The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-04
ALEX. CATHCART DEAD
PIONEER DRY GOODS MERCHANT
NEVER RECOVERED FROM
HIS INJURIES
WAS STRUCK BY A STREET CAR

Less Than Half q Century Ago,
and Had Always Been Prominent
In Its Public Affairs-Funeral VIII
Be Held Friday-Sketch of His
Career in st Paul.
Alexander Fl. Cathcart, one of the ter
ritorial pioneers and prominent st.
Paul business man in the early days, died
yesterday at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. L. H. Maxfeld, 6N Goodrich ave-
nue., from a lingering illness, which be-
gan with injuries received some time
ago in an accident at Fifth and Cedar
streets, when he was struck and severe
ly injured by an interurban car going
around the loop. At the time of his death
he was eighty years of age, and had been
resident of st. Paul since 1850 AT the
time he received his injuries Mr.. Cath
cart was trying to pass wagon on the
street An interurban car came up be-
hind him, striking him in the back.
Though he partially recovered from his
injuries and was able to get out Of his
bed he did not fully recover and in his
weakened condition the disease which
caused his death made rapid Roadway.
MrCathcart was, until the time of the
accident, man of unusual strength and
activity, considering his age. His mind
was alert and active and he retained a
grasp Of affairs and business which was
unusual He was one of the most prom
inent citizens of st. Paul, a charter mem
Der of the Chamber of Commerce and the
Minnesota State Historical Society and
prominent in every movement in the
early days of the citys history looking
towards development and progress. He
leaves a wife, daughter and three sons,
John w, who is a lawyer in Honolulu,
Alexander c., of st. Paul, and Arthur
H, an ensign in the United States navy,
stationed at the Pensacola FTla.) navy
yard. The latter will arrive today to at
tend his fathers funeral, which will oc-
cur on Friday.
Mrs. Cathcart, who was Rebecca Mar
wives him.
Maj. Newson, in his Pen Pictures, had
the following to say about the deceased:
GA. II. Cathcart was born in Canada in
1920; was educated there, and at the age
of eleven years was trained in the mys-
teries of the dry goods business. Reach
ing his majority he went to Montreal,
and later removed to New York, where
he remained until 1850; then drffted West
and finally arrived in st. Paul in 1851;
was at one time messenger in the legis-
lature. He was among the first dry
goods merchants in this city, if not the
hrSt, to make speciality of the business.
The firm was A. H. and J. Cathcart and
IN lS52 they ran two stores; then they
removed their stock to Robert street and
In 1855 erected large brick building on
Third street near where the First Ma
tonal bank used to stand and filed it
with heavy assortment of goods At
this time Cathcart's was the great dry
goods house in the city. They passed
through the disastrous times of 1857 and
in 1873 A. H. Cathcart John having been
murdered in the South) took in a part
ner named Oxley and the store was then
removed to Third and Wabasha streets.
which occupied the whole space now de-
voted to the business houses of Lambie
q Co. and Myers & Finch Subsequently
Mr. Cathcart removed to Pennington.
Dakota county, Mimi, where he carried
on business for several years, when he
rehnGu1shed it and came to St. Paul.
where he now resides f.'.t 4if
Mr. 1Cathcart, thirty years ago, was a
comparatively young man, tail, weIl-pro
poft1oned, with black side-whiskers. and
the very essence Of politeness. His early
education in the dry goods business had
given him a polish which was very tax
Ing with the ladies' AS he grew Older
the hair grew thinner on the top of his
mead until the crowning glory of wears
now pictures him as a man passed tba
meridian of life. And yet he Is Straight
active and vigorous