St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-15

miliar way. For the past fifteen IRIS h,
/ has been the eminent commander aas-
Gus commandery of Knights nIar
OF st. Paul; has also been L ON
mander of the state. He M Miss
Mary j., sister of Erastus S. i. IN. liz
1860, who is lady very much es,a ned for
her sunny nature and excellent qualities as
woman and wife. Mr.. Monfort him.
| self Is Well-formed man, of ordinary size,
straight, always well dressed. and havins
| the appearance of gentleman of money and
of leisure He usually wears silk hat and
carries cane; is quick in his motions.
prompt, decided, pleasant, and probably
understands the banking business as well AZ
any man in the state, and he ought to. fol-
! he is the pupil OF that prudent and splendid
| fnancier, Erastus Edgerton. under whose
management the Second National bank ha,
obtained its present excellent reputation,
RUSSELL C. MUNGER.
A somewhat peculiar man is Mr.. Munger.
that is, he is different from ordinary men
in his general makeup; and yet he is
gentleman of good business qualities. of
fine musical abilities. and has been, and
among musicians. especially, is now, pub
lie spirited. He is self-made man. and,
during the troublesome times of 1857 and
later, he passed through severe financial
revulsons and yet came out Of them pay
ing dollar for dollar. He has handled
great deal of money. and has lost a great
deal of money, and still he is pushing
to the front with that indOmitable energy
which marks the man. He is a gentleman
OF good physical development, stands erect,
throws his head backward while, at the
same time, he moves it from side to
side. talks strongly and in conf
n nrof l. - 20 1off
can tell good story, and among a crowd
Mr.. Munger looms up conspicuously. He
ought to have entered the army, for he has
all the characteristics of all army officer,
and this is as natural to him as breathing.
lie Is exceedingly social in his nature,
a1table in his manners, and very polite. He
may justly be called the originator of ins
strumental music in this state, for it was
the Munger Brothers who, as the Old
Gents band, inaugurated a new era in
our musical affairs and started into exist
ence our first military music.
EARLY LIFE.
Mr.. Munger was born in Madison, Conn.,,
in 1887 removed to New Haven in 1848;
remained there until 1856. during which
time he received his education, and soon
after started West stopping at Iowa City,
where he continued one year in the grain
and commission business, and in 1857 came
to st. Paul. played for Salle ST. Clair in
the old Market hall with his two brothers.
the aggregate wages for the time
being S45 per week: then engaged
for time in shipping produce te
st. Louis, especially potatoes. and
in 1858 he and his brother bought out
man by the name of Mortimer, and started
music store in what was known as Com.
nj oil yrba tbo, ho
them the best musical element of the city.
The brothers soon began dealing in pianos
and made good deal of money. They ran
fourteen years through some of the
severest financial times we ever had in the
West and then sold out.
THE GREAT WESTERN BAND.
The Old Gents band finally merged into
the Pioneer Guard band, and then came
the Great Western band, of which Mr..
Munger was one of the originators, and for
seven years was its leader. His natural ac-
tive temperament induced him to unite with
others in originating and building the opera
house, and he was manager of the same for
several years. Then he became interested
in and bulta grain elevator at Duluth, costing
a good deal of money. The elevator burned
down in 1880. In 1878 he resumed his old
music business. while his brother Roger
made Duluth his home, and from that time
to this he has been engaged in his old pro-
fession. All Mr.. Munger's acts demonstrate
that he is publicspirited man. a good citi-
zen and general promoter of the city's
best interests.
THREE PER CENT. PER MONTH.
1t was not an uncommon thing this year
to find parties giving and 81
and in some cases 5, per cent per
for no of +I,o
through, ana few gave bonus on top of
this exorbitant rate, making interest on
money thus loaned 60 and 70 per
cent. per annum! We had nearly dozen
private banks but they had become drained
of their funds, and. being so far removed
from the money centers, cash commanded
any rate OF interest, and this interest piled
up and finally buried the unfortunate vic
tins under it! No one can appreciate the
terrible condition of affairs in the city of St.
Paul in the year 1857 but those who passed
through it! Many a man walked the
floor all night worrying where he could get
money to pay his note in the morning. and
some, losing all their accumulation of Year,
OF hard labor, turned to the flowing bowl, and
soon after passed off the stage of life for
ever.
HENRY P. UPHAM.
A comparatively young man, with boy
ish look Mr.. Upham is the personifcatiOn
OF business. He is tall, has no whiskers,
is quiet, yet moves rapidly from place to
place, and has sort of reserved power
which indicates the character of the man.
He is strong business manipulation with.
out the rant-a locomotive without the
nose-a motive power with steady push.
His career from a bank clerk to a bank
q
marked by that remarkable trait of charac-
ter-steadiness of purpose-which is the
predominant element of his nature Modest
and retiring. he moves more especially in
the business circle and yet he loves out
door sports and delights in rambling among
the archives of the past. He is at the head
of an immense monetary institution, and
guides the helm with a masters hand,
showing not only experience but rare good
judgment. A highly respectable and valu.
able citizen is Henry P. Upham.
HIS BIRTH. ETC.
Mr.. Upham was born in Massachusetts, in
1887, and is descendant from the Eng
lish was educated at the common schools,
and when mere lad, in the year 1854, he
became clerk in the Tolland County bank,
Massachusetts, where he remained two
years, and in 1857 came to st. Paul; formed
partnership with C. W. Griggs in the
lumber business, on the upper levee; dis
solved soon after and bought saw mill on
the West side. at the end of the bridge. an(
ran it five years: in 1868 entered the employ
OF the Thompson Brothers. bankers, as a
general clerk; in 1864 became teller in tho
bank which position he held for three
years: then purchased -four mill at ChaSks
and ran it two months; became assistant
cashier of the First National bank in 1869,
and held this Office for two years; then,
with others. organized and started the City
bank, Gen. Sibley, president Upham,