The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10

the grocery was moved over to the
former Forepaugh block, on the north
side of Third street, just below Wa
basha, where, at No. 5 Third street,
next to the Second National bank on
the corner, the house of Monfort
Brothers enjoyed a high reputation for
its imported delicacies, Cuban cigars
and wines of choice vintage.
Mr.. MOnfort married In June 1871.
His bride was Miss Alice Taylor, the
daughter of Maj. James w. Taylor,
who attained marked popularity
across the line" as United States con-
sui at Winnipeg. Mrs. MonfOrt died in
February, 1885.
While conducting a prosperous bust
ness Mr.. MonfOrt again lost his health
as the result of overwOrk, and in 1879
he was obliged to retire from the firm
of MonfOrt Brothers. He went to
Carlsbad, Austria, remained there a
year and returned to ST Paul a COM
parative invalid. 1t was not until No
vember, 1880, that he felt able to re-
sumo an active life.
Then he secured an interest in the
Windsor hotel Of which the architect,
builder and owner was John Summers,
Mr.. MOnfOrt'S brOther-in-laW. Mr..
Monfort bought the interest of John
Baugh, the hotel having been conduct
Ell DY SUMMERS az bduSu Ills new
management, Summers & MonfOrt,
continued until February, 1891, at
which time was organized the Windsor
Hotel company. Mr.. MonfOrt, already
promoted TO a bOniface cOlonelcy, was
chosen president and mana ger of the
company, position that he retained
thencefOrth.
In 1880 Col. Monfort received his
first appointment upon the board of
city workhouse directors. So efficient
did he prove in this capacity that he
was regularly reappointed. For many
years he served as president of the
board.
Gov Clough named Col Monfort an
actual colonel upon the gubernatorial
<ferred by Gov. Van SAINT, who ten
dered a commission for the rank of
brigadiar general.
Became an Inventor.
Of recent years Col. Monfort had
found both anus ement and profit in
the invention of mechanical contriv-
ances of great utility to hotels and
restaurants. Several Of these inven-
tions, especially an adjunct for a hotel
range, have been adopted throughout
the country.
At the Windsor Col. Monfort was
associated for some years with
yOQDSSI VI Ol11C1S NSOI sc AlOILOII
who died in 1894. The third brother,
Delos A. Monfort, long president of the
Second National bank, died in 1899.
The surviving members of Col. Mon
forts immediate family, who were be-
side him at the last, are his daughter,
Mrs. J. w. @. Dunn, of St. Paul, and
sisters, Mrs. John Summers, of st.
Paul, and Mrs j. H. Reyes, of Oneonta,
N. Y
During his twenty-four years at the
Windsor Col. Monfort became "the
friend of the Northwest" and was able
to make his hotel of later years the
political center of Minnesota, the Fifth
Avenue hotel Of st. Paul. To his in
innate friends, and especially to his
employees rare and thorough test
he dOubly endeared himself by his I'M
failing kindness, patience and stead
fastness. This is sufficiently proved by
the number of years during which
many employees of the Windsor have
held their pOsts-the assistant man
ager, Howard Estes, twenty-three
years; the chief clerk, William P.
twenty-five years, another twenty
years; the headWaiter. seventeen
years; the principal barman,. fifteen
years. you couldn't work for bet
ter man than the colonel" said one of
these employees emphaticalIy.
Ine impress winch Col. MOnfOrt left
upon the officers of the workhouse
board was reflected yesterday in the
opinion Of Supt. John Fitzgerald: "The
colonel was one of natures noblemen.
His sound Judgment and his broad,
charitable sense of duty to the public
and to the people in our charge proved
year after year our main reliance In
the administration of workhouse af-
fairs"
81 believe" said a lawyer who knew
the colonel WELL that Monfort had an
exceptional mind for mechanical and
commercial principles. He would have
succeeded wonderfully in big industrial
undertakings. AS for his moral char
acteristics, he was not only genial and
diplomatic, but he was thoroughly hon
orable and just; and his unusual pa
tience and pertinacity enabled him to
overcome i'll health and other obstacles
that few men could have combatted
without failure"
Chief Clerk William P Hayes viii
probably be named as acting manager
of the Windsor hotel until the hotel
company can elect a successor to Col.
MOnfOrt