St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-21
MICHAEL HOY DEAD
One Of the Earliest Settlers
Of st. Anthony Suceumbs
to Disease.
He WAS WIDELY KNOWN
And Leaves an Enviable Rec.
ord as a Soldier and
Officer.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
He Had Lived in Minneapolis
for Over Thirty-Nine
Years.


of Minneapolis, who settled in the
little village of st. Anthony over
thirty-nine years ago, and who was
prominently identified with the early
history of this city, died yesterday
morning at Z o'clock. Mr.. Hoy had
been suffering for a long time for a
long time from a tumor and his life
was despaired of several weeks ago,
but his hardy constitution combat
ted the disease in a wonderful man
ner, and it was only few days ago
that his family realized that death
was near. The funeral will take
place from the family residence, 703
Northeast Main street, Friday morn
ing. The news of Mr.. Hoy's death
was great shock to thousands OF
people. He was widely known, and
it would be hard to find a man who
has resided in Minneapolis for any
length Of time who did not know
him personally. He was a strong
man both mentally and physically,
and his rugged character was es-
teemed by countless friends in this
city and in st. Paul, where he was
nearly as well known.
Mr. Hoy was born in Kings county,
Ireland, in 1887, and was fifty-eight
years of age at the time Of his death.
He came to America at the age of
sixteen, settling in Brooklyn, where
he learned the Stonecutter's trade.
He came to Minnesota in 1857, set
Ting in ST. Anthony, which then
consisted of a few little houses on
the east side of the Mississippi river
In 1859 he left Minneapolis for a.
time, being appointed foreman Of
the work on the Mississippi levees
in Louisiana. In 1860, however, he
returned to this city and took the
contract for building the church of
st. Anthony of Padua, the venerable
old pile that still stands but a few
hundred feet from the place where
Mr. Hoy made his home in the early
days. AT the outbreak of the war
he enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota
volunteers, and was commissioned
second lieutenant by Gov. Ramsey.
He went with Sibley's expedition
across the plains in 1863, in the mem
orable campaign against the Sioux
Subsequently the regiment went to
the South, and at the battle of Nash
vile, Dec. Is and 16, 1864, Lieut. Hoy
was badly wounded and discharged
on account of his wounds Return
ing to st. Anthony in 1867, he was ap-
pointed city marshal, serving
through 1868 and 1869. When the
two infant cities of Minneapolis and
st. Anthony were consolidated Mr..
Hoy continued as a member of the
police force, and in 1873 was elected
chief of police
During his service as a member
Of the police force an incident oc-
CURED which exhibited his sturdy
character and made him and two
other men famous the country over.
An Englishman, who had been repre-
sent1ng himself as Lord Gordon
Gordon, real representative of the
British nobility, had come to Mime
apolis and had been received with
open arms by the best society of
the ambitious little town. Gordon
Gordon, as he called himself, was the
lion of all fashionable events, some
of the most lavish of which were
given at the home of George A.
Bracket. Suddenly, like a clap of
thunder from clear sky, came the
announcement that Gordon Gordon
was missing. The more astonishing
intelligence that he was a fugitive
from justice quickly followed, and
CONSERVATION reigned in the little
town. 1t was said that the New
York police had put price of 81, 600
on his head. Gordon was heard of
in Winnipeg, and the Hon. Loren
Fletcher, who in those early DAYS
was running a dry goods store on
Bridge square, went with Messrs.
Hoy and Keegan, a brother police
officer in search of the swell English
man. They found him in Winnipeg.
and without wasting time on formal
tiles seized him and started for Min
neapolis with their prisoner. But
the Canadian authorities .interfered,
as Gordon was then cheek by jowI
with a member of the provincial
parliament named Mckay, and the
Americans were charged with kid
mapping. Mr.. Fletcher telegraphed
to Col. w. S. King and Eugene M.
Wilson, and Mr.. Wilson FASTENED to
Winnipeg to look after the interests
of the three bold men who had seized
upon the person of a titled son of
Britain.
In 1874 the position of city detect
i've was created and Mr.. Hoy was ap-
pointed to the position, where he
served with signal ability for over
ten years. In 1887, when the con-
troll of the police department was
taken out of the hands of the mayor
and vested in the police commits
sion, Mr.. Hoy was made a member
OF that board, a position which he
held until the board was legislated
out of office several years later.
That was his last public office. but
he has always been active in the
councils of the Democratic party
until a very late date. Failing
health only interrupted his career.
Mr.. Hoy was married in October.
1860, to Miss Catherine Qualy. who
survives him, the wedding occurring
nj st. Anthony. They have had
twelve children, among the suryiy-
ing ones being John M. Hoy, of the
Northern Pacific freight depot. who
was also for several years a member
OF the city police force and was chief
of the inspectors.