The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-03

ped on Minnesota territory Alexander
Ramsey has always been closely con-
nected with its history. The first Of
eighteen governors, he still lives, gen.
ial and hearty, although he bears on
his shoulders the weight of nearly
ninety years. Fifty-four years it NOT
a long time In the history of a race,
our union of states, but in this COM
paratively short period Gov. Ramsey
has witnessed many marvels. He has
seen region that, sixty years ago,
was marked on the maps as a portion
of the great American wilderness be-
come one of the most populous COM
monwealths in the union. He has seen
school system grow from a few
struggling schools supported by sub
Scription to a system that employs
$4,000 teachers and owns school houses
which cost in the aggregate $15,000,
600. He has seen the federal census
taken six times, first in 1850, when the
returns We're SOFT, and last in 1900,
when the population was 1,751 1894.
He has seen the state advance from
condition of Stocking banks" to
the rank of twelfth in the Union in the
total value of banking resources. He
has seen the old time blacksmith and
wagon shop of "the settlement grow
into l27 different varieties of manufac-
turing concerns. He has seen the will
dernesS, with it's occasional settlement,
blossom into eighty-fve counties, each
one with railroads, churches, schools
and newspapers. He has seen the
chapel of the frontier missionary meta
morphose into an organization of
churches representing no less than
sixty denominations. He has enjoyed
the honor of offering to the govern
ment in her extremity the services
and arms of the state in the Civil war
and he has seen that service again
eagerly rendered in the war with
Spain.
He has seen a territory originally
without railroad, a telegraph line or
telephone ribbed with steel rails and
Melted with electric wires. He has
seen the little saw mill that cut all
the lumber for the early settlers grow
into the biggest mills in the country.
He has seen the little flour mill turn
ed by the waters of the river grow
into the largest mills in the world.
He has seen and aided, by his wisdom
and moderation, the growth of a sys-
tenn of laws which might easily serve
as model for the older Eastern states.
Ramsey's Rare Privilege.
He has seen all this and he has the
satisfaction of knowing that his hand
has helped to shape the estiny of the
territory which fftyfour years ago
he was sent to govern. 1t is not al
ways permitted the builder to view
the edifice he has helped to plan, but
this privilege has been accorded Gov.
Ramsey.
He was born near Harrisburg, Pa,
on Friday, Sept. 8, 1915. He attended
the common schools and later Lafay-
cite college, Easton, Pa, from which
institution he was graduated. He ear
~ took an interest in political affairs
oil
in various public capacities before he
was made governor of the new terri
tory of Minnesota. He remained the
territorial governor until 1853.
In 1855 he was chosen mayor of st.
Paul, and in 1859 became governor of
the state and served until 1863. He
was the first governor to tender a reg
iment of troops to President Lincoln.
In 1868 he succeeded Henry NJ. Rice
as United States senator and served
until 1875, his period of service cover
ing critical period in the country's
history. He proved himself most use
full in every emergency. In 1879 he
succeeded George w. McCrary as sec
rotary of war in the cabinet of Presi-
dent Hayes, and remained there until
1881, when he was succeeded by Rob
ert T. Lincoln, of the cabinet of Presi-
dent Garfield Since then he has been
living quietly, only interesting him
ser, SO Tar as pubic affairs are COM
cerned, with the city's charities.
Most Picturesque Figure.
There is no figure in the whole
Northwest more picturesque than that
of Gov. Ramsey nor is there a life
that teaches better object lesson of
the rewards that come from a we'll
spent life. The venerable governors
home on South Exchange street, is one
Of the beautiful residences of the city,
and the governors library is filled with
relics of pioneer days. These and his
books are his diversions.
1t is an interesting task to trace