, but very quick in perception and
quick to act. He lad also deal of humor,
and vast amount of sarcasm, which was
plentifully applied when his angry pen set
out to chastise an enemy. Added to this
was an unqualified great courage, and an
indomitable will power. He early foresaw
the beauty and grandeur of Minnesota and
the probable greatness OF
ST. PAUL,
and never let an opportunity slip wherein he
did not paint their beauties. His industry
was untiring. The columns of his paper
showed this, and had he lived, he would have
been an immense power in the land OF his
adoption and man of great wealth. Withal
he was person Of impulse; quick to resent
what he deemed a wrong, and yet magnani
nous in his acts While in the discharge Of
what he considered his duties, he had occas-
ion to severely critcise two old citizens and
office holders, (Col. Mitchell and Judge
"copper" and this criticism brought on a
fight between Goodhue and the friends of
the latter.
THE FIGHT.
Williams, in his history, says: "Goodhue,
Immediately after the appearance of his
paper, had been in the legislature and started
down street in company with friend. After
leaving the building a few steps, they
met Joseph Cooper, a brother OF Judge e.,
who at once advanced and struck
at Goodhue. Both then drew pistols, Col
Goodhue having a single-barrel pistol and
Cooper revolver Some parleying ensued,
when Mr.. Cooper declared-"1'H blow your
Cd d. brains out" Sheriff Lull here
ran up and commanding the peace, disarmed
the parties, but it seems Cooper still retained
a knife, and Goodhue another pistol, with
which they renewed hostilities. Some one
epdeavored to hold GCodhue, which gave
Cooper an opportunity to stab him in the alb
domen slightly. Goodhue then broke away
and shot Cooper, inficting quite serious
wound. Cooper again rushed on Goodhue,
and stabbed him in the back, on the left side.
Both parties were then led away and their
wounds dressed, neither being fatally in
iured Col. Goodhue seems to have acted
on the defensive during the whole rencon-
tre." We will simply add, that while the
attack of Cooper was unjustifiable, the Ian
guage of Goodhue was also unjustifable, and
should never have been used.
Mr.. Goodhue was genial man in private
1ifa full of wit and humOr. an able editor a
stirring citizen, valued friend. Soon after
visiting st. Paul in 1854, we had occasion to
sort out some of his letters then in
the Office of the old Pioneer, edited by
Joseph R. Brown, now dead,
when we came across one from Gen. Sibley,
then a delegate in congress, which read
nearly as follows:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S53.-Dear Goodhase:
have a letter which presume is from you,
but it has no date or signature. Yours,
H. H. SIBLEY.
Such were the peculiarities of Mr.. Good
hue that when absorbed in thought he would
seize piece of paper and write letter just
as he would an editorial, without date or
name. Mr.. Goodhue ran the first ferry boat,
just at the end of what was known as Lambs
island, now gone. He residedin neat, white
house, which stood on the corner of Third
and st. Peter streets.
Mr.. Goodhue left widow, who subse-
quently married DR.. T. T. Mann, and they
have ever since resided near or in the city.
Mrs. Mann is an exceedingly pleasant and
amiable woman, always ready to aid the
afflicted; quiet, gentle, loving. She may
Justly be classed with Mrs. Irvine, as among
the marked women of the past. Mrs. Tar
box, formerly the wife of Morris Lamphrey,
holt ich ar0 mil wi no
is also an amiable and talented woman, and
greatly respected by all who know her. A
son lives in Chicago, or did live there. Mr..
Goodhue left considerable property, which
is now very valuable, but he left to his
widow and his children that which is more
endearing and more valuable good name
"a fact quite as gratifying to the editorial
fraternity as it is to those who more lovingly
revere his memory.
B. PRESLEY.
That short, chunky man, talking slowly,
is the gentleman whose name heads this par
agraph. He is little different from the Or
binary cut of men; has solid, Emphatic
characteristic, but a pensiveness which marks
the man of thought and the man of business.
He was born In Germany in the year 1928.
was raised in st. Louis; married in 1S43,
moved to Galena in 1S49, and from thence
came to st. Paul the same year. He COM
menced with nothing 40years ago, dealing in
fruits, etc., and from this he drifted into the
retail and wholesale grocery business, but
of late years he has made fruits his
specially, dealing largely in them, and buy
ing directly from the points where they are
raised, eastern California and other places.
He was the original fruit dealer in this city,
and to-day is by far the heaviest merchant in
this line. Mr.. Presley was a member of the
common council three continuous years,
and chief engineer OF our fire department
for three years. He purchased the first steam
fire engine brought to st. Paul. He took the
position of chief engineer at time when the
department was in bad odor, and left it in
an elevated and efficient condition. What
is remarkable, he is the only merchant in
st. Paul, or in the state, who has been con-
tinuously
IN BUSINESS FORTY YEARS.
Heis living illustration of fact, that
legitimate business closely adhered to for a
series of years, will prove triumphant in the
end. In person Mr.. Presley represents the
German type of man, with heavy features
and slow and cautious movement. He
speaks little broken and somewhat thick,
owing to a throat difficulty, yet expresses
himself in clear and terse manner. He is
never idle; never has been. Always attends
to his own business and plods on day after
day with renewed determination to add some
thing more to his financial gains. When
chief of the fire department, who does not
remember the kindly acts of his departed
wife, who, in the coolest of weather, when
the jaded fremen were almost ready
to give out, she replenished them
with hot coffee, not once, but
many times; of her presentation of flags to
the gallant boys; of her constant efforts to
encourage an / sustain them? And who was
kinder to the firemen than B. Presley?