St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-28
The Early Days of st. Paul, With Biogra-
phies and Anecdotes of Old
Settlers.
something About the Year 1886 and the
Catholic OathedralW. L. and
W. G. Wilson.
Che Old Winslow House Burned Octo-
Der 10, 1S62--E. A. Deuel.,
the Landlord.
Sunbeams on the Pensive Brows OF e.
C.Belote. Benz, Bresette
and Others.
BY t. NJ. NEWsoN.
Observation-Disclosures.

The arrivals at the hotels for some
months of this wear exceeded 1000 each,
and for the whole season Immigration was
Mute large, reaching as high as 2S,OOO.
The city valuation was S., 27S, 22O. Rev.
John Mattock arrived this year and became
the pastor of the Presbyterian church,
which stood on the corner OF Third ana 81.
Peter streets; William l., Bannlngs resi-
dence burned also the Old red prick nice
house, which stood on the corner OF 1ilird
and Washington streets, i'll which one SEES
sion of the legislature was held, the ground
now occupied by the Metropolitan; the
Wabasha bridge was commenced: the Stats
Zeitung was established by F. Ortifwein;
ROYAL Arch Masons No. instituted; VIII
lam Sprigg Hall was made superintendent OF
public instruction; ID. L.. Fuller, j. D.
Brown. banker, and Charles j. HennisS,
an editor. died: Luke Marvin was drowned.
No events of any startling nature occurred
in 1856. except robberieS and murders al
ready alluded co. although the city contln-
ued to grow and to improve. New stores
and new residences were erected, and there
was general tendency towards metfopoll-
tan life.
MILFORD L. WILSON. :.
Mr.. Wilson is a native OF New DIX,
born in 1915: he received a good education,
preparatory to entering the higher branches
of study in order to tit him for the ministry,
and to this end he entered Hamilton college
and continued there one year; was III the
university at MiddetOwn, Conn.,, in 1887,
and remained there two years, was at one
time employed as an agent OF the American
Anti-Slavery association; then III 1852
was engaged with the State Antl-Slavery
society: entered the theological depart
ment of Yale college in 1889 and graduated
with the class of 1912 and had license to
preach, and did preach in the summer
of 1874: gave up preaching and engaged i'll
merchandising. which he carried on
for several years; came to st. Paul
in 1856. and engaged for time in farming
in Rose township; became assistant United
States assessor for Ramsey county, and
then assessor of the district; has been EN-
ployed in the pension office, and has done
special duty in that department; was prl-
vate secretary to Gov. Davis during his adj
ministration; was appointed appraiser OF
customs in 1876 in 1881 was appointed dep
uty collector, inspector and examiner OF
customs. which position he held up to
short time since. Mr.. Wilson has been
married three times.
Mr. Wilson is good-siZed man, wear
ing gold spectacles and is quick in
speech and quick in action; has
been in office now some twenty
years. With his ministerial and Christian
elements he combines politics, and has
hitherto been good deal OF politician.
He is an active worker in the church. and at
one time was deacon of Hope chapel, and
then in the DAYTON Avenue church. He is
also an advocate of temperance, anti-cruelty
to animals, and friend of humanity gen
orally.
f. D. X. RANDALL.
Mr. Randall was born i'll New York city
in 1899. and is a son of William Ran
dali. one of the early and prOmi-
nent settlers of ST. Paul; was
well educated; came to this city in 1856 and
engaged i'll wholesale notion and toy
business on Third street which he contin-
ued for a number OF years. For some time
past lie has been engaged as a travelling
man for Forepaugh Il TarboX. He is the
Oldest member OF the present Baptist
church. and has been an important element
in that society. He is stirring man, full
of energy, full of hope full Of good deeds.
sra MILFORD C. WILSON
was born in New York in 1871: educated
in the common schools; came to st. Paul
in 1856; engaged for time with his father in
farming in Rose township, but on the break
ing out of the war enlisted in,COmpany B,
Eleventh Minnesota regiment, and in
September of the same year was promoted
on a non-cOmmissioned staff In 1865.
after being hOnorably discharged, he at
tended an academy at Fairfield, n. Y; re-
turned to ST. Paul i'll 1867 and was engaged
with Gen. Warren on the government sur
vey: was principal in the Lakeland school,
Washington county, and in 1868 became a
member Of the firm OF Wilson & Rogers.
where he now is. He is a gOOd-loOking
man, of good address and of good business
qualities; energetic i'll his movements and
energetic in his speech.
E. c. BELOTE.
Mr.. Belote has been somewhat prom
inent man in the history of our city, for
most of the time he has been before the
public, and is very generally known. He is
a tall, slender gentleman, pleasant in his
address, moderate in his manners, and has
been a successful landlord, Mrs. Belote.
large, splendid looking woman, having
added very much to his popularity by her
excellent housekeeping qualities and her
affable manners. l remember the old
Merchants when kept by Be-
Tote, and especially for Mrs. Belote's
hot breakfast morning pancakes, and her
delicate ham and eggs specialtieS which
of the hotel. Mr.. b. was born in New
York i'll 1872; was raised on a farm: came
TO Minnesota in 1856 and to ST. Paul in
1856; was landlord of the Merchants hotel
previous to Col. Shaw, for five years: then
mine hest OF the International until it
burned in 1869: retired from business ten
years III consequence of i'll health, and in
1879 took possession OF the MetrOpOlitan
where he remained up to about 1884, when
falling from a carriage, he injured
his hip and was obliged to abandon
the hotel business, and is now engaged
looking after his real estate He served
nine months as alderman by appointment.
Although man above 20 years of age, vet
he looks much younger, and were it not for
his lameness he would be good for ten years
more of active service. He is landmark
Of the past, to whom hungry tramps look
with longing eyes. but just now they look
IN vain.
GEORGE BENZ.
Mr.. Benz was born i'll Germany i'm 1888:
received a good education in private
school. and was prepared by his training to
teach; emigrated to the United States in
1851, and was employed as clerk in Chi
cago f0r one year and a half, and came to
st. Paul i'll 1856: in connection with
+. A. ltenZ he opened Wholesale liquor
store, but subsequently Mr.. REM sold out
his interest to Maj. j. G.. Becht, who, dy-
ING in 1873, the partnership was dissolved
and Mr.. Benz continued the business up to
1880, when the firm of George Benz & Co.
Was formed MI. Benz was a member Of
the legislature in 1S73-4-5: was Oh lie
school board for two terms, and is noy ii
the wholesale liquor business Oh Third
street. He is man of strong, vigorous
character. very positive in his nature and
very decided in his opinions; of bilious,
nervous temperament, and yet he is a man
of many excellent traits, and solid citizen