The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-24

Abraham Perry Louis zMassie and 9TH
ers who took an important part In the
early settlement of the country. These
refugees from the north kept coming until
in 1880 over 800 people had come from the
Red river to Fort Smelling.
Suffered Great Hardships.
The hardships of those who We're living
at the fort during these years can scarce
Nv be imagined. There was scarcely any
connection with theroutside world. Mails
were received but three or four times a
year and were carried by soldiers VINO
came in canoes from Prairie du Chen 20
the fort with supplies for the detachment
stationed here In 1928 the first steam
boat arrived at the, fcrts,, 1t was called
the Virginia, and was is, feet long, with
24-foot beam and q 6-foot draught 1t
was four days getting over the rapids at
Rock Island. After that the arrival OF
steamboats,. became quite common, ana
by May, 1926, fifteen boats had landed at
the fort. They began to- carry the mails
and supplies and opened up the region iof
settlement.
All those who had found homes at the
fort were located on government land,
and, in 1887, they were given notice 10
vacate the reservation. AT that time
more of the land outside the reservation
had been opened for settlement, but early
in 1888 this was done. AS soon as word
was received at the fort that the land
was open several of those who had been
living on the reservation went outside OF
it's limits to find homes. The first man
|, to locate was Pierre Parrant who built
the first house in the present city of St.
Paul. It was located at the mouth OF the
little stream that flows from fountain
cave, which is under the present location
of the Omaha shops just above the Smith
avenue bridge. This house was a sort of
way-side saloon and was the beginning
of the present city. Its owner, Mr.. Far
rant, was q man who bore an uIienVlaDie
reputation, he having been ordered by
the Indian agent to leave the locality
just previous to the time that the land
was opened for settlement. He lived IN
this hut for a few years, and then lost it
on a mortgage toAa man Who lived at
1 Mendoza. He moved down the river to a
place just below Dayton bluff, where he
started another saloon. Parrant had a
physical disability, having in some way
lost one of his eyes. This gave him ape
culiar appearance, which caused some OF
the funny ones in the new settlement to
call him Pig Eye" a-name which came
very near being the name of the present
city, 1t having chung to the locality IN
which Parrant resided until this day.
Abraham Perry, who, was one OF the
number who came fron6the Red river
was the second white man to settle out
| side of the reservation. His cabin was
started few days Iafter1 Parrant began
| his. Perry's claim laid Nslittle west OF
Parrants, and his house stood on the
present site of the city hospital. Perry,
unlike his neighbor, engaged in agri-
| cultural pursuits, and. was the first farm
er in the great agrfcnltural region sur
rounding the capital City. The other early
settlers were the Gervais brothers, Ed
ward Phelan, John Hays and William
Evans They all took claims along the
! river front. reaching from what is now
the site of the Omaha shops to Dayton $
I bluff.
First Church Ise Built.
| Up to this time There was no church
| in the settlement, and n62name had yet
been given to the p5acea In 1883 Rev
Father Galtier was sent TO this LOCALITY
! as a missionary. He stopped at st. Peter.
and frequently made pastoral calls at the
homes of the settlers here. AS the set
!, Element increased he came TO the con-
clusion that chapel should be erected
to accommodate the people. AS soon as
he arrived at this decision he bega.l look
ing for location for the church. Land
was Offered. him at the upper settlement.
and also 1t the foot Of the sluff near the