The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-09
FROM A CLOSE ASSOCIATE
Tribute to Joseph A. Wheelock by
George 9. Cochran.

The following from George G. Coch-
ran Of Minneapolis, a professional as
sociate with Mr.. Wheelock for some
time and close personal friend, is
written at The Journals request,
and gives an intimate view Of his char
acter and habits of mind:
''The death of Joseph A. Wheelock
removes from the great state Of Min
nesota one who contributed to her sub
stantial growth and marvellous develop
ment in ways which readily recur to
those who knew him and know some
thing Of the history Of the territory
and the state during the last fifty years.
From the days when Mr.. Wheelock was
q clerk in the suffers store at Fort
Minnesota S interests. He found here
a promising field for his ambition, which
was to grow up with a young, vigorous
and progressive community and share
its fortunes or misfortunes, as the case
might be. Thru the newspaper press
he welded a strong influence for ter
ritory and state.
81 remember him we'll when, back
in the fifties, he was associated with
Earl Goodrich in conducting the old
Pioneer, which was published in the
Northwestern Fur company s frame
building on the corner Of Jackson and
Third streets, St. Paul. There were
1noSe VINO USED 10 laugl aI w neelOch
many-svllabled words, but there is no
doubt that he used words weighty and
incisive. He outgrew his sesquipedalian
habit, however, and toned down his
turgid style, so that there were few
writer's for the press as perspicuous as
he. When he wrote anything he stood
by it, and rarely committed himself to
any policy before he had studiously and
intelligentlv weighed every phase of it.
In the Early Days.
"He was an early advocate Of rail
ways for Minnesota, and edited a pa
per devoted to such advocacy-a week,
ly issue, in which appeared many of his
severely critical articles excoriating the
incidentally he hit a stalwart citizen
who had come from Virginia with
southern notions of Honor and,
forthwith putting a revolver in his
coat pocket, proceeded to Wheelock g
office to demolish him.
"Mr. Wheelock encountered DR.. Val
den with the utmost calmness, and
learning his mission, rose from his edi-
torial chair and quickly seized the doe
tor by the arms and propelled him down
the stairway. During this movement
the doctor s pistol slipped thru a hole
In his pocket and went down one leg
of his pants into his boot. and he hae
arsenal. He did not renew the efrort
to slay Mr.. Wheelock, however.
"Mr. Wheelock was a member OF
Noble S expedition to the Saskatchewan
country fifty years ago, and wrote tt
the Pioneer a series Of very interesting
letters descriptive of the country thru
out the northwest. He contributed {
number of valuable papers on the china
ltologv of our northwest to scientific
and other journals, and drew attention
to the advantages of Minnesota in thu
Pioneer and notably in the Pionee,
Press-the combination effected will
the Driscoll newspaper publishing inter
est.
On the Pioneer Press.
"Upon this latter paper Mr.. Vince
lock impressed much of his best work
He stood with the late Governor Sible,
- against the reputation of the stat
railway bonds which had been incon
siderately issued at period when tn
public were in a tremendous hurry t.
have railways constructed and wer
not over particular as to the prope
ways and means for track laying an
were not addicted to extremely clos
scrutiny as to the integrity of the con
tractors. It is to Mr. Wheelock
credit that the strong influence of hi
paper was used at all times to proven
the staining Of the state IS good NAM
and the final settlement of that que: