The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-05-17

ular message conveyed more of interest to
the Northwest than any similar telegram
that has been sent over the wires for
many long day. 1t was brief, as
kilograms always are, and simply stated that
Commodore Kittson had died on a train near
an obscure station on the Omaha road in
Wisconsin.
But few men in the Northwest, even those
who boast pioneer record, have such a re-
markable career as Norman Walfred Kittson.
He was born in Lower Canada-Sorel-in
March, 1914. and was trfle over seventy
our years of ago ut the time Of his death.
grandson of Alexander Henry, the cele-
DRAFTED explorer who journeyed through the
Superior, Manitoba and SASKATCHEWAN dis
tricts as early as 1916, it was not surprising
that his ambition led him to probe
the Northwestern forests In May, 1880.
then but sixteen years old. he became an
employe of the American Fur company and
jcurneyed northwest, being stationed be-
tween tho Fox and Wisconsin rivera In
1882 he was sent to the headwaters of the
Minnesota river, and two years later he was
employed in the suffers department at Fort
Smelling. Here he remained until 1888,
when he returned to Canada for brief
period, returning to establish fur business
OF his own nc point not far ABOVE Fort
Smelling. In 1S43 he entered the American
Fur company as special partner. and his
headquarters were ut Pembina, where he
collected furs and shipped them in Red river
carts to Mendoza 1t was in that same year
that he purchased the tract of land now
known as @Kittson's addition" on the map OF
st Paula tract that is now among the
most valuable business property in the city.
MEMBER OF THE L LEGISLATURE
In 1851 he was elected member of the
council of the Minnesota legislature from
the Pembina district He was reelected in
1858, and served four sessions, in which he
look an active and prominent part Old set
tiers now delight to recall the fact that to
attend these sessions Mr.: Kittson was
obliged to travel the distance-about 500
miles-bv dog sledge or on snow shoes 1t
was in 1854 that Mr. Kittson came to St.
Paul to reside permanently. He formed
partnership with the late William H. Forbes,
the firm being known as Forbes & Kittson,
engaged in the general Indian trade supply
business. That came year he built the Sin
tomine hotel at the corner of Sixth and John
streets, but it was burned shortly after. In
1873 he was elected mayor of St Paul.
which was the only public office in the city
he ever held, though often solicited to per-
nit the use of his name for other places
Mr.. kittsoD's personal history is as inter-
esting as romance. Without q single ex-
ception he was the Oldest pioneer of the
state. Gen. Sbley, Edmund Rice, Russell
B!akeley Col Allen and scores OF others
known US pioneers" came after him. But
aside from mis- private life he had great in
fiuence on the pubic veal, not only as
mayor of ST. Paul, but as one of the pro]ec-
tors of the Manitoba road Years of litiga-
ton, now almost ended. but still more mud
died by Mr. kittson's death, has been the
outcome of his first and only railroad inter-
est He was on his way home to answer to
the suit brought against himself and ). j.
Hill when death overlook him. Mr.. Hill and
the Kittson heirs will now be left to fight the
battle
Years ago, when fortunes in the Northwest
were estimated at five figures, Commodore
kittson was rated millionaire. His long
life, frugal habits. enormous profits rcaped
from business that was practically mo-
nopoly. enabled him to gather fortune
such as is seldom given to adventures in
new country. In 1860 he boasted $780,
OOO Ten years later his St Paul property
aud railroad speculations made that
Bull ,OUU,OUV. investments, III.
crease in realty values. boom in Manitoba
stock soon added other comfortable figures to
the overburdened vaults, and yesterday men
could have been found-of good Judgment,
toto take oath that So, 600, 900 would be
moderate estimate of Mr. Kittson's wealth.
With possible exception, he was the
wealthlest man in the state. Generous with
bounty, transformations yet lavish, he did
not spend his income even with such magni-
ficent stockfarms as Erdenheim and Kittson-
dale to drain his Golfers His st. Paul
property is of great value. The ki1tson
residence on Summit avenue, is valued at
$3.50, 600 and is the largest and one of the
handsomests private residences in the city
Other valuable property includs the. Caren-
don hotel, valued at $3.50, 900 and the
Astoria hotel. valued at the same figure A
large interest in the st. Paul Gas company
is portion of the commo 1ore's belongings,
and the revenue has formed good Dor
tiOn of his annual income