St. Paul daily globe., 1885-02-15
copyrighted
PEN PICTURES OF ST. PAUL
Thread of the Narrative Of the His
tory and Personality of Old Set
tiers Taken Up at 1853.
Real Estate in the Early Days-fhe POtt-
gieser Family-William Gies-First
Baker in the City.
The webers, Father and Son, and Their
Personal Traits-That Old-FaslI-
ioned Inn.
By T. VI. NEWSON.
Article Ii.
pFZpY YEBFR. srYIot

HENRY WEBER. SENIOR.
A great many old settlers, of all nation
alities, will remember Mr.. Henry Weber,
who came to st. Paul in the spring Of 1853.
He was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in
1920: came to America in 1S50-thc year Of
his marriage stopped for two years at Fort
Wayne. Indiana; purchased fine team of
horses. aud with few dollars in his pocket
started overland for Galena, and there took
the STEAMER for st. Paul, accom- panied by his
wife and an eight months old child, now a
man grown. At the end o. about two years
Mr.. Weber had laid by some money, and
selling his team bought some eighty feet on
upper Third street, (opposite the Conserva-
tory Of MuscJ. which the heirs still own !;
built some stores thereon (since burned
DOWN. and went into business for himself
rs Que Of the first confectioners, dealing also
in TOYS in upper town, which section was, at
that time the most prominent business
part Of the city. For a while he did good
trade, as be was a careful, prudent, econOm-
ical man and bravelv rode the financial storm
Of 1851: and even after this disaster accu-
mulated some other property, beside building
i'm 1860 the stone residence on Summit av-
enue. opposite the Kittson mansion, where
his widow now resides. In 1865 some twenty
buildings were burned on upper Third street,
between st. Peter and Market, aud among
them those Of Mr.. Weber This FIRE was the
largest and most stubborn 10 contend with
that Paul had ever had up to that time, and
many old volunteer iremen will remember
that through their untiring exertions the
Cosmopolitan hotel was saved, which stood at
that day corner of Third and Franklin streets,
ana as Mr.. Weber was at that time "a mem
Der Of the old Hope Engine company, he
fought desperately to save his own property
and that OF his neighbors.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Weber was a man honest in his deal
iugs,as many old settlers viii remember and
like his friend Presley, wqs a hard working.
industrious citizen He died Of dropsy in
1859. leaving a widow and two sons and on
daughter, in pretty comfortable circum-
stances.
HENRY WEBER, JR.
Mr. Weber was born at Fort Wayne, Indi-
ana, in 1852: came TO st. Paul in 1853; WAS
educated 1T the public schools and finished
his education at Prof. Faddis' CONNER
cial college: became clerk for his father,
and after his death entered the employ OF K.
Il ]. NJ. Warner on Third street. which posi-
iion he held for twelve years. After leaving
this firm he went into business for himself
in the fall of 1851. and being n genial, good
hearted social. very we'll known Young mao,
having many friends. he has done az excel
lent business Like his father be started on
q very limited capital: was careful; used
pluck; worked hard, until he is considered to-
dav one OF the most prominent
young retail merchants In st. Paul. When
4 child be remembers running down Thru
street and getting lost in the rayines which
then existed oelow Wabssha street, and since
then he has watched the growth Of St. Paul
With pleasure. he was married in 1876 to
Miss Sophia Haeffner, and has three children
living and one dead. Mr.. Weber is fine
specimen Of physical Organization, with a
free. frank, open countensnce, and a man
Of considerable ability. He deserves all he
has achieved and good deal more.
NICHOLAS PoTr0IEsER.
Mr.. PottCieser was born in Germany in the
year 1897: educated at the common schools
Of that country: came 20 America in 1916,
arriving at Chicago; worked on q farm for q
while: went to Michigan and engaged in
milling and numbering; returned TO Chicago
and became e clerk for his uncle who kept q
hotel: married and remained in Chicago
several wears: came to -. Paul in 1853
bought three lots on the corner Of Fifth
and Wabasha streets, the present
site OF the custom house-and on these lots
erected building which he used as a hotel
called the Minnesota House. and which be
kept until 1855. when, after adding addi-
tions 10 Il, be leased it to Mr.. Eta, and the
name was changed to that Of the Mansion
House.
THAT OLD FASHIONED nm,
How grandly it loomed W before the weary
traveller as be drew near 70 its bUspitahIe
,!7or and euddled in from the beating storm !.
How caeery the fire cracked in the big. old
IRE place. or roaFsd in the huge old wood
stove: aud hoK VAIN aud comfortable the
diugv room became when the smiling land
lord greeted his guests And then the mug
Of beer. the old pipe. the smoking Tiauds on
the long wooden table, the pleasant form Of
The matrou. in her tidy apron and smiling
face! the warm reception the story. the song.
To-. danee. the good cheer, exactly, ex-
actly:''-tbe soft, cOSny beds. the sound
sleep: the familiar faces. aud voices, and
gieeful tones OF laughter, the utter freedom
from rsstrsini, the home confortsl ave, all
have disappeared, and those who threw such
halo of light aud warmth. and
pleasure over, and in. and through
thas little unprstsn;ious inn. have also passed
down into TIE dark valley Of death, few
old lettering men occasionally Psuse in front
o. that mss % stone and cement known IS
the Custom tOus=. and lock in vain for tbs
hide old fashioned inn that over quarter Of
ernturJ ss0 occupied The sl<~-- and then,