St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-08
John B. Sanborn, His Military and
Other Services and His Per-
SOnal Traits.
c. D. Gilfillan and His Connection with
the WaterwOrkS-His Numerous
Building Enterprises.
The Early Life and Marriage Of John 5.
Prince, One of st. Pauls Oldest
Citizens.
The Narrative of the Doings of Great City
in Its Early DAYS Taken Up
at 1854.
BY T. NJ. NEwsoN.
BY T. N. NEwsoN.
ARTICLE LII.
JOIN B. sANBoRN.


Gen. Sanborn was born in New Hamp-
shire in 1926; received an academic educa-
ton and attended Dartmouth college one
year, when he commenced the study OF law;
removed to st. Paul in the latter part OF
1854; in 1859 was elected member Of the
house, and in 1861 a member of the senate.
The law firm for many years in this city was
Sanborn 81 French, and then Sanborn,
French s. Lund, and of this firm only Gen.
Sanborn now remains, the other two having
died several years ago.
MILITARY AND OTHER OFFICES.
On the breaking out of the civil war, Gov.
Ramsey appointed Sanborn adjutant and
quartermaster general of the state, and he
organized and equipped four regiments that
year, which required great deal of labor,
but which was satisfactorily accomplished.
He was then appointed colonel of the Fourth
regiment, and was in command at Fort
Smelling and of all the troops in the district
during the winter of 1851, and in the spring
Of 1862 was ordered to Mississippi, where he
entered the Corinth campaign. Here he
was placed in control of a brigade,
which subsequently became part of the
famous oeventeenth army corps, and in the
terrible battle of Iuka he lost 600 of his
1900 men, and for the gallant part be took
in this battle be was promoted to the posi-
ton Of brigadier general. He was in many
other important battles, such as Port Gibson,
Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, and the
assault on Vicksburg, and when
the latter place surrendered he was
placed in command Of the southwest district
of Missouri, and after the campaign against
Price he was promoted to brevet major gen.
eral ''fOr gallant and meritorious
services In September, 1867, after leav-
ing the army, he was appointed one of the
''Peace Com MISSION" in company with
Gems Sherman, Harvey, Terry and n. G.
Taylor, Tappan and Senator Henderson, to
negotiate treaties with certain tribes Of In
dams, and was engaged in this labor eighteen
months. This was an important treaty,
and embraced the following Indian tribes:
Comanches, Kiowas, Cheyennes, Arapahoes,
Apaaches of the upper Arkansas, Navah oes,
Bannocks, Brules, Unkapapa, Blackfeet,
Minnecongu, Ogalallas, Sansarcha, Yanton
and Yanktonnais. The recommendations of
the commission were Endorsed by congress,
except the most salient point, which was
compulsory education. Previous 10 this
Gen. Sanborn had served on another
Indian commission after the mas
sacre of Fort Phil Kearney, with
Gen. Sulley, Col. Parker, \. 3. Blu ford,
and G. p Beaufaize. On his return home
he was elected a member of the house in
1872, and a member of the senate in 1881;
was an active member Of the chamber of
commerce fifteen years. and president of the
same three years; is now president of the
German-American Hail insurance company;
president OF the Bankers Life Insurance
company; President of the Roller Flour Mill
company; has been president of the German
American bank twelve years; Is one of the
board of directors; is one of the ex-
ecutive council of the Historical society; was
in the service Of the United States nearly eight
years, and has been actively engaged in
practice of law twenty-four years. In
deed he has been an important factor in the
growth of this city and state since 1854, or
thirty years ago, and has been good deal of
that time in public positions. giving to the
country great deal of gratuitous labor.
THE sENAToRsHIP.
Some twenty years ago, ". S. VIII
kinson, Gen. Sanborn, Sam Mayall and
others were candidates for the United States
Senatorship, although Sanborn was dark
horse. Nayall, in order to grease the polit-
zeal wheels, put some $4,000 in a secure
spot, and placed the key in the hands of
friend in order to effect his own
election. When the fact became
generally known, probably from Mayall him
self, from some cause or other, Sauborn ran
up to within one OF an election, which fright
ened both Wilkinson and Mayall almost out
of their boots, while Sanborn gave one OF his
GshroaI flac'f md acceutad TIM eitpatiO,
AZ that time there was a bitter feeling on the
part of the rural members toward st. Paul,
and when they found that Sanborn, a st.
Paul man. was likely to re elected, they
turned and elected Wilkinson, although he
was not their original choice. Mayall sub
sided and passed into political oblivion, but
It was narrow escape for Sanborn.
AS MAN.
Gen. Sanborn is strong, robust man,
with good deal of push and power in his
composition, evidently the descendant of a
very hardy race. In early territorial times
he was ambitious, bota as q lawyer and as a
politician, aud when he embarked in either
one of these professions, or both, he went In
to win, II possible, NO matter at what cost
The same characteristic was promi-
nent in his services during the
war, and hence We find him al
always at the front. He is good lawyer. a
pleasant speaker at the bar, though not es-
pecially eloquent; is social aud agreeable
in his nature; is liberal in his gifts, and
would have been glad IL circumstances had
permitted, to have crowned his career by
seat as a circuit judge of the United States
court. He has spent thirty years of a useful,
active, energetic life in our city, aud will
pass down to history as a prominent and
honored citizen.
c. d. GGLFILIAN.
Mr.. Gilfllan was born in Oneida county,
New York, in 1881; passed through the pub
lie schools and flushed his education in the
Homer academy and Hamilton college;
came to Minnesota in 1851; settled in Still
water; taught school the first year In that
city; studied law afterwards; practiced in
saltwater; removed to ST. Paul in 1854, and !
was engaged in his profession altogether |
thirteen years. During these latter years he |
made some money out of the claims of the |
settlers for depredations by the Indians. and |
entered largely into politics.