Warren sheaf., 1903-04-30

from politics. for the following, year. he
was chosen chairman of the whig state
committee, during the important cam
Taylor as president
This campaign also affected Mr.. RAM
sey's destinies to an important degree,
dent Taylor came into office, he appointed
Mr.. Ramsey governor Of the Minnesota
territory, then recently established. =
P eame to and
ing there on May 9th, 1849. Four days
afterwards. the other territorial officers
having arrived, he issued a proclamation,
declaring the territory organized
The first legislative body of Minnesota
convened in two small rooms Of a hotel
On Pa,,t the banks of the Mississippi in St.
The governor read his first message to
the joint convention of the two houses,
tWenty-seven members in all, assembled
Among the first acts of Governor Ram
sey were efforts in the direction of ex-
tinguishment of the Indian titles by
brought some 90, oo0. 600 acres % of What WI It's is
now the most valuable portion of the
state, into settlement.
He was elected mayor Of St.. Paul in
1855, and when Minnesota was admitted
to the union, Governor Ramsey was nom
mated: i!ca for state @ governor by the repub-
Hcan party, but was not elected.
Two years later he was again nomi
mated and received a handsome majority
He entered his office on Jan. 2. 1860. At
that time the state was in debt and the
treasury was empty, taxes were difficult
to collect, and there were many diff
culties. connected with the administrat ton
of so young state in war time, but the
administratio was successful.
At the time of the fall of Fort Sumter
governor Ramsey was in Washington on
sity for troops he at once called upon
President Lincoln and rendered him a
regiment of 1000 men from Minnesota.
Govern9r We Sc, Ramsey w was Reelected in the
more important and trying than the first
There, were repeated calls for troops
fre the IN 1sS2 and five
:. In the middle of this activity occurred
the the SIOUX 10 &, massacre . IN the southwestern
ized Governor Ramsey. he organized a
battalion to go to the front to the relief
Of the beseiged settlers. 10-0. -
elected United States senator from Min
nesota, and in 1869. at the close of his
term he was reelected for six years
His service in the senate was marked
by. the introduction of many important
bills; including measures for the i'm
proyement Of the mississippi river, aiding
peal of the franking abuse, and various
west. Being chairman of the senate
committee on postoffices, he was espe-
cially interested in postal reforms
For few years after the close of his
congressional term he enjoyed a period Of
rest from his official life, but on Dec. 10,
1879, President Hayes rendered him the
portfolio Of secretary of war This posi-
tion he filled with much honor during the
remainder of President Hayes adminis-
tration. Under the "Edmunds law"
which created commission of five to
control the affairs of the polygamists in
Utah, Senator Ramsey was APPOINTED in
1882 to serve on this board and was
elected it's chairman.
He filled this position for four Years
resigning in 1886. 1t was his last public
service.
During his long and active life as a
public man in Minnesota, Governor Ram
sey has been active in MANY movements
for the benefit of his city and state not
connected with official affairs Since 1849
he was one of the most active members
of the Minnesota Historical Society. He
was president and director Of the ST. Paul
public library and a leading member OF
the Old Settlers Association, and an hon
ored member Of the Minnesota Command j
cry, Loyal Legion. Az
married Miss Anna Earl jerks, a. daugh.
ter Of Michael H jerks, a Judge and
congressman of Bucks county. Pennsyl-
3vania. They had two sons, both Of whom
died in infancy, and one daughter. Mrs,
II Charles E. Furness. 7s a - 'ss' D. 8,