The Irish standard., 1897-06-12


Gen. s. B. Lowry located at Brock
way in this county in 1851 or 1852, and
in 1853 removed to st. Cloud.
Fort Smelling was established and its
construction commenced in 1919, but ID
was 80 years later before the Territory
of Minnesota was organized. The first
steamboat that ever ascended the upper
Mississippi was the Virginia" which
arrived at the fort in May, 1928. Pre-
vious to this keel boats were used. a
trip to st. Louis occupying 60 days.
In 1848, the territory which now COM
prises the state of Minnesota, was in
cluded In the Territory Of Wisconsin
and upon the admission of Wisconsin
into the Union, in that year, with the
boundaries prescribed by congress, our
present territory was excluded there
from, and was left in the awkward and
unenviable position of being disfran-
chised of the rights and privileges guar
anteed under the ordinance Of 1887.
The Inhabitants then numbering less
than 5000, one-hah of St. Clouds pres
ent population, we're left without a gov
ernment or officers to administer tho
laws. Although it was several months
before the new territory was organized,
there were few or no criminal offenses
committed.
The men who came to this new region
NJ In II tn
dure this situation long, and at once a
movement was inaugurated for terri
torial organization. A call was issued
for convention to consider the matter,
to be held at Saltwater, the principal
! place at that time, August 26, 1848. It
was signed by 18 gentlemen, almost
everyone of whom attained subsequent
prominence in professional, commercial
or political life in the territory and
state The first name appended was
that Of Louis Roberts, after whom Rob-
ert street, st. Paul, was named. Later
he became the owner of a line of steam
boats on the Minnesota river, running
from st. Paul to New Ulm, and in high
water to the Yellow Medicine Indian
Agency. In those days there were few
villages or landings, and persons wish
ing passage, took convenient position at
the river bank, and hailed the steamer,
which would always stop, even at great
Inconvenience. With all Frenchman's
proverbial gallantry, "Old Louie" as he
was familiarity called, would say on
, such occasions: "Ze Time-and-Tide she
wait-for no man. She wait just Is
minutes for one woman!"
The second signature to the can was
that; of Henry H. sibley, subsequently.
, the first delegate in congress from the
territory; the first governor of the state;
a major general during the war Of 1861
IS, and man who lived honored by all
his fellow men, and died mourned by the
entire population of the state he had
aided so much in founding, developing
and building up. Then there was Nor
ton s. Wilkinson, later United States
senator, Anson Northrop, Joseph r.
Brown, Franklin Steele and others at
that time equally we'll known, and all
of whom have since passed away.
The convention elected H. H. Sibley
as delegate to congress and prepared a.
memorial to President Polk, asking nin1
to recommend to congress the organiza-
tion Of the Territory.
Delegate Sibley met with much oppo-
sition in congress to the organization of
the territory. The name was also a
bone Of contention. The committee re-
ported in favor of "Itasca." Attempts
were made to change this to Washing
ton, Jackson, Algonquin, and Chippewa.
Finally, the friends of the bill amended
it to Minnesota; it was passed and be-
came law March 8, 1849, and fixed st.
Paul as the capital.
Alexander Ramsey was appointed gov
ernor by President Taylor. lie still
lives in st. Paul, and is hale and hearty,
although 81 years of age. His history
is the history of Minnesota from the
date of his arrival therein. Flo was our
"war governor" and is now the only
surviving "war governor" He was twice
elected United States senator; was Sec
retary Of war under President Hayes;
secretary Of the navy for time, and
has held other responsible official po-
sitions.
In March. 1S49, St. Paul, was coll
lection of Indian liquor shops and birch
rooted cabins, with here and there
frame building. It contained about 250
inhabitants, somewhat cosmopolitan In
character. H. M. Rice had settled In
st. Paul, and was at this date it's most
prominent resident.
There was no telegraphic line, and
mails, during the close of navigation,
| were very irregular and far apart. It
was not until April 9, 1S49, thirty-seven
days after the bill organizing the ter
ritory had become law, that the news
reached st. Paul.
The first boat Of the season to pass
through Lake Pepin was the Highland
Mary" When she rounded the bend be-
oS& hnarA