St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-25

brother, Pierre Bottineau. ETC. had to visit
occasionally those forsaken families, and so
IT became necessary to choose a suitable spot
for church.
Three points were offered: One, called La
Pointe BasSe or Pointe lie Clair (now, on ac-
count of sandy bar in its vicinity. con-
monty known as Pigs Eye BARI. l objected
to that place: it was the extreme end of the
settlement, and. being low ground. was eX-
posed in nigh water to inundation. and the
idea of having tine church one day swept
down towards st. Louis did not please me.
Two and half miles further up. on his ele
waited claim, a Catholic named Charles Nous
Seau offered me an acre of his ground; but
neither did This suit my purpose. l was truly
looking ahead to the future, as well us seeing
to the present time. Steamboats, could not stop
there, the bank was too steep. the space on the
summit too narrow and communication diff
cult with the places of the other settlers up and
down the river. After mature reflection sew
eral persons asked me to put up the church
as near as possible to the cave, it being more
convenient for me on my way from St. Peter
to cross the river at that point, and that place
being the nearest point to the head of navi-
CATION, outside the reservation line. Messrs.
b. Gervajs and Vital Guerin, two good, quiet
farmers owned the only spot that appeared
the ground necessary for the church. gar
den and a small graveyard. l accepted the
extreme eastern part of Mr.. Vitals claim ana
the extreme west of Mr. Geryais'.
In che month of October, 1871, had on the
above-stated place. logs cut and prepared.
and soon a poor log church. that would re-
mind one of the stable of Bethlehem. was
built The nucleus of ST. Paul was formed.
Nov /, 1884, blessed the new basilica of st.
Paul smaller indeed, than the basilica of ST.
Paul in Rome. but as well adapted as the lat
ter for prayer and love TO arise therein from
pious hearts.
The church was thus dedicated to st, Paul,
and expressed wish that the settlement
should be known by no other name. sue
ceeded in this had previously to this time
fixed m. residence at st. Feter, and as the
name of Paul is generally connected with
that of Peter, and the Gentiles being well
represented in the new place in the persons
of the Indians, called 1t st. Paul. Hence
forth we could call the apostle st. Paul our
protector, and, as model of apostolic Iife
great apostle l could repeat: when l am
am sure. even for an apostolic bishop.
The name ST. Paul applied TO a town or city
seemed appropriate. The monosyllable is
short sounds well, is understood by all de-
nominations Hence when later an attempt
was made TO change the name of the place.
opposed the vain project even by writing
from Prairie du Chen. When Mr.. Vital was
married published the bans as being those
of resident of st. Paul. An American
named jackson put up a store, and q grocery
was opened at the foot of Gervais' claim.
This soon caused steamboats, TO land there
henceforth the place was known as st. Paul
landing.
The families which 1 have mentioned as
living on the fort side, at the time OF my ar
rival there. had afterwards to leave, and only