The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-03


e. HE territory of Minnesota was
organized on the 1st day of
III June, 1S49. The first session of
the territorial legislature con-
vened on the Sd day of September,
1S49. There were nine members of the
council and eighteen members of the
house Of representative-its place of
meeting was in the Central house,
hotel situate on the southwest corner
of Second and Minnesota streets. The
main building was two-story log
building weather boarded and painted,
with frame addition in the rear. The
house of representatives met in the
dining room-the council up stairs, in
what was known as the ladies' parlor.
The hours of meeting were adapted
to the rules of the hotel in regard to
its meal hours. After breakfast the
dining room was cleared Of its table
and dishes, and the desks of the mem
bers brought in and the business Of
the day began. About 1880 notice was
served upon the speaker that the dining
room was wanted, the members would
then pick up their desks and pile them
up in what was known as the office;
their papers they generally put in their
pockets. The tables and dishes would
then be brought into the dining room
for dinner. After dinner the room
would again be cleared and become the
When supper time came notice was
again served to the house to vacate,
which was done. The room used by
day for a council chamber at night
was converted into a sleeping room.
The desks and chairs were piled up at
one side of the room, and the vacant
part of the floor covered with straw
ticks and Indian blankets upon which
some of the members would sleep.
This was. a little different from what
it will be in the new capitol
The First Legislature
The men who composed that first
legislature-while they may have worn
moccasins and buffalo coats in season
were a class that would compare
most favorably with the men who now
represent Minnesota in the legisla-
ture of the state. They were men of
more than ordinary intelligence. ener-
getic and Industrious, men of character,
men who had thrown away the COM
forts of other homes and sought
homes on the frontier of civilization to
better their condition in life.
G
Wilkinson, who afterwards became a
member os-congress and United
States senator; William r. Marshall, a
governor of Minnesota and a general
in the Civil war; David Olmsted, first
mayor Of st. Paul. and whose first mes
sage to the common council after
fifty years might be read with profit
by that distinguished body of men, the
present common council; Lorenzo A.
Babcock, afterward attorney general
of the territory; William H. Forbes,
quartermaster in the army and Indian
agent; Gideon H. Rond, the old mis-
sionary. Then there was David B.
LOOMS, Martin Mcleod, Mahlon Black
Henry F. Setter and Joseph W. Fur
Der, in fact there was not man
among them-but what became more OF
less prominent in the early history OF
Minnesota, as among those who aided
materially in every effort and scheme
which started Minnesota on her way tC
a great future. All of the members
of the first legislature have passed into
the great unknown except Parson K
Johnson, who resides at Brainerd
Mimi, and in his eighty-fifth year
lives to interestingly tell the story OF
OiOneer DAVIS
All the laws passed at the first ses.
sion were good laws. There was nc
wildcat legislation or boodling. The
boodlers were among the later arrivals
for as Gov. Ramsey used to say, "the
old settlers were honest, If nothing
else" Among the laws passed were
those establishing courts, organizing
counties, laying out territorial roads
granting ferry charters, Incorporating
the Minnesota Historical society," Ii.
censing groceries, believe they cal
them saloons now-and one act IL
which the people of ST. Paul was very
much interested, incorporating tn,
town of ST. Paul. Among other legis.
lation was class that grew so rapidly
In later years, that had it not been fol
the constitutional prohibition, would
have taken up a large part Of tn,
time of the legislators, as it does nov
of our districts courts, namely, divorc,
cases.
An attempt was made at this sessio,
TO locate the permanent seat of govern
ment at st. Paul, but it failed. ST. An
thony, with almost the population O
st. Paul, thought 1t had som,