The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-17

Man Who Built g Fence for Gov.
Ramsey Years Ago.
Lathrop E. Reed, resident of st. Paul
for thirty-tive or forty years, but who re
moved to Chicago q few years ago, ac-
cord1ng to the press dispatches has been
made defendant in suit for damages
brought by a woman who claims that Mr..
Reed spoke of her in terms of reflection.
Mr.. Reeds long residence in st. Paul, his
connection with the banking institutions
Of the city and his political activity dur
ing the few years Immediately preceding
his departure for Chicago recall some
Of the Incidents of his local career which
many Of those who knew him here may
have forgotten. The Chicago story, while
lacking in detail. is as follows:
Chicago, March 16.-Ex-Banker Lathrop
e. Reed, formerly of ST. Paul, who now
resides in this city, was made the de-
fendant today in $4,000 damage suit by
Mrs. Mary W. Thompson. The damages
which the plaintiff alleges she has sus-
tanned arise from an alleged remark the
defendant is said to have made reflect
ing on her character. Mr.. Reed is said
to be worth several million dollars.
Mr. Reed came to St. Paul in 1851. He
went originally to Long Prairie with a
missionary and in the tall of 1851 walked
the whole distance from Long Prairie to
st. Paul, nearly 140 miles. For time he
taught school at Freeport, but returned
to St Paul in 1852 and hired out to a
carpenter to do rough work.
His first duty was to build q fence
around Gov. Ramsey's lot. He went at
it, hut in driving nails broke every other
one which attracted the attention of the
governor, who, on appearing before young
Reed, told him that he was destroying
more nails than his days wages came to.
WELL" said Reed, these nails are not
good"
Eyes they are said the governor" but
you don't know how to drive them.''
But these nails came from Pittsburg
and they are not worth a tinker's snap"
''Oh-ho, young man. said the governor,
these nails are good, but you don't strike
them right. Give me the hammer, I'm an
old cabinetmaker and I'll show you how
to drive nails and the governor drove
every nail without d break, to the utter
astonishment of Reed.
'Now, young man. said the governor,
what have you been in the habit of do
ing 2?
well" said Reed, 'fI have worked on
a farm" his face longer than the board
he was trying to adjust on the rail Of the
fence.
"Take this order" said the governor,
''go out on my farm near Lake Como; go
to work and I will pay you s35 per
month"
Mr.. Reed did So
Here Mr.. Reed drove the first reaping
| machine ever used in the state of Mime
sofa, which was at the time great Gu
riosity and attracted general attention
While at Long Prairie one night the
Indians stole two horses. Reed went in
pursuit of them, and coming up with
the thieves sought to get back the stolen
animals, when one of the Indians fired
lf.fnI OF
into Reeds face. Nothing daunted he
Knocked the Indian down, secured the
pistol and it's paraphernalia and was
about moving away when another In
dian knocked him down. Recovering
himself he seized the horses and mount
ing his own started on a full gallop, when
all of a sudden the animal he was rid
ing gave jump and he discovered an
Indian lying by the wayside, who as he
passed, had tried to seize his legs, but
Reed eluded him and came into camp
trfumphantly. After that he became a
great favorite with the red men, and on
one occasion they dressed him up as a
brave, put rings on his wrists, painted
his face, and greatly honored him as a
big Indian chief.
On the Fourth of July, 1852, it was
agreed that the best way to celebrate the
day was to entertain strangers at the
residences of citizens, so J. w. Bass took
twenty, somebody else ten, and Deacon
Cavendar ten. Among those who went
with Cavender was Reed. Fifteen years
afterwards Reed ran for alderman in
the same ward in which Cavender lived,
and finding out that Cavender was about
to vote against him. Reed addressed him
as follows:
"Cavender, you are not going to vote
against me?"
Yes I am
But you wouldn't vote against friend
you once entertained at dinner?"
You never took dinner with me-"
Yes 1 did,
Prove it and 1 will vote for you," said
Cavender. "Tll vote for you for any Of
flee you may run for as long as 1 live.
and he did, only regretting that he could
not do the same favor to the other nine,
who sat down to his hospitabe table on
the Fourth of July. 1852.
Young Reed drifted back to Illinois in
1852 and taught school for while before
returning to ST. Paul On his way back
he stopped at a small town, bought a