St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-11

pany's business on the head waters of
the Minnesota and along the British
line. He made his headquarters at
Pembina. and shipped his furS to old
Mendoza by the ponderOus, slow-mov-
ing Red river carts. His success in the
fur business was something unpar-
alleled. His method of dealing with
the Indians. shrewdness at bargain,
and the invariable friendship that fol-
lowed on an acquaintance with him,
gave him precedence over all others.
Throughout the Northwest the name of
kittson took rank in business circles
that it never surrendered to any one.
1t was in 1913 that he purchased of
James r. Clewett tract of land in
st. Paul, that was plated and laid
outi 1851, and named Kittson's addition
to st. Paul. 1t still bears that name,
and lies west of the Seventh street
bridge and ON the well-known Kittson
avenue. Public hOnorS in 1851 sought
him out. He was elected that year a
member of the Minnesota legislature, as
representative from the Pembina dis
trict. He was reelected, and served
through 1852, 1858. 1854 and 1855. His
journeys to attend these legislative Ses-
sions were something marvellous. His
residence was then at Pembina, and the
ture met, 800 miles. Mr.. Kittson came
by dog sledges or on snow shoes over
this waste, facing deadly bliZzards, the
wolves, OF more dangerous still, the
treachery of the Indians. 1t is said that
i'll one of these journeys he did
not in the entire 800 miles see a
single house. His residence in st.
Paul dates from 1854. when he
formed a partnership with William II.
Forbes, now dead. The firm was known
as Forbes d Kittson. and was engaged
in the Indian supply business. They
were located at the southeast corner of
Third and Robert streets in an old stone
building. and the title quickly betowed
upon their establishment by wag was
the 'St. Paul outfit" AS such to old
settlers it will readily be recalled. This
same year Mr.. Kittson built at the cor
ner of Sixth and John streets the frame
hotel known as the Sintomine. 1t was
the largest structure of the kind in the
city then, but was burned i'll October of
that year. In 1858 Mr.. KittsOn closed
his public life by serving enc term as
mayor of st. Paul. He never
accepted Office again, although honors
of that nature were repeatedly
rendered him. The opening Of the war
found him agent of the Hudson Bay Fur
company, also president and controlling
spirit of line of steamers on the Red
River of the North. The Red River
Transportation company was a power
full factor i'll the sixties in bringing to
st. Paul heavy and profitable trade.
His next enterprise was an intimate
business connection with J. }. Hill in
the creation and starting of the st.
Paul & Pacific Railroad company, now
the Manitoba system. His ventures
were all successful. He had the hand
of Midas, backed by patience and un-
firing enegy. His monuments in st.
Paul are numerous. His magnificent
residence on Summit avenue, costing
over 100000, has for years been
one of the architectural beauties
of the city. The Astoria, on
Wabasha, was another Of his enterprises,
as is also the Clarendon, the Globe
building, and various other public struc-
lures. His connection with the st. Paul,
Minneapolis d Manitoba railway was
very strong, making him in the past a
potent factor i'll the developing of the
country tributary to it.
The KittSOn county, of Minnesota, and
also Norman, were named in his honor.
KittS0ndale has become famous in all
parts of the country for the rare breed
of horses that he maintained there. In
his later years he turned from the actiV-
ity of a business life to the breeding of
horses and the development OF racing
stock. His efforts in this direction. with
the large sums of money that he eX-
pended for good blood. has had a power
full effect i'll Minnesota. The fine stock
breeders of the state owe much to his
enterprise in this matter. KittsOndale,
lying in the Midway district of st. Paul,
became center for fine stock. 1t was
the home of Johnston, Fannie Wither-
spoon and Won Armin, three noted
rulers of the turf.
There seems to be but little question
but that Commodore Kittson was the
oldest living settler in Minnesota at the
time of his death, and, perhaps, the
oldest living settler in st. Paul. Henry
Nj. Rice made st. Paul his home in 1889,
which would give him the longest con-
tinuouS residence in st. Paul, but from
1884 until his death Mr.. Kittson had all
of his business enterprises connected
with st. Paul, and although he did not
make it his permanent home until 1854,
he is forever connected with the citv'S
history as the first. Looking back to the
early real estate entries of st. Paul, one
of the first entries made, and for which
patents were issued, is found to be:
''To Norman w. KittSon, Sept. 2, 1S4S,
north half of southwest quarter, and
lots 3 and 4, of section 81, town 80,
range 22'-one of the most valuable
sections of property in the city.
4