S^ f^ ^ !^ V ?:

.^.^V^

i^:>.

^. ■ f2,^f^^>

J^W'^'f^^'^ *^^^-'' ^^^>^-^^'

'l^^^*^^-^.'%^

k.^'

4'^M.,'^'M'

'?*^#"f^f^ !?^ i,

^..t.^.

► .«-#'■.

^;^^'^#,^#^^...*^,

k^i^.H*:^ ^*W

,i!^.^'.SF...#^..#^#«.^

#!:.%.

M'.k

.*■- i^'^i^\

fc.!.

''*fv t*ri

*^,'"«^ f f t

^ip^

.*^.%%-,^-^r^:--«^

«i* " m-

^ «P'.., 'W':*.. •*

.#.%!>:

# '#■■ If'

'fTW P

^^«»«»t/w*'r*^^

>«%■

, Sf'^-V^#, Jp',

t.l.

»-f i^f:f ^ c*:»^.,»,

^^#A*V;*'^#^'i

:l,- «* ^'fe. -^^

^^^■^'v , ...yrr^'fe^t rf^^r^'

^^^rC^'

m

^r

] \\V^\\c<

<^. -^C^ d{ilz CL /V<

KfuriScUl Co

HTfeTORT

OF THE CITY OF

M. I N i\: R A T=^'<. )ivl^^

\4 i NF "NT KsSOX A

Part II,

ISAAC ATWATEI^,

Ml. \:-

iH'-jJ-

r.u:-M ■::': ,■ Tt. v;rf „

^>

^.

•i

\

,»,.*^V-«*tS»**^*^>^'

HISTORY

OF THE CITY OF

MINNEAPOLIS

MINNESOTA

Part II.

ISAAC AXVi/ATEI^,

EDITOH.

New York:

MUNSELL & COMPANY. Publishers,

1893.

93962

COPYRIGHT, 1893.

MUNSELL AND COMPANY,

New York and Chicago.

MANUFACTURES.

^hf- 545"

WiLMAM Drew Washburx. The feu- dal institutions of Europe have produced manv families \vhose members have been distinguished in successive generations by qualities which have made them con- spicuous and often powerful. In them inherited tcdents, cherished and devel- oped by training and association, have been favored by exalted birth to produce characters which have impressed their age and wrought themselves into the fabric of history. In America, where from the beginning titlesof nobility have been discarded, and aristocracy exists only by personal merit, the number of families obtainingdistinction are few, and therefore when they have appeared have attracted the greater notice and honor. Such were the Adams, who, for at least four generations, have held high posi- tions in'the state, and maintained ex- alted characters. Such were the Becch- ers, where father, sons and daughters held a high intellectual nol)ility, by tal- ent, character and attainment. Among those families whose sons have attained to the highest civil honors, and who have exerted a most powerfid influence 1)3' their character, attainments and con- si)icuous services, is the Washburn.

William D.Washburn was the young- est of a family of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity and married and had children of their own. Among them were Israel W^ashburn, Jr., (tOvct- nor of Maine and Member of the Na- tional Congress; Elihu B. Washburn, Member of Congress, Secretary of State, and Minister Plenipotentiary to France during the Franco-German war; Cad- walader C. Washburn, Member of Con- gress, Governor of Wisconsin and a major-general in the war; Charles A. Washburn, United States Minister to Paraguay; and Samviel B. Washbin'n, tin officer in the navv of the Fnited States during the War of the Kebellicui. They

37

were sons of Israel and Martha (Benja- min) Washburn, born and bred to man- hood in the town of Livermore, Andros- coggin County, Maine, where they shared in the simple social life of the commu- nit\f, drew vigor from the labors of the farm, and inspiration amid the hills and meadows, the lakes and flashingstreams of their rural home.

"The ancestors of the Washburn fam- ily were of the brave old Pilgrim stock and dwelt in the cjuiet little English vil- lage of Evesham, near the Avon, Shakes- peare's river. When the days grew evil in England John Washburn, secretary of the Ph'mouth colony in England, sailed across the sea to Massachusetts, where he married Patience, the daughter of Fran- cis Cook, one of the passengers in the Ma3-flo\ver. They settled at Duxbury, one of the seashore towns of the Old Colony. In the direct line of his descend- ants came Israel Washburn, who was born ill 1784 in the town of Raynham, near Taunton, in Bristol Countj-, Mas- sachusetts. In June, 1812, he married Martha Benjamin, the daughter of Lieut. Samuel Benjamin, a brave old soldier of the Revolution , who began his campaign- ing at the battle of Lexington and re- mained in the service until after Corn- vvallis' surrender at Yorktovvn, at which he was present, not being out of active duty for a single daj-. After these many years of patriotic devotion the veteran hero returned to his native region and married Tabitha, the daughter of Na- thaniel Livermore, of Watertown,Mass. The newly wedded couple settled in the hill town of Livermore, near the Andros- coggin river in Maine ; and soon after- wards Israel Washburn, after experi- menting at teaching and ship building on the Kennebec, came up here and founded a trading post." He subse- ciuently settled ujion a farm and there in humble but respectable circumstances

546

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS-

raised his famih'. From their ehildhood the sons shared in tlic l.'dDors of the farm and learned and praetieed all the drudg- eries and economies of rural agricultural life. The father was a sturd\', alert and industrious j-eoman. He was an eager reader of cun'cnt events, activeh- inter- ested in pviblic affairs and anxious to give his children all the advantages of education which his limited resources and the school o])portunities of the region could afford . "The mother was a practical housekeeper, industrious, fru- gal, sagacious, stimulating to the chil- dren's consciences, sincereh^ religious withal, and hence gave those under her jjrecious charge an vinalterable bent to- ward pure and lofty ends."

William D. was born January 14th, 1831. His early life did not essentially differ from that of sons of intelligent farmers throughout New England, ex- cept that the older brothers had already entered upon public and professional life, and offered to the younger brother stimulating examples and encoi:rage- ment to aspire to like honors. His sum- mers were devoted to labor, while during the winters he was privileged to attend the district school, and later enjoyed some terms at Gorham and Farmington Academies. At the latter institution he completed his preparation for college.

Entering old Bowdoin College in the fall of 1850, he completed the full classi- cal course and received his bachelor's de- gree in course on graduation in 1854.

After graduation he entered the office of his brother Israel to prepare himself for the law, to which profession his taste and ambition led him. The legal studies were completed in 1S57 at Bangor, in the office of Hon. John A. Peters, now chief justice of the state of Maine. Mean- while he secured a clerkship in the United States House of Ke])rcsentatives, under Gen. Cullom, wiiere he iiad an ojjportu-

nity to observe the methods of transact- ing business in the nation's ])arliament, as well as to make the acquaintance of the public men of the period, conteni])()- raries of his three brothers, who were members of that Congress, re{)resenting the widely separated states of Maine, Illinois and Wisconsin.

At the age of twent3--six, endowed with a vigorous constitution, a liberal education andalegal diploma, he sought a place to settle and enter upon his life work. The examples of brothers who had attained eminence, the one in the state of his birth, and others at the West, were before him and no doubt stimulated him to do his utmost to honor the name already famous through- out the country. He decided in favor of the West and determined to settle at the Falls of St. AnthouA'. Emigrants from Livermore were already settled thei-e and his brothers had interests in the water power at the falls, as well as in the pine forests of the North, and a large immigration from all parts of the East was flowing towards the favored spot. It required no prophetic gift to foresee that here would grow up a prosperous community, and perchance become the "seat of Empire." Indeed an American poet sailing westward over the ])lacid waters of Lake Superior, with face turned hitherward had already heard

" The first low wash of waves, Where yet shall roll a human sea."

Accordingly he reached Minneapolis on the first of May, 1857, and soon opened a law office.

The career of Mr. Washburn in the West divides itself into three lines, that of business, the promotion of works of ])ublic im])rovement, and statesmanshiji, in each of which he has ])een eminent, and any one of which would engross the Labor and satisfy the ambition of almost any man. The first two occupied the

m n o ■z c w

w w m

MANUFACTURES.

first t went J' years of his residence here, while the latter is now in full tide of progress. In this sketch of his life these will naturally be noticed in order.

The practice of law at that period, in this part of the country, was meager. It consisted chiefly of land cases, and its forimi was more in the land office than in the courts. It furnished little occupa- tion to satisfy an eager and ambitious temper. The Minneapolis Mill Company had been chartered the year before his arrival. The property of the corpora- tion consisted of the land adjacent to the falls on the west side of the Missis- sippi river, and was capitalized at one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. The means necessary to make imj^rovements were by the plan ado])ted by the com- pany to be provided by assessments upon the stock. Soon after his arrival here Mr. Washburn accepted the a])i)oint- ment of secretary and agent of the com- jiany and entered into its service with all the energy and enthusiasm of his na- ture. The dam was built find other im- provements commenced under his man- agement. Hon. Robert Smith, a member of Congress from the Alton, Ills., dis- trict, was the largest stockholder. Others were D. Moi-rison, the brother of Mr. Washburn, Cadwalader, Leonard Day, Jacob S. Elliott, George E. Huy, M. L. Olds and two or three more non-residents of the state. The financial panic of 1857 was felt with great severity towards the close of the year, and checked most and wrecked some promising enterprises. The Alill Company was able to complete its dam and a small section of its canal, so as to admit the erection of saw mills and some other manufactories, but was left with a load of debt and many assets of unjjaid stock assessments. The agent struggled with increasing end)arass- ments, sometimes unable to pay the taxes upon the property, and .-idminis-

tered its affjiirs for four years, during which he secured in addition to saw mills, the erection of the first merchant flour mill — the Cataract — built in Min- neapolis, the precursor of a flour milling business which has become famous throughout the world, and has been one of the leading industries of the citv. With indefatigal)lc labor he made turns, giving orders on stores, receiving logs and lumber, and trying in every ingeni- ous way to utilize the slender resources at his conunand. Many stockholders, either unable to pay assessments or dis- couraged with the prospect of carrying alf)ng an enterprise the profits of which were to be gained in the distant future, allowed their stock to be forfeited and sold. He realized the importance of hav- ing the water powers put to use, and offered liberal terms to attract buyers, so that most manufacturing enterprises located upon the west side mill property while that of the east side, held at higher prices, though in fact better sites, re- mained conn)aratively unimproved. Still the struggle was a hard one. Improve- ments outran income for many years. Mr. Washburn ])ersevered in his policy, i-emaining a director of the company to the present time, and has had the satis- faction of seeing the company out of debt and paying liberal dividends. Wa- ter powers which originally rented at $75 per mill power commanding $1,000, the dam filled with saw mills and the canal lined with flour, paper, woolen and other mills, and the water power made the nucleus and basis of the unex- ampled prosperity of the cit3'. In 1889 the property of the Mill Company, to- gether with that of the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Co. on the East side, and the most promhient of the flouring mills, ])assed to a new company com- ])ose(l of English and American stock- holders, who invested many million dol-

548

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

lars in the proj^crt^-, a negotiation orig- inated and conducted b_v Mr. Washburn, he remaining a director of the new com- pan\'.

During the years preceding 1S61, we find Mr. Washburn's name and active influence connected with wliatevcr was inidert:d<en l)y the citizens to advance the interests of the comnnniity. He was ])resideiit of the Board of Trade, and corresponding secrettiry of Ihe Union Commercial Association. Upon the su])- mission of the constitutional amend- ment ])roposing a loan of the credit of the state to railroad corporations, cc^ni- monly called the "Five Million Loan Bill," he took an active part in opjjosing the measure, but was ovcrl)orne by the tide of ])0]iular enthusi.'ism raised in fa- vor of that unfortmuite measure.

In the spring of 1859 he I'eturned to his native state where, on the 19th of April, he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Muzz}-, daughter of Hon. Franklin Muzzy, a prominent manufac- turer and ])oliiician ol liangfjr. Return- ing he bnilt a small house in the lower part of the town, and at once Ijcgan housekeeping.

In 1861, Mr. Washburn was appointed b\' President Lincoln Surveyor General of Minnesota. Tiie duties of this office necessitated his removal to St. Pfiul, where he resided for the next four years, returning to his Minneai)olislu)nieatthe expiration of his term of office. During this period man\' of the jjine timbered lands of the northern part of the state were surve3'ed and brought into market. At the sales he purchased considerable tracts of timbered lands, the manage- ment and development of which turned his attention to the lumber business. In association with Eiias Moses, Granville M. Stiekncy, and afterwards with Maj. W. D. Hale-, £is W. D. Wasliburn & Co., he cut large quantities of i)inc logs in the

woods, drove them to the boom at Min- neapolis, erected a large saw mill at the Falls, opened lumber yards, and engaged largely in the hnnber trade. Later, about 1872, the firm built a large and very completely equipped saw mill at Anoka, where, with planing mills, dry houses, and all the equipments necessary, thej' carried on the lumlier business. They handled as high as twenty-five million feet of Ivimber per year.

Mr. Washburn also engaged largely in the manufacture of flour, associated with Rufus S.Stevens ;ind Leonard Day. He was interested in building and o])er- ating the Palisadeflouringmillat Alinne- apoHs, built in lS78,and as W.D.Wash- burn & Co., bviilt a floin-ing mill at Ancjka , in 1880. His business interests were in 1884 incorporated as the "Washburn Mill Company. The mills at Minneapolis and Anoka had a daih* capacity- of twenty-five hundred barrels of flour. These lines of business were carried on until the year 1889, when the lumber business was closed and the flouring business with the mills was transferred to the new company that aeqtiired the mill company under the style of I'ills- bury -Washburn Flour Mills Company; Air. Washl)urn still remains a director of the company, and with Mr. Pillsl)ury is one of the local managers of that ex- tensive business.

An important enterprise in which Mr. Washburn engaged in 1870 was the 1)uilding of the first section of the North- ern Pacific railway through the State of .Minnesota from the St. Louis river to the Red River of the North. The contract was let to a construction company com- posed largely of Minneapolis men, of whom he was one. The work was ener- getically ])ushed, amid unusual difficul- ties, and satisfactorily completed in 1872.

The history of the undertaking and building of the Minneapolis and Duluth,

MANUFACTURES.

549

and Minneapolis and St. Louis railways is told in the ehapter of this history on railroads. Suffice it to say here that W. D. Washburn, with his brother, Gov. Washburn, were among the original and most zealous advocates of that enter- prise. They united with other enterpsis- ing citizens in organizing the company, contributed liberally to its funds, and entered spiritedly into the work of con- struction. W. D. Washburn became its president, and took the burden of its financial management, and held persist- ently to the project imtil its completion, and in surrendering it to the control of other parties provided for the protection of Alinncapolis and her large commercial and manufacturing interests.

The "Soo," as the Minneapolis, Saul t Ste. Marie and Atlantic railway line is popularly denominated, is in conception and realization of the " Washburn fam- ily." Twenty-five years ago Gov. Israel Washburn addressed the citizens of Min- neapolis, advocating for the facilitating of their trade, the construction of a railway line by way of the Sault St. Marie, connecting with the Canadian system, and making the shortest and almost air-line to an Atlantic port, at Portland. The conception remained to fructify and take bodily shape when his brother, W. D. Washburn, took up the idea, organized a company, became its ])resident and financial manager, and pushed it to completion in an incredibly short time. The leading idea was to serve the large milling interests of Min- neapolis, and theprodticers of the North- west, by opening up a new and compet- ing line to the East, and emancipating them from the monopoly of the old lines around the south shore of Lake Michi- gan. The line completed, it remained to supplement it by a line which should extend from Minneapolis into Dakota, and bring wheat here. This Mr. Wash-

burn accomplished b\' organizing the Minneapolis and Pacific railway com- pan3-, and completing the line into Da- kota, and b}' connecting lines to a junc- tion with the Canadian Pacific railway at Regina, thus making part of a great trans-continental line, bringing Minne- apolis two hundred miles nearer the Pacific coast than by any other line.

This gigantic work successfully ac- complished, except the completion of the Pacific connection, Mr. Washburn re- tired from the management to devote himself more exclusively to his public duties.

It is in his political Jind official rela- tions that Mr. Washburn will be chiefly known away from the city of his home. These have been varied and important, culminating in the highest official joosi- tion below the presidency, in the nation —that of Senator of the United States.

Like all his distinguished brothers, he had a taste for politics, and like them belonged to the radical wing of the Repub- lican pfirty. Strongly anti-slavery in the ante-bellum days, when that was an engrossing political question, strenous for the rights of the freedmen, he yet tempered his sympathies by a regard to practical statesmanship. Thus he took ground against the importation of Chi- nese laborers; and favored at the last session of Congress financial legislation, rather than a fruitless struggle to pass the Foi'ce bill. He was a protectionist in theory', and yet recognized the need of practical views in the arrangement of schedules of duties. In short, he svdjor- dinated strong s^'mpathetic impulses to practical measures in statesmanshi]).

As early as 1858 he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Minne- sota Legislature, but the delegation chosen that year never took their seats, owing to a change of apportionment. In 1870 he was again elected to the same

550

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

position, and served through the impor- tant session ot 1871, giving his influence and vote in favor of subjecting the rail- roads to pubHc authority. He served upon the school board of Minnea])()lis for two terms commencing with 1S()G.

In 1878, Mr. Washburn was elected Representative in Congress, carrying the district by some three thousand majority. He was re-elected in 1880 by twelve thousand majority, and again in 1882, serving six consecutive years. He was an influential and much respected mem- ber, devoting es])ecial attention to the needs of his district. Through his influ- ence, the national goveniment erected a fine building for the Federal courts and postoffice, in Minneapolis ; and under- took the system of reservoirs at the sources of the Mississippi river. His family accom]3anied him to Washington, where he took a fine house and enter- tained Alinnesota friends visiting the city, and took a leading part in the social life of the ca])ital.

Thecrowninghonorand most serious responsibility of his life occurred in 1889, when he was chosen to represent the State in the United States Senate, for a term of six years. Having closed the larger ]);irt of his business imdertakings, he is free to devote his ihoughts topublic duties. A ver\' im])ortant measure has been introduced l)y him in the Senate at the ])resent session (1892), aiming to suppress the Ijusiness of dealing in " options " £ind " futures " in suppositious wheat and other agriclutural ])roducts. A blow at such a gigantic system of gambling naturally has aroused power- ful o])position, l)ut no one who knows the determination of the Senator ami ai)ijreciates his intuitive perceptions of ])ublic duty will doubt the eventual success of the bill, b'or two summers he has, with his family, made excursions to Europe, visiting especially the northern

countries whence so many citizens of Minneapolis have emigrated.

Senator Washburn has been favored through all his life with good health. He has a strong constitution, great vitality, and an easy and agreeable man- ner. His unfailing courtesy attracts those of highest social position, while it does not repel the humblest. His dis- ])osition is genial, and his temper exhu- berant. In debate he is not florid, but argumentative and practical, preferring to convince the judgment rather than captivate the fancy. In conversation he is engaging, drawing from a store of varied experience. With all, he is a man of positive opinions, and of sufticient strength of will to hold them, until a good reason is shown for their change.

An interesting familj- of eight children have come to the household, of whom four sons and two daughters survive. The eldest, W. D. Washburn, Jr., lately graduated from Yale and married, has adopted the profession of journalist. Another son has artistic tastes and faculty. The j'ounger are yet [lursuing their sttidies.

After returning to Minneapolis from his brief residence in St. Paul, Mr. Wash- burn built a convenient, though not osten- tatious dwelling, at the corner of Seventh street and Fifth avenue, where the family lived for many years. .V few years ago he erected a mansion upon a high and wooded tract of ten acres, at Third avenue and Twenty-fotirth street. " Fair Oaks" is an elegant home, and a lovely spot. It is the pride t)f citizens and the admiration of visitors. Here is dispenseti a reiined and elegant hosiiitality, and the spacious rooms and suni])tuous iur- nishings are freely ofl'ered for meetings in [jremolion of art and charity.

Senator Washburn's ])ul)lie career has ausjHciously oijcned. He has fearlessly asserted his individuality and boldly

.<^^^

\^\*

t-Z^^^C^

MANUFACTURES.

ui i; ,11 with a stupendous and wide ■ i> ul public evil. From his indoma- I. (lualities, his innate sagacity, and -l^^ >5'mpathies with the trials and ap- preciation of the needs of the masses of tlie people, it is not doubtful that his public labors will bring honor to himself and advantage to the State. Opportu- nity and endowment are his. Ambi- tion urges' him forward, Avhile high pur- poses and lofty aims direct him in a cotir'ie of beneficent nublic service.

\\ . L). Wasliburn beeanic promiiicntly identified with the lumber interests of \Jit\neapolis by building the Lincoln mill HI 1 865; it was located on the Minneap- olis Alill Company' dam. He had previ- ously had logs sawed by the thousand at other mills. In 1866 Elias Moses and G. M. Stickney became partners and the firm became W. D. Washburn & Co. Mr Aloses retired in 1868 and Messrs Wash- burn & Co. continued the business until 1874 when Mr. Stickney died and Wra. T' Hale bought the interest of the e'^ u ihe firm, and the 'bu.siness contin..- under the same firm name. Theysoh: the Lincoln mill and had their logs cut by the thousand in Minneapolis flu rc- after. In 1875 W. D. Washburn commenced to operate at Anoka, Minn., and built a large saw mill there. The lumber cut of the firm at Minneapolis and Anoka combined was for many years the largest on the upper Mississippi river. In 1884 Messrs Washburn & Co.. incorporated as The Washburn The entire stock of the new cor| l)eing owned by Hon . W. D. W and Maj. W. D. Hale, -.r and flour business w.-i>- after under that he. ■'■'nv's saw nin I were destr' pany decided to iness. The stock of lunil)er at Minneap-

olis was sold, and another of t lumber concerns retired from the hcl.i.

Sumner W ELI \rnh.\\)

Ralph Farnham wab an England, who arrived at brig James from South Han -, 6th, 1635. He belonged L. - had been long settled in they were cultivators of the s^)il, some of the name had borne ; nobility. Two grand-sons ot tied in York, Maine, earl}' i; teenth century', from whpm al lies of the name in Maine arc i S. W. Farnham is of the eighth gener i tion from the first American ar His father was Rufus Farnham. sided at Calais, Maine, wh<. Sumner was born, April 2d. ISU his mothers,side he belonged to t who were also of English ilotli families were part' old Frfi'tli \v;ii'. ,'is .'i1s('

tion.

.; luiiiljci Oil the . -_ivc state, and in early age, into the ; lumber business.

ATr Pririili.'in

luojbcrnian. teen yttir- ; the mills

the

.'ard.

i»^#

m ^

rriifii'^v fniYffl •[iirflMhtt^aiii

II.:.

be.

it.

MANUFACTURES.

551

grappled with a stupendous and wide spread public evil. From his indomji- aljle qualities, his innate sagacity, and his sympathies with the triads and aji- preciation of the needs of the masses of the people, it is not doubtful that his public labors will bring honor to himself and advantage to the State. Opportu- nity and endowment are his. Ambi- tion urges him forward, while high pur- poses and lofty aims direct him in a course of Ijeneficent public service.

W. D. Washburn became prominently identified with the lumber interests of Minneapolis Ijv building the Lincoln mill in 1865; it was located on the Minneap- olis Mill Company' dam. He had previ- ously had logs sawed by the thousand at other mills. In 1866 Elias Moses and G. M. Stickney became partners and the firm became W. D. Washburn & Co. Mr. Moses retired in 1868 and Alessrs Wash- burn & Co. continued the business until 1874 when Mr. Stickney died and Wm. D. Hale bought the interest of the estate in the firm, and the business continued under the same firm name. They sold the Lincoln mill and had their logs cut by the thousand in Minneapolis there- after. In 1875 W. D. Washburn & Co., commenced to operate at Anoka, Minn., and Iniilt a large saw mill there. The Inmber cut of the firm at Minneapolis and Anoka combined \vas for many years the largest on the upper Mississippi river. In 1884 Messrs Washburn & Co., incorporated as The Washburn Mill Co. The entire stock of the new corporation being owned by Hon. W. D. Washburn and Maj. W. D. Hale, and their lumber and flour business was conducted there- after under that head. In 1887thecom- pany's saw mill and lumber yard at An- oka were destroyed liy fire and the com- pany decided to close out its lumber bus- iness. The stock of lundjcr at Minneap-

olis was sold, and another of the old lumber concerns retired from the field.

Sumner Wellington F.\rnham. Ralph Farnham was an emigrant from England, who arrived at Boston in the brig James from South Hampton, April 6th, 1635. He belonged to a family that had been long settled in Surre^^ where they were cultivators of the soil, though some of the name had borne a patent of nolnlity. Two grand-sons of Ralph set- tled in York, Maine, early in the eigh- teenth century, from whom all the fami- lies of the name in Maine are descended. S. W. Farnham is of the eighth genera- tion from the first American ancestor. His father was Rufus Farnham, who re- sided at Calais, Maine, where his son Sumner was born, April 2d, 1820. On his mothers side he belonged to the Dy- er's, who were also of English origin. P>oth families were participants in the old French war, as also in the Revolu- tion. Rufus Farnham was a surveyor of logs and lumlier on the St. Croix river of his native state, and initiated his son, at an early age, into the mysteries of the lumber business.

Mr. Farnham is not only by early training but also by personal choice a lumberman. At the early age of four- teen years he commenced work about the mills — for four years with his father, and after the age of eighteen on his own account. He went into the pineries of the St. Croix on the boundry line be- tween Maine and the Province of New Brunswick, where he wielded the axe, hauled logs, followed the river drives and performed all the hard work incident to the logging business. At the age of twenty he bought a saw mill at Baring, near Calais, and operated it on his own ac- count for fovir years. Then for three years he worked in the mill and lumber 3'ai-d.

'OOJ

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

Thirtfcn years of liard work found him no richer than when lie eonimeiieed witli l)are liands working in the saw mill. He had indeed done considerable Inisiness, and at times counted liberal profits, but at the end of the time there ix- niained only debts, but he had thoroughly learned the business in all its vtirious de- tails, and had a capital of ex])erience, in- dustrious habits and a mental endow- ment which was destined to lift him above the toil and druger\' of the cam]:) and mill into the management of an ex- tensive and diversified lumber business.

.\bout the year 1847 the lumber trade had become dull and unprofitable in Maine, and its enterprising young men began to look for new fields of operation. Among those who had removed to the west was John McKusick, who had al- ready established himself and built a saw mill at Stillwater, on the St. Croix river of Wisconsin and Minnesota. From him young Farnham learned of the facilities for prosecuting lumbering in the North- west, and resolved to look the covintry over and find a new and more inviting location.

He left Calais in September, 1847, alone, and journeyed by the most exped- itious methods then available to Detroit, Mich. The disjointed railroad lines ter- nnn.'ited at Kufi'alo, where a vessel was taken which made the voyage to Detroit, consuming about a week in the transit, and furnishing the ]3assengers with ])as- sagc and board fi)r $(>. He determined to look over the lumbering prospects in eastern Michigan, and went to I'ort Gratiot fit the outlet of Lake Huron, where he found three small saw mills in operation. He then ])roceeded through the woods to where the city of Saginaw is now located, ;ind found four mulej' saws only in operation, with no roads, and little evidences of civilization, but witii a frightful record of fever and ague

and malaria. Then crossing the state of Michigan over the newly built central railroad to Kalamazoo, he crossed the lake by boat to St. Joe, and thence made his way to Chicago. Here he found a smart town claiming a population of thirteen thousand, and an annvial lumber trade of 12,()()(),0()0 feet, manufactured and brought from Michigan. After a week spent in examining the Jittractions of Chicago he took stage, walking and riding by turns, as the depth of mud al- lowed, and reached Galena. Here the river began to close, and Mr. Farnham went to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and then to Franklin, among the lead mine'= where he spent the winter.

In the following April he i.in-d . to take him to Prairie du Chien, al)out seventy miles, and there after waiting three days the old steamer Peari ,)k him on board and pursued hervoj-ageto the North. At Lake Pepin, where theice had not yet broken up, thei'e was delaj', and at Lake City the steamer ran high upon the point, but was pulled off after a delay of tlu'ee days, and finally, after much tribulation made the port of St. Paul. After a stay of two hours, which, however, was quite sufficient to take in the town, he went on board the Pearl, which dropped down to the moiith of the St. Croix and thence went up to Still- water. Here he at once entered the em- ployment of Mr. McKusick. Going up to the mouth of Apple river he drove a {|uantity of logs down to the mill, and then sawed them into lumber. In the last days ol'June he walked over to Fort Snelliug, where he had an interview with Franklin Steele, and staid over night with Philander I^rcseott, whose farm and dwelling house were just above Min- nehaha creek. The next day he came on foot across the prairie, on which there was at that time but a single lone tree, to the l'\'dls of St. .\nthony, and crossed

MANUFACTURES.

553

the river alcove the falls in a canoe. Here he found a dam partly built, and the lower part of the ft-ame of a sawmill up. Returning the next day to Stillwater, he remained there until afterthe4thof July, and attended a celebration at which AI. S. Wilkinson, afterwards United States senator, was orator of the day. He im- mediately came back to St. Anthony and entered the employment of Ard Godfrey, working on the mill until it was finished and then running the mill through the remainder of the season until the river frose up in November. The mill had a single old fashioned sash saw.caxoable of sawing not more than four thousand feet 'welve hours. It was run through the 'udt. v>f the season in sawing a few pme logs that had been cut on the banks of the AIississip])i in the vicinity of the lat ijuilt P'ort Ripley. This was the summer and autumn of 1848. This was practically the beginning of the settle- ment at St. Anthony. Previously to this time Pierre Bottineau, with his brothers Severre and Charles, his iDrother- in-law Louis Desjarlais, Joseph Reach and family, and their employees, all half breeds, were the only occupants of tlie place. Franklin Steele, Wm. R. and Jos- eph M. Marshall and R. P. Russell were more or less in the village, but they lived either at the Fort or at St. Paul. Be- sides Ard Godfrey, who had come from Maine to Iniild the dam and mill, the permanent residents were: William A. Cheever, Calvin A. Tuttle, Luther and Edward Patch, Caleb D. Dorr, Robert W. Crmimings, Charles W. Stin- son, John McDonald, Samuel Fernold, and Daniel Stanchfield. It was this year that Minnesota Territory' was organ- ized. In the fall an election for delegate was held, at which Mr. Farnham with R. W. Cummings and Caleb D. Dorr were judges. A total of twenty-three votes were cast, which were canvassed and re-

turcd to Stillwater, the then county scat. In tlie fall Daniel Stanchneld took a con- tract from Franklin Steele to cut logs on Rum river for the supply of the mill. Mr. Farnham was employed for the winter, and went with the part}', taking charge of one of the two crews of fifteen men that made up the party. They proceeded to a point since knov\'n as Stanchfield brook, where they found the old camp, now gone into complete decay, where the logs had been cut Ijy the garrison for the construction of Fort Snelling in 1 821 . Here they built a camp, and cut and drove in the spring about 2,2()(),()0() feet of logs. This was the first lumliering ever done on the ujiper Mississippi wat- ers. The logs safely delivered, Mr. Farn- ham was employed in the mill, having charge of the scaling and delivering of lumber until the month of June. Then Mr. Steele desired him to explore Rum river, and estimate the cost of clearing out jams and fitting it for driving, wdiich he did. Joseph R. Brown and others had already submitted estimates that the cost would be from $10,000 to $15,000. Mr. Farnham 's estimate was less than half, yet more than Mr. Steele was will- ing to pay. He asked him to make a proiDOsition to cut and drive a quantity of logs the next winter, that of 1849-50, and clear out the river at his own ex- pense. The price agreed on was $4 per thousand feet — a small price when the cost of supplies and the scarcity of men and teams are considered, but there was no stumpage to pay, and no tree was cut beyond speaking distance from the brook.

Mr. Farnham built three battejiux, hired a crew of thirty men, got together his supplies and hauled them to the head of the rapids of Rum river, where St. Francis now is, and in two weeks had the jams cut out and the river in fair driving condition, at a cost of about

554-

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

$1,200. He then wont throtifrli the woDcls and loeated meadow grounds and camps, and put \\\> hay for the winter. The winter's cut was about 4.,000,000 feet, l)esidcs about 2,000,000 cut by his brother, and the drive of 6,000,000 feet was safely brought to the Falls. Tkit then no sufficient jirovision had been made for catching and holding them, and about half the lot went over the I'alls and were a total loss. Ivnough were, however, stopped to fdl the cast channel from the mill to Boom island, and to stock the mill, and even to glut the lumber market.

During the j)revious summer AJr. Farnham had broke up forty acres near the late Majjle Hill cemetery, which he now fenced and put in a crop of oats, corn and potatoes. These grew marvel- oush- and produced the largest eroj) he luid ever seen on an ecpud area of ground. He made a trip to Illinois to buy cattle and supjilies for lumbering, and the next winter went into the woods on his own account, and cut and drove 2,000,000 feet of logs. To dispose of his logs he hired one of the saw mills and sawed out his stock of logs, and ojjencd a lumber yard in St. I'aul, the first one established there, which he conducted for two years. An election having l)een ordered for Ijuilding su])crinten(knt for the territor- ial buildings, he undertook a journey of seventy miles on foot to the camps on Rum river. The election was held, tlic votes secured and properh' certified, and he returned in the same way on the third day. When the votes were canvassed there was a tie, and the labor was re- peated, i)ut on the second trial the can- didate whom Mr. Farnham favored was beaten by the votes of a halfdoxen Indi- ans wjio had been dressed up in citizens garments and voted at Mendota.

Mr. I*'arnham continued in the lum- bering business, cutting logs in the win-

ter, and sawing £ind dis])osing of his lumber in his yard until ISo-i. Mean- while, in 1851, he was elected a member of the Third Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Alinnesota, which convened on the 7th day of January, 1852. His colleague in the House was Dr. John H. Murjjhy, and in the Council, W. L. Lamed of St. Anthony and Martin Me- Leod of Oak Grove. He was again elected to the same position in the Seventh Legislature, which met in St. Paul January 2d, 1856.

In 1854 Mr. Farnham having accum- ulated a considerable fortune in the lum- ber business, formed a partnership with Samuel Tracy, of S3'racuse, New York, and opened a bank in St. Anthony. It was the first one at the place, and con- tinued lor two \ears, when John N. Rab- eock, also from Syracuse, succeeded to the interest of Mr. Tracy. The business was continued until 1858, when it was closed, the depositors being fully ])aid, but, in the reverses of the period, with a considerable loss of the capital which had been invested.

Messrs. Rogers and Stimson hail Iniilt a saw mill at the easterly end of the Falls on Hennepin Island. They owned the water power independently of the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Com- pany. This was ])urchased in 1860 bv Mr. I'\'irnham, wIkj associated with him- self James A. Lovejoy in the business, .-ind formed the lumber firm of h^arnham is: Lovejoy, which was extensively en- gaged in the pine land, logging .'uid lum- ber business for twenty-eight years, and initil the death of Mr. Lovejo^'. The mill was ic-built, a gang being i^ut in, and had a daily capacity of 70,000 feet. The second year of its o]ieratiou the mill was burned, but \v;is immediately re- built and its capacity doid)lcd. Air. A. C. Morrill was admitted to the iirm,but retired after a few vears, alter which

MANUFACTURES.

355

Farnhnm & Lovejoy continued the busi- ness until it was closed in 1888, alter the death of Mr. Lovejoy. The mill had previously been sold with its imjiortant water rights to Mr. James J. Hill, who had also purchased the entire water power of the East Side.

While Mr. Farnham was assiduously engaged in prosecuting the lumber busi- ness for more than thirty-five years, he bore his share in the promotion of the interests of the growing community, and shared in its honors. He was intelligent, broad-minded an.d liberal. As early as 1849 he was one of the incorporators of the Library Association of St. Anthony which maintained for several years courses of lectures for the instrviction and entertainment of the citizens. In 1S55 he served as assessor of St. Anth- ony and was afterwards elected city treasurer. In 1859 he was treasurer of the Union Commercial Association, and in 1861 was one of a committee ap- pointed to raise mone^' for the relief of the families of soldiers who had gone into the war. He was appointed one of the board of water commissioners of the present city of Minneapolis about 1884, and served for two years with much in- telligent knowlege of the system.

Mr. Farnham was unmarried when he settled in St. Anthony. June, 1, 1851, he found his wife there in the person of Miss Eunice Estes, a datjghter of Jonathan Estes, an immigrant from Maine. They have had six children, of whom but two sons, Frank W. and Neal, survive. A daughter married to Theo- dore S. Sherman died in 1877. Another son died at the age of twenty-four in 1880. The other two children died in infancy or early childhood. A grand- daughter, Sarah Farnham Sherman, no^v aged fifteen, is an inmate of the family home. Mrs. Farnham, like her husband, preserves in advanced life much of the

vigor and spirit of earlier years. Their home has been a center of hospitality and cheerful domestic and social life. Thev have been connected for many years with the Church of the Redeemer, under the pastoral care of Dr. Tuttle. Their home continued on the East Side until some dozen 3'cars since when they removed to the West Side where they are now enjoying the reminiscences of active and useful lives, and the satisfaction of a green old age.

Previous to the building of the Minne- sota Central Railroad (now called the Iowa division of the Chicago, Milwau- kee and St. Paul) the lumber manufac- tured at Minneapolis was rafted and floated down the Mississippi river, and marketed at St. Louis and other points along the river. In order to make up the rafts it was necessary to build sluice-ways about four feet wide and two feet deep, extending from the saw mills to the still water near the pres- ent Washington avenue bridge. These sluice-v.-ays were built out of planks and were erected on trestle work, so as to make a gradual slope from the mills down to the place where the lum- ber floated in still water. A stream of water was turned into the sluiceways suificient to float the lumber to the raft. When the railroad reached Minneapolis that style of shipment was mostly done away with, but some lumber was rafted as late as 1872. The sluiceways were gradually torn down, but were not en- tirely obliterated until 1873. The last vears they were left standing, they were an object of curiosity to visitors and new comers to Minneapolis, and many inquires were put forth as to their use and the purpose for which the^' were built.

The surrender of the saw mill leases to the Minneapolis Mill Company left

556

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

but four of tlie six firms occupying the uiill conii)an_v's dam, in the busines, to- wiL: liastman, Rovey & Co., Leonard Da\- i<c Sons, Anken_v, Robinson & I'ettit and Cole & Hammond. Mr. W. W. Eastman retired from the firm of East- man, Hovey & Co., and H. D. Eastman and H. M. DeLaittre became members of the firm, Mr. C. A. Bovej' and Mr. John De Laittre remaining. The firm continued under the same name as be- fore, and purchased one of tlie mills on the east side dam and operated it until it burned in 18S7, when Mr. H. D. East- man retired and the remaining partners incorporated as the Bovey-De Lfuttre Lumber Co., with John De Laittre, pn-si- dent; H. AI. De Laittre, vice-president, and C. A. Bovey, secretary and treasurer. The company purchased a site near the mouth of Shingle creek, and bought the Camp & Walker saw mill which was lo- cated on the river bank at the foot of First avenue north, and moved it to the new site, remodeled and enlarged it, and are now operating the mill, doing an ex- tensive business. Leonard Day & Sons £dso continued with some changes. Mr. Leonard Day died about that time and his sons succeeded to the business under the firm name of J. W. Day & Co. Thev purchased a site r.ear the west end of the Northern Pacific railroad bridge and erected a large mill, and still continue tiiemanufacture of lumber. Dating from the establishment of the business by Leonard Day in 1855, this firm has had the longest unbroken career in the lum- ber business of any firm in the citv of Minneapolis, vvitJi J. U. Brssett (K: Co. a ck)sc second. The ])resent members of fn-m are John W., W.m. IL, Lercnzo 1). and Leonard A. Da\' and David Willard. The firm of Ankenv, Robinson (.K: Let- tit becjime W. P. Ankeny & Bro., and upon the death of W. P. Ankeny, A. T. Ankcn\-, his brother, and W. A Newton,

succeeded to the business but closed it out in 1879.

Cole & Plammond dissolved and Air. Cole went to the east side of the river for a mill, and leased the Todd, Connor, Oaines & Co. mill on the east side dam, then owned by W. W. Eastman, and associa- ted with him Air. C. W. Weeks, under the firm name of Cole & Weeks. They con- tinued the business until their mill burned in 1887, when they retired from the field.

Eldred & Si)ink built a shingle mill near the mouth of Bassett creek in 1867. The site occupied was near that formerh' occupied by the saw mill of Pomeroy, Bates & Co. Mr. Spink retired from the firm in a few years and Mr. Wm. H. Eldred succeeded to the business, and continued to operate the mill until it bin-ned down in 1878, when he retired from the business.

Li 1870, after the row of saw millssit- uated on the old Steele dam on the east side burned, the renmins of thedam were removed and a new dam commenced ;5()0 feet below the former site which is the present dam across theeast channel ; and the lumbermen immediately commenced tobvnld another row of mills to take the l)lace of those Ijurned. Four mills were built in all. Levi Butler & Co., com- posed of Levi Butler, T. B. Walker, O.C. Alcrriman, J. AI. Lane and L. AI. Lane, built the first or inside mill. Todd, Con- nor, Gaines iSi Co. built the second mill; Todd, Haven, Leavett & Co. the third; Levi Butler the fourth, and James Mc- Mullen iK: Co. built the liflh mill. The first null of L. Butler cS: Co. was com- ])leted during the winter of 1870 and 1871. Alessrs. Butler and Walker retired in 1872 and Alerriman & Lane operated the mill until W. M. and F. C. Barrows c;inie into the firm in 1876, and the firm l)ecame Alerriman, Barrows & Co., and so continued until 1887 when the mill

,^-'

» ^

m

MANUFACTURES.

557

■tf-OO rl^d-TTW'f^i

re vvilli the others on made an assignment in 1875 to W. C.

' the miil until

of" the former

leased .i^odnow &

lj operate the

Mr. Hawley re-

md James Gobdnow operated the

':done until 18sr> when the mill

'1 nr.l was not )ebuilt. James

ntinued the business alone

J retired also, and

C. I). Lawther suc-

'uctcd the business

ior partner, John

■ ^un of James liood-

V were iti the bimbcr

I her

I I i_\ LUC Lrii ;M,-.;nHl

I.Mnilier Conipnnv

h\< c,'ist< rii

"I July,

in, horn

iring man,

sailor.

'Unwed

his

;!Lieal j-

• capt: s swept

I'd from

-I'j was a

ited nearly

iii i;uiOj)t, iluiibled Cajv

I these efii'l n to th'

.-iy^t.

MANUFACTURES.

557

•vvflo flest'Tive'l hvtirc with tlie others on the daiu. 3»k1 the Messi'S. Lane retired 1 " 111 ajul the remaining partners

i as the Merriman-Barrows Lhat time have had their !■ ;t> sawod Ijy the thousand. Todd. Connor, Gaines & Co. dissolved partner- ship in a few years, and Mr. Todd suc- ceeded to the proprietorship of the mill which was sold by him upon retiring from the manufacture of lumber, and i

' '"■ W. Eastman

power ci>ni-

it burned in

1 his mill, the

his death in

-; was closed out

stman, Bovoy &

in til it burned in

became tli' who sold

' ny, wh<' 1S87. Le- fourth in > 1 > 79, when his and the mill s^ Co., vv'ho one; 1887.

The firm ot CW/Ufch iiros., consisting of Gilbert and Da\iid M. Clough, com- menced the lumber bi;isiness in 1 87 ' •n 1880 the firm <■■ i

acture of lumber in , fall of 1882, associat..\ Stetson, tl" '■

p.cuUicr 111 Lhe Si luiy. In tiu

spring of 1887 Mi _ ai disposed of his interest in the mill to F. O. Kilgore. Clough Bros, coi to run the

mill until July, l"- 'ji 1Iu\ sold

the plant to C. A. Smi I D

Gilbert Clough died, bii^ ilj^ ^klc.csl of his estate h.'i'- r maiacd in tlu- luisiiKss and the t'v their h.

the thousan.l

In 1871 Silas YLoffitt built a sa .-. mill at the foot of Fifth avenue nor e

river bank, changing the building Ijmih a sash, door\a)id blind facLoi v T:; t'-T"; he sold it to Bedford, who 'operated the mill tiud thci a lai\ lumber business. Through disagrc ments between the partners the fin

made an assignment in 1875 to W. C. I'<aker, and he operated the mill until 1878, when he bough f: it of the former pcirtners and lea.sed it to G'oodnow & Hawley, who continued to operate the mill until 1883, when Mr. Hawley re- tired and James Gobdnovv operated the mill alone until 1886. when the mill burned and was not .■■ebuilt. James Goodnnv>- continued the business alone when he retired also, and j uiu uo-'Uiiow and C. D. Lawther suc- ceeded him and conducted the business until 1891, the senior partner, John Goodnow, being a son of James Good- now. While they were in the lumber business Messrs Goodnow & Lawther had their logs sawed by the thousand by the Hal! X: l>ucev Lumber ComT)anv.

J. CaiJtaiu M.C-

^'lv.]' -1 in his eastern

of Reading,

day of July,

vhman, born

faring man,

inb s'ju as a sailor.

n years he followed

ming as a cabin l>oy on his

He filled all nautical posi-

'.ommon sailor to captain.

On his first voyage his father was swept

from the deck in a gale and perished from

his sight. During fifteen years he was a

merchant navigator, and visited nearly

every country in Europe, doubled Cape

ITii':, ventured into Behriug Sea, and

• in a whaler among the Pacific

ihi.anUs.

The adventures of these early year,s,

though not uncommon to those who fol-

.erc some ' ^ul'

tli rilling i .'. (

on wl i -

le south si('.

aiiiered

U '^

■ '■(-%.

as^

UU ^'

// o

MANUFACTURES.

557

was destroyed by fire with the others on the dam, and the Messrs. Lane retired from the firm ajulthe remaining partners incor])orated as the Merriman-Barrows Co., and since that time have had their logs sawed by the thousand. Todd, Connor, Gaines & Co. dissolved partner- ship in a few years, and Air. Todd suc- ceeded to the proprietorship of the mill whicli was sold by him upon retiring from the manufacture of Uimljer, and it became the property of W. W. Eastman who sold it to the water power com- pany, who owned it when it burned in 1.SS7. Levi Butler operated his mill, the fourth in the row, until his death in 1S79, when his business was elcjsed out and the mill sold to Eastman, Bovey & Co., who operated it until it l)urncd in 1SS7.

The firm of Clough Bros., consisting of Gilbert and David M. Clough, com- menced the lumber business in 1871, and in 18S0 the firm commenced the manu- facture of lumber in Minneapolis. In the fall of 1882, associated with Warren C. Stetson, the\- built the steam saw mill on Main street northeast, since sold to C. A. Smith & Co., Mr. Stetson being a partner in the saw mill only. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Stetson disposed of his interest in the mill to F. O. Kilgore. Clough Bros, continued to run the mill until July, 1891, when they sold the plant to C. A. Smith & Co. In 1889 Gilbert Clough died, but the interest of his estate has remained in the business, and the firm have their logs sawed by the tlH)usand

In 1871 Silas Moffitt built a saw mill at the foot of Fifth avenue north on the river bank, changing the bviilding from a sash, door'and blind factoi'y. In 1873 he sold it to Bedford. Boyce & Baker, who operated the mill and did a large lumber business. Through disagree- ments between the jiartners the firm

made an assignment in 1875 to W. C. Baker, and he operated the mill until 1878, when he bought it of the former partners and leased it to Goodnow & Hawlej', who continued to operate the mill until 1883, when Mr. Hawley re- tired and James Goodnow operated the mill alone until 1886, when the mill burned and was not rel)uilt. James Goodnow continued the business alone for one year when he retired tdso, and John Goodnow and C. D. Lawther suc- ceeded him and conducted the business until 1891, the senior partner, John Goodnow, being a son of James Good- now. While they were in the lumber business Messrs Goodnow & Lawther had their logs sawed by the thousand l)y the Hall & Duccw Lumber Company.

James McMullen. Captain Mc- Mullen, as he was known in his eastern home, was born in the town of Reading, I'ennsylvania, on the 21st da^- of July, 1824. His father was a Scotchman, born at Greenoch. He was a sea-faring man, and early initiated his son as a sailor. From the age of ten years he followed the sea, beginning as a cabin boy on his father's ship. He filled all nautical posi- tions from common sailor to captain. On his first voyage his father was swept from the deck in a gale and perished from his sight. During fifteen years he w^as a merchant navigator, and visited nearly every country in Euroi)e, doubled Cape Horn, ventured into Behring Sea, and cruised on a whaler among the Pacific islands.

The adventures of these early years, though not uncommon to those who fol- low the sea, were some of them full of danger and thrilling interest. At one time the ship on which he was a sailor put into the straits of Magellan. With a small ]>arty of sailors he went ashore on the south side and w%'indcred

558

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

some miles <i:allierin^ mils, when they were siir])iise(l l)y a IkiikI ol Terra del I-^iiejians with eluhs, eager to recruit their larder with a fat white man. Voimg McMullen, unwilling to loose his bag of nuts, tell into the rear and n.'irrowly escaj)e(l eaptine, the penalty of which would have been to furnish a feast for these cannibals, of nether I'atagonia.

When fifteen years old, he shipped on the bark Caledonia, for Rio Janeiro, and a market. Having discluirged the ship's cargo of flour at Rio, the sailors discov- ered in the hold guns and arms, as well as a supijly of trinkets and gaudy cloths, which made it evident that her ulterior destination was the coast of Africa and , a return cargo of slaves. Unwilling to engage in such an inhuman and unlaw- ful enterprise, he with five companions left the ship, but they were ])ursued and brought back. Again, after the ship had got into the ofling,they secured the long boat and succeeding in reaching the open country, when they were pursued b\' a band of Portugese soldiers <-ind lodged in jail. Here young McAIullen succeeded in sending word to Ca])tain Decater, who had arrived in the liarbor ' on the U. S. sloop of war, Fairfield. He visited the captives, and having heard their statement, made an examination of the Caledonia, and gaining unmistak^ible evidence of her character as a slaver, ordered the men to be discharged with two months' pay. The men were given their o])tion to stav in Rio or return on the Fairfield. McMullen chose the latter and was treated as a passenger vintil the sloo]) had left i)ort, when he was given a uniform and j)ut among the saikirs. Thoughtlessly spitting on the deck he was rudely arrested In' a strijiling mid- shipman, who (lre\v hissword and struck himwitii its fk'iL side. Indignant and not reflecting upon his position or the eonse-

(pienees, he delivered such a vigorous kick tijion the .Middy th.-it the latter was sent spr;iwling on the deck. Of course he was arrested and sentenced to receive twelve lashes on the l)are back. Tied u\) by the thumbs the jienalty was vig- orously laid on. Hut he determined to get even, and failing to hit his persecutor with a marline spike, which he dropped from aloft, on arrival at Norfolk he hired a wharf lounger to soundly whip him for the low price of two dollars and a half. The midshipman is believed to be one Mills, who at the beginning of the Re- bellion, betrayed the warship Minnesota, which he then commanded, to the rebels.

When he was seventeen years old, he made a voj'age to Cuba for a cargo of sugar. Returning, the ship was driven in a furious gale onto one of the Florida reefs, and went to pieces. McMullen lashed himself to a spar, with a fellow sailor, who, however, was killed l)efore reaching shore, and with extraordi- nary effort got through the breakers, unlashed himself, and leaving his spar to be swe])t back by the reflex waters, clung to a coral reef, and making a (juick dash reached the land. Of a crew of twenty- seven, officers and men, he was the only survivor. Hut he found liiniself on an uninha1)ited and isolated reef but fortu- nately a revenue cutter, sjiiling among tlic keys, look him off" before he was C[uite famished.

On another occasion, liic vessel on which he had shiiiped careened on her side, and the crew, cxccjit himself and the captain, were thrown through an open hatchway into the vessel's hold, (loing ()veri)oard to cut away the mast, he lashed himself, and when the vessel righlcd hauled himself on boaiil by the rope with which he had lashed iiimself and a moment afterwards the mast dis- ajjpeared in the tuml)liiig watcrdrawing the ro])e wilh it. A ninnicnt 1,-itcr ;nid

* (•; t

arse

...!i!ifMii;i,

' ' :ir rtlitis.

iMr4'ii(i,l;e

r ] , irijii 1)1

-IVfll

'imla

Maiuiien

'flloff

n an

,1' k-r

,, ,1 '.lie iH'i-''

IIISCII.

f and

MANUFACTURES.

559

he would have disappeared with the wreckage.

On the 11th of April, 1849, at the age of twenty-four, he was united in mai-- riage with Miss Charlotte M. McNitte, of Bradley, Maine. Sometimes trivial circumstances determine one's course in life. The influence of a young wife may be of that character. It is at least proof of the strongest attachment that a young man should change the entire habit and plan of his life to conform to the desire of his chosen partner. Such seenls to have been the influence which led the young sailor to abandon the sea and locate himself on the remotest frontier, as far as possible from the seductive in- fluence of the blue sea. .Vn older sister of Mrs. McMullen, who had been her foster-mother, was about to take up her abode at St. Anthony, and the young wife wished to live near her. Mr. Mc- Mullen thinking one place on the land as good as another, accompanied his brother-in-law, and settled in St. Anthony in the autumn of 1849. It was the same year that Col. Stevens arrived at Fort Snelling, at the very beginning of growth and settlement in the new town. Every thing was new and primitive. The need of the time and place was for workers, to subdue the wildness of nature, and lay the foundations and raise the first super- structure of civilized life. These early pioneers wrought well, and those who survive have the rare satisfaction of having seen a scattered hamlet become a great, rich, and beautiful metropolis, within the short space between early manhood and full maturity ; and may and do richly enjoy the magnificent fruit of their early labors.

Hefore locating in St. Anthon3', Capt. McMidlen made a stop of a few (hus at Stillwater, where he was emi)loyed to do some jobs in carjDentering, to recruit his cxliatistcd finances. He had nolands-

man's trade, but he had worked as ship's carpenter, and had the hang of tools. Accordingly he devoted the first winter to making sleds for the lumbermen, and thus became entitled to the distinction of being the first manufacturer at the Falls. He easily drifted into carpenter and joiner's work, and found al)undant employment in the urgent demand for houses to shelter the fast coming new settlers. Fortunatelv for the growth of the town, a saw mill was in operation at the Falls, and lumber was abundant, and not excessively dear, as it often is in a new country. He soon became a con- tractor and employed others to execute the jobs which he imdertook and super- intended. In the beginning of the war, when the government required all the river craft that could be obtained, for transportation on the lower part of the Mississippi river, the owners of the two steamboats "Enterprise" and "St. Cloud," then plying on the river above the Falls, were desirous of transferring them to the lower river, liut how to do it was a serious xDroblem. This, Capt. McMullen understood ; and the citizens were surprised to see two huge steam- boats slowly making their waj' down Main street. The joli was successfully completed, through the ingenuity and ])erseverance of the contractor, and in due time the boats were returned to their watery element after a short cruise on dry land.

In 1857, Mr. McMullen joined with another pioneer, the late H. G. O. Mor- rison, in an enterprise to start a town at Pine Bend, on the Mississippi river, above Hastings. A store was l)uilt, l)ut the attempt was unsuccessful and was abandoned. Two years later he took a saw mill at Lakeland, on the St. Croix river, which lie operated for one season.

The transition from buildinsfand con-

I

558

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

some miles gatlierinjj; mils, when Ihcy were surjirised by a IkiiuI of Tcrrn del I'lieiiiiiis with clubs, eaj^cr to recruit their larder with a ("at wliile man. Vomifi McMullen, uiiwillinu; to loose his ba<i of nuts, fell into the rear and n.arrowly escajjcd ca])ture, tlie ])enalty of which would have been to furnisli a feast for these cannibals, of netlier Patagonia.

When fifteen years old, he shipped on the bark Caledonia, for Kio Janeiro, and a maiket. Having discharged the sliii)'s cargo of Hour at Rio, the sailors discov- ered in the hold guns and arms, as well as a supply of trinkets and gavidy cloths, which made it evident that her tdterior destination was the coast of Africa and , a return cargo of slaves. Unwilling to engage in such an inhuman ;ind unlaw- ful enterprise, he with five companions left the ship, but they were pursued and brought back. Again, after the ship had got into the offing, they secured the long boat and succeeding in reaching tlie open country, when they were pursued In' a band of Portugese soldiers and lodged in jail. Here young McMullen succeeded in sending word to Captain Decater, who had arrived in the harbor ' on the U. S. sloop of war, Fairfield. He visited the captives, and having heard their statement, made an examination of the Caledonia, and gaining unmistidvable evidence of her character as a slaver, ordered the men to be discharged with two months' pay. The men were given their ojjtion to stay in Rio or return on the Fairfield. McMullen chose the latter and was treated as a ])asscnger until the sloop had left ])ort, when he was given a uniform and ])ut among the sailors. Thoughtlessly s]jittiiig on the deck he was rudely arrested by ;i stripling mid- shipman, who drew his sword and struck him with its flat side. Indignant and not reflecting upon his position or the consc-

([uences, he delivered such a vigorous kick upon the Middy that the latter was sent sprawling on the deck. Of course he was arrested and sentenced to receive twelve lashes on the bare back. Tied up by the thumbs the ])enalty was vig- orously laid (111. iliit he determined to get even, and failing to hit his persecutor with a marline sjiike, which he dropped from aloft, on arrival at Norfolk he hired a wharf lounger to soundly whip him for tlie low ])riee of two dollars and a half. Tlie midshipman is believed to be one Mills, who at the beginning of the Re- bellion, betrayed the '.varship Minnesota, which he then commanded, to the rebels.

When he was seventeen years old, he made a voyage to Cuba for a cargo of sugar. Returning, the ship was driven in a furious gale onto one of the Florida reefs, and went to pieces. McMullen lashed himself to a spar, with a fellow sailor, who, however, was killed before reaching shore, and with extraordi- nary effort got through the breakers, unlashed himself, and leaving his sparto be swe])t back by the reflex waters,clung to a coral reef, and making a quick dash reached the land. Of a crew of twenty- seven, officers and men, he was the only survivor. Hut he found himself on an uninhabited and isolated reef, but fortu- nately a revenue cutter, sailing among the keys, took him off before he was (|uite famished.

On another occasion, the vessel on which he had shipped careened on her side, and the crew, excei)t himself and the captain, were thrown through an open hatchway into the vessel's hold, (loiiig overboard to cut away the mast, he lashed himself, and when the vessel righted hauled himself on board by the rope with which he had lashed himself, and a momeiit afterwards the mast dis- ajjpeared in the tumbling water drawing the rope with it. A moment later and

MANUFACTURES.

559

he would have disappeared witli the wreckage.

On tile llth of April, 184.9, at the age of tweiity-fonr, lie was united in mar- riage with Miss Charlotte AI. McNittc, of Bradle\', Maine. Sometimes trivial circumstances determine one's course in life. The influence of a j^oung wife may be of that character. It is at least proof of the strongest attachment that a young man should change the entire habit and plan of his life to conform to the desire of his chosen partner. Such seenls to have been the influence which led the young sailor to abandon the sea and locate himself on the remotest frontier, as far as possiljle from the seductive in- fluence of the blue sea. An older sister of Mrs. McMullen, who had been her foster-mother, was about to take up her abode at St. Anthonj-, and the young wife wished to live near her. Mr. Mc- Alullen thinking one place on the land as good as another, accompanied his brother-in-law,and settled in St.Anthon}- in the autumn of 18-i9. It was the same year that Col. Stevens arrived at Fort Snelling,at the ver}- beginning of growth and settlement in the new town. Every thing was new and primitive. The need of the time and place was for workers, to subdue the wildness of nature, and lay the foundations and raise the first super- structure of civilized life. These early pioneers wrought well, and those who survive have the rare satisfaction of having seen a scattered hamlet Ijccomea great, rich, and beautiful metropolis, within the short space between early manhood and full maturity ; and may and do richly enjo\- the magnificent fruit of their early labors.

Before locating in St. Anthon3^ Capt. McMullen made a stop of a few days at Stillwater, where he was employed to do some jobs in carpentering, to recruit his exhausted finances. He had no lands-

man's trade, but he had worked as ship's carpenter, and had the hang of tools. Accordingly he devoted the first winter to making sleds for the lumbermen, and thus became entitled to the distinction of being the first manufacturer at the Falls. He easily drifted into cari)enter and joiner's work, and found abundant employment in the urgent demand for houses to shelter the fast coming new settlers. Fortunately for the growth of the town, a saw mill was in operation at the Falls, and lumber was abundant, and not excessively dear, as it often is in a new country. He soon became a con- tractor and employed others to execute the jobs which he vmdertook and super- intended. In the l)eginning of the war, when the government reqviired all the river craft that could be obtained, for transportation on the lower part of the Mississippi river, the owners of the two steamljoats "Enterprise" and "St. Cloud," then pljnng on the river above the Falls, were desirous of transferring them to the lower river, but how to do it was a serious problem. This, Capt. McMullen understood ; and the citizens were surprised to see two huge steam- boats slowly making their way down Main street. The job was successful!}- completed, through the ingenuit\- and perseverance of the contractor, and in due time the boats were returned to their watery element after a short cruise on dry land.

In 1857, Mr. McMullen joined with another pioneer, the late H. G. O. Mor- rison, in an enterprise to start a town at I'ine Bend, on the Mississippi river, above Hastings. A store was built, l:)ut the attempt was unsuccessful and was abandoned. Two years later he took a saw mill at Lakeland, on the St. Croix river, which he operated for one season.

The transition from building £ind con-

r)Go

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

tracting to mantifacturiiig liinilier was a natural one and Capt. McAIullcn, in 1872, built a sliingle mill with a single circular saw for lumber, at tiie lowcrend ot Hennepin Island. After running it successfully lor about five years, the lum- ber yard took tire, and burned his entire stock of lumber and shingles, causing a loss of $20,000 without insurance. Nothing daunted, though his loss was serious, he added a gang of saws to the saw mill — one of the row that was erected on the liast Side, at the Falls. The mill had a complete arrangement for the manufacture of shingles, and for sawing lundicr as well. After nine years' operation, he was again doomed to suffer loss, the mill being s\ve])t fiway by the great fire whieii destroyed the row of saw mills on the East Side in 1.S87.

The mill was rebuilt, and in a more comi)lete and substantial manner than before, and it is the only one which has l)een rebuilt upon that site u]) to the present time. It is one of the largest mills in the city, having both gang and circidar saws, with all the varied and intricate machiner\- for trimming and finishing lumber. Its capacity is 170,000 feet in ten hours, and has rim with scarceh' a sto]) since its completion in 188S to tile ])i'esent time, from about the middle of Ma}- to the middle of No- vember each year. This fine saw mill was liurned to the ground in ]uly,lS92, but will Ijc rebuilt by the enterprising pro])rietor. His two sons are associated with him in the saw mill.

Captain McMullen has had his busy hand in man}' of the first things in the city. He worked on the first steamboat ever built here, the Gov. Ramsey, hel])ed build the first church and the first school house, and ])ut U]) the first brick building in St. Paul.

Like all capal)le men, Mr. McMullen has been called to bear his share of the

public and official work of building and governing the town. In 1858 he was elected to the City Council, serving in that office for two years, while .\lvarin .Vllcn and Orrin Curtis occupied the mayor's chair. He was trustee of the school district in 1851-2-3, and upon the consolidation of the school districts he became a member of the school board of St. Anthonv, serving in that capacity for five \-ears. The law under which the jniblic schools of tiiat city wei'e conduct- ed was original and Ijccame the model for the organiziition of the jitiblic school system of the various cities of the state. The city was made the location of the State University, and with her fine grad- ed and high schools, academy and Univer- sity, has becometheeducational center of the state. Great credit is due to the early members of her School Board, wlio laid the foundation for these great and [jrice- less possessions.

As early as 1852 Mr. McMullen co- operated with a few others in organiz- ing a Territorial Temperance Society, through whose influence a prohibitory law was enacted Ijy the Legislature, but before it luid demonstrated its utility or failure, it was declared unconstitutioiinl by thecourts. He has ever been a strong advocate of temperance and for many years was an active mcni1)cr of tlie order of Sons of Temperance.

He wiis one of the originrd hriiid tli.'it formed the P'irst Universalist Churcli oi' St. Anthony, and was a large contril)- utor to the fine stone edifice that was erected for tliat church near the present Exposition l)uildiiig. in late years he has been an attendant and supporter of All Souls church on the East Side.

He w£is an original member of Cata- ract Ii;ngineCom])any, which in the early days of St. Anthony not only protected ]iro]:)crty but was a leader in sf)cial amusements.

MANUFACTURES.

561

When the news of the Indian massa- cre of 1862 reached tlie town, the alarm hell was sounded, and in a few hours a troop of volunteers followed the lead of tlie dauntless Capt. Anson Northru]:) to relieve the beleagured settlers. Among these minute men was Capt. McMullen, who made the campaign until relieved by the regular but more tardy military force. Though never aspiring to leadcr- shiji in politics, he has been a strong Re- l)ublicau, and often has represented his ward in conventions. He was one \\ho attended and organized the Re])ublican ])arty in Minnesota in 1S5G, and with cap, cape and torch marched with the Wide Awake clul) in the Fremont cam- paign.

He has a large frame, broad in the siioulders, strong of limb, with a firm tread ; and has through his long and laborious life enjoyed excellent health. His temperament is genial, though reti- cent in general conversation. His emo- tions are stirred by injustice or suffering, and responsive to charitable appeals. He has practiced that noblest benevo- lence, a personal interest in the welfare of those in his employment.

The family home is a pleasant location atFoui-th street and Sixth avenue south- cast; while the two sons, Albert Ever- ett and Wilber Howard, both married, have residences in the immediate vicinity. Cai)tain McMullen has crossed the stormy waters of life's voyage, and dropped anchor in the quiet harbor of competence and content. He may thank his stars that his voyage was directed l)y the gentle counsel of his young bride, who has been his faithful fellow voyager into so goodly a country as that sur- rounding St. Anthony's Falls.

In May, 1S73, James McMullen, B. F. Dickey and C. W. Weeks, under the firm name of McMullen iS: Co., commenced

the erection of small shingle mill on the east side dam, between Hennepin Island and the east bank. This was the fifth mill on the dam, referred to elsewhere. The mill was comjileted and commenced sawing the following August. It had fi capacity of 200,000 shingles and 12,000 to 15,000 feet of lumber every ten hours. In March, 1875, Mr. C. W. Weeks retired from the firm, and was succeeded by A. E. McAIullen, and in September, 1877, the company met with a large loss, by having their entire stock of shingles and lumber destroyed by fire, with no insur- ance. After the fire Mr. B. F. Dickej- re- tired from the firm and was succeeded by Mr. W. H. AIcMullen, Messrs. A. E. and W. H. McMullen being the sons of James McMullen. In the winter of 1878 and 9 the mill was entirely rebuilt and made into one of the most complete and im- proved saw mills in the city, having a cajjacity of 100,000 feet of lumber and 100,000 shingles every ten hours. In 1887 the itiillwas destroyed by fire. This mill was the westernmost of the row of saw mills reaching across the east branch of the Mississippi. Messrs. McMullen immediately bought the adjoining mill site of Eastman, Bovey & Co., and com- menced the erection of a new mill greatly enlarged and improved, and had it ready for operation in the following April, and have continued to run the mill since tluit time, sawing by the thousand for N. P. Clarke & Co. This mill is the onlj^ one left on the east side dam, and with one exception, that of J. B. Bassett & Co., on the west side; it is the only saw mill at the Falls of St. Anthony run by water power.

The third mill on the east side dam built by Todd, Haven, Leavitt & Co., was sold to Todd, Martin & Co., and afterward became the pro])erty of the John Martin Lumber Co. This company was organized in 1875 and did a large

562

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

business in luinl)cr while it o])er<'ite(l. Captain John Martin, whose name the compan}- bore, being one of the oldest and best known lumber manufacturers in the cit3\ Its yards were on the east side of the river. Captain Martin owned the mill when it burned in 1887. With the destruction of its saw mill, the John Martin Lumber Co. retired from the nianiilViclure of lumber at Miniica])C)lis.

Thom.vs Barlow Walkkk. Mr. Walker has been a resident of Minne- apolis since 1862. Since 1868 he has been engaged in the lumber trade, from year to year increasing his operations imtil he is to-da\' the largest owner of pinetimbei-edlandsinthestate, and, with possibly one exception, the largestinthe Northwest, and manufactures and handles a larger quantity of logs and lum- berthanany otherone man in the North- west. His cutting of logs and sale of tim- ber the present year, (1891) reaches the enormous f|uantit\- of more than one hun- dred million feet of logs. His extensive lumber business on the Red river, with mills at Crookston.AIinnesota.andOrand Forks, North Dakota, in addition to his heavy logging and timber business on

the Mississippi river, forms a mass of business and responsibility that is com- monlv (iivideil lictween several lumber firms, and each firm composed of two or more pai'tners.

With the detail ol' ])lanning and m.'ui- aging the enormous l)usiness, he may be supi)osc(l to be a very busy man; yet he finds time to ])reside over the affairs of one of the largest banks of his city; over a unique organization of liusiness men (his own conceiJlion) to in-omotc tlie material interests of the business Mens Union; over a gigantic Land and Im- provement Company in tJie vicinity ; and, to vary the occupation from its too ma- terial tendency, he presides as well over

the Managing Board of the Citv Library and the Society of Fine Arts, and finds still time to devote to the Academy of Natural Science and the spiritual and benevolent work of the Church.

To a rare business capacity which has conceived, and energy which has execu- ted such gigantic enterprises, Mr. Walker has united scholarly attainments of a high order, and such artistic taste as has made him the possessor of some of the finest works of renowned modern paint- ers, among which are Napoleon in his Coronation Robes by David, Jides Breton's " Evening Call," Bouguereati's "Passing Shower," Rosa Bonheur's "Spanish Muleteers Crossing the l'\-re- nee," Corot's " Nymphs " and " Scenes in Old Rome," Boidanger's "Barber Shop of Lieinius," Wilhelm \'on Kaulbaeh's "Dispersion of the Nations," Poole's "Job and his Messengers," Jazet's "Bat- tle of Trafalgar," Vibert's "Morning News," Robert Lafevre's original por- traits of Napoleon, Josei)hine and Marie Louise, Peale's portrait of Gen. Wash- ington, Detaille's "En Tonkin," with fine examj)les by Knaus, Van Alarke, Jaccjuc, Rousseau, F^rancais, Gabriel Fer- rier, Cazin, Schreyer, Inness, Moran, Lerolle, Brown, Herman, Lossow and many other equally well known artists, making in all a collection of about one hundred paintings, which are generally regarded as the most nniformily fine l)rivate collection in this country.

It is interesting to trace the influences wiiich have led the studious and aml)iti- ous voiith from the narrow limitation of his home, stcj) by stejj, to a newly devel- o])ing region with wide oi)])ortunities and have forced him to the front of the fortunate few wlio have achieved success.

His parents, Piatt Bayless and Anstis I'>arl<)w Walker liad migrated from New York where they were connected with many respectable and some eminent fain-

MANUFACTURES.

563

ilics tracing their lineage to earh- New England sources to Ohio, where, at Xenia, on the 1st of February, 1840, Thomas Barlow, their third child and second son was born. The name Barlow was the maternal family name, made honorable by two brothers of Mrs. \V.. Walker bearing the judicial title, one in New York and one in Ohio.

The father embarked all his means in fitting out a train for the newly discov- ered PA Dorado, and before reaching the ])lains was smitten with cholera and died. The train proceeded but never yielded a dividend to the forlorn widow, who was left with her four children to breast the storm of life alone and penni- less. From the time of this sad bereave- ment tmtil his sixteenth year Thomas shared the lot of many a fatherless boy in trial, struggle, and longing aspira- tion. Then the family removed to Berea to enjo}- the advantages offered by the Baldwin University for securing to the children an education. The lad of six- teen entered the school and with many interruptions continued his studies in and out of the school for several years. He was able to attend not more than one term in each year, engaging as trav- eling representative of a prosperous citi- zen, Hon. Fletcher Hulet, who was a manufacturer of the Berea grindstones. On his travels his books were his com- panions, and he was enabled by diligent study to keep step with the more fortu- nate students who remained at the Uni- versity. He had an aptness for mathe- matical studies, as well as for the scien- ces, particularh^ astronomy- and chemis- try. In these branches he went far be- yond the requirements of the college cur- riculum, mastering the chief problems of Newton's Principia. The text books of these days of travel and of study, marred by much jolting over rough roads, and defaced by dri])pings of.midnight oil, oc-

cupy a corner in Mr. Walker's fine lib- rary.

When nineteen he took a contract to furnish a railroad then under construc- tion with cross ties, at Paris, 111., and or- ganized a large camp and for eighteen months was engaged in the forest with his choi)pers and teams. The contract was filled and would have yielded con- siderable profit, but that the failure of the company deprived him of all but a few hundred dollars. The following winter was occupied in teaching a district school, for which he was well cpmlified, and which occupation he so valued as to con- template making it the work of his life. About this time he called on a college ac- quaintance, who was Professor of Math- ematics in the Wisconsin Universit3',and demonstrating to his friend that he could solve the most abstruse problems of the Principia, made application for an assis- tant jirofessorship of mathem.-itics. While the application was under consid- eration he proceeded on his business travels, and at McGregor, Iowa, met Mr. J. M. Robinson of Minneapolis, who so enthused him with a description of the attractions and advantages of the embryo city that he decided to visit it. Arriving at St. Paul with a consignment of grindstones he met an energetic, vigor- ous and unusually intelligent young man who was employed b^' the transporta- tion company as clerk and workman on the wharf. This young man sorted out and tallied the grindstones, and put in a separate pileall the"nickedand spalted" stones, which the ])urchaser, Mr. I). C. Jones, of St. Paul, was permitted Iw his l)ill of sale of the stones to reject. This young man was James J. Hill, president of the Great Northern Railroad Com- pany, and the most conspicuous and wealthiest railroad man in the west.

Within an hour after his arrival at Minneapolis he entered the employment

564

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

of (jeorge B.Wright, who had a'contract to survey government lands, and begun . preparations to take the field. He had studied the science but had no technical knowledge of surveying, and engaged as cliaininan. Mr. Wright himself manipu- lated the instrument. Not many da^^s had passed in the field before the position changed. The employer carried the chain and the new man run the compass. Dur- ing the winter he occtipied a desk in the law office of L. M. Stewart, Esq., en- gaged in general study, receiving from "Elder" Stewart the commendation thfit he had "put in the best winter's work on his books that he had ever seen a young man do." Meanwhile the pending appli- cation at Madison had been decided in his favor, and he had been offered a chair in the University as Assistant in Mathematics. But it was too late; a new career had opened, and the young man was to become a leader of enter- I)rise rather than a teacher of boys. The followingseason was spent in examining lauds for the Saint Paul & Pacific Kail- road company.

■\mong his fellow students at Baldwin University was the daughter of his em- ployer. Miss Harriet G. Hulet. An en- gagement of marriage had been made. Mr. Walker returned to Ohio, and on the U.lLh of December, 18G8,was married to Miss Hulet. They came to Minnea])olis and set about the <-ic(|uisition of a home. The struggle was a long one. Sharing the life of the ])ioneers of the day with cheerfulness and industry, with helpful- ness and courage, their efforts were suc- cessful. .\ luunble home was secured; lictter ones followed. A family of eight children were raised, and to-day the ele- gant mansion on Hennei)in avenue, with its treasure of art, is the happy consum- mation of labor and hope.

The five years following his marriage iMr. Walker was chiefly engaged u]jon

government surveys, though for a part of the time he was xipon railroad engin- eering. This employment brought him among the pine forests of the northern part of the State, and the observations then made formed a better wage than the surveyor's pay. His eye ranging from the tall pines acres across the treeless prairies of the West saw visions of vast possibilities of business and fortune in transforming the rugged trees into houses and improvements, into villages and cities, to arise on the l)road stretches of prairie. The following years made what was the vision a substantial reality. Mr. Walker became an owner of vast tracts of pine timbered land, a lumberman, a manufacturer and a seller of lumber. His first ventures in the location of ])ine tim- Ijered lands was in 1S67. Possessing no capital of his own, he was obliged to share with others who could furnish it, the profits of the lousiness. He became associated with Dr. Levi Butler and Mr. Howard W. Mills, at first in locating timbered lands, and afterwards in log- ging and manufacturing lumber, as well as in selling ])ine stuni]jage. This firm continued for five years, until ill health compelled Mr. Mills to retire from the business. The firm of Butler & Walker was formed and continued the business. This continued some j'ears, until the burning of the lumber mills on the east side of the river, the machinery in two of which belonged to the firm, entailing a serious and embarrassing loss.

This led to the formation of the part- nership of L. Butler & Co., consisting of Mr. Walker, Dr. Levi Butler, 0. C. Mer- riman, James W. Lane and Leon Lane. This firm constructed one of the largesaw mills, on the east side, at the new dam, and for several years did a large manu- ' facturing bvisiness — the largest at that time in the city. In 1S71 this firm was succeeded I)}' Butler tv; Walker, but was

K 7J

o m

o

o

w z /^

re

y.

MANUFACTURES.

565

closed up in 1872, as Mr. Walker was unwilling to continue business during the business depression wdiich followed and which entailed heavy losses upon those who continued in business.

The times becoming more prosperotis in 1877, tlie firm of Camp & Walker was formed, the partner being Major George A. Camp, who had for many years been surveyor-general of logs and lumber in the district and was an expert in the handling of logs. The Pacific Mill, long operated by Joseph Dean & Co., was purchased and operated until the fall of 1880, when it was burned. During the succeeding winter and spring the mill was re-built, nearly on the old site, but in so thorough a manner that it was the best mill which had ever been erected in Minneapolis. It was operated until 1887, when the ground which it occupied being required for railroad purposes the mill was torn down. Owning their own pine timber, mills and hnnber \'ards, the firm of Camp & Walker did a very large lumber business.

Mr. Walker had located a large quan- titj' of pine lands about tlie sources of Red Lake river, the outlet of which is by way of the Red river. To utilize this timber he organized with his eldest son, Gilbert M.Walker, the Red River Lumber company, and built a large saw mill at Crookston and anotherat Grand Forks, on the Red river. These mills have been in operation each year since their con- struction, up to the preset time, the busi- ness being managed mostly by Mr. Gil- bert Walker. During these years Mr. Walker was connected with Mr. H. T. Welles, Franklin Steele and others in the purchase of timber lands and in the sale of stutnpage and logs.

At the time of the devastation of the crops in the western part of the state bj- grasshoppers, while Gov. Pillsbui-y was exploring the suffering districts and or-

ganizing relief, Mr. Walker made a per- sonal visit to the afflicted country, and perceiving that a late crop might be made by sowing turnips and buckwheat, purchased all the seed to be had in Min- neapolis and St. Paul and telegraphed to Chicago for all that could be had thei'e, and personally distributed it among the farmes. The crop was a suc- cess and greatly relieved the sufiering of families and animals.

For some years Mr. Walker served as one of the managers of the State Reform School, giving to the duties much thought and attention, and becoming much en- deared to the unfortimate inmates of that institution

Always interested in public education, valuing books and liljraries, Mr. Walker was a stockholder and liberal contribu- tor to the Minneapolis Athenjeum. It was in its organization astockcompan^^ and the privileges were confined to its members. Desiring to open its doors to a wider circulation, Mr. Walker gave years of labor, against the opposition of many stockholders, to accomplish the cherished jiurpose. Buying many shares, he distributed them among deserving young people, and procured the lowering of the price of shares and the admission of the general jjublic to the reading room, and by the payment of a small fee to the books also. Yet these concessions did not meet his views of the needs of the public. Through the agitation caused l)y these changes, and his persistent ad- hesion to the idea of a free librarj^ and in ])ursuance of plans suggested by him, tlie present free public library was estab- lished. The plan was unique and com- prehensive.

The books and ])roperty of the Athe- na'um, together with the fund which Dr. Kirby Spencer had bequeathed to it, were transferred to the City Liljrary, a large subscription by Mr. Walker and

566

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

other liberal citizens and an appropria- tion 1)\- the city were made for the erec- tion ol" the I)iiildin<;, and a tax on the pr<)])ertyof the city of" one-half mill uj)on the dollar of valnation was authorized for its sn])]K)rt. Ouarters were provided in the l)nil(lin<i for the Academy of Nat- ural Science, and for the Society of Fine Arts, in both of which Mr. Walker had taken an especial intei'est. Mr. Walker was made Pi'esident of the Library Board, and under his wise and liberal counsels the city has become possessed of this beneficial institution. Nor did his interest in the institution stop with the erection of the building. The walls of the Art Gallei'^- are liberally spread with costly and beautiful paintings moved from his own collection, and his friend J. J. Hill was induced to add some costly specimens which he had gathered among thesttulios of European artists.

The Minneapolis Land (& Livestment Company, of which Mr. Walker is presi- dent and which owes its being to his inspiration, is a gigantic undertaking. Its leading idea was to benefit the city of Minneapolis by furnishing suitable sites for niaiuifaetories, although it is cpiite likely to become a ])rofitable in- \estment as well. Seventeen hundred acres of land were jjurchased just west of the city limits, and a large amount of money expended inlayingout and fitting the tract for its uses. There are fast gathering various industries, and a new city is siiringing uj) at St. Louis Park. It was in the same spirit that the Husi- ncss Men's I'nion was formed at Mr. Walker's suggestion, and he was made its ])rcsi(leiit. These efforts cost time, labor and money, but neither the one nor the other are spared to l)uil(l up the substantial interests of the city of his home and of his love. These ;icts in the |)ublic interest are supplemented in the

same spirit by a jirivatc benevolence as wide as the needs of the sorrowful and the suffering, of which no record exists except in the hearts of the grateful recip- ients, unless the Divine Master, wdiom he acknowledges and serves, has entered them on his book of remembrance.

Mr. Walker's famih' consists of seven children, the eldest being associated with him in the management of his lund)ering business. One son in early manhood was taken from the home. Two daugh- ters and four youngersons are yet in the family home.

In 187G T. B. Walker, who was the largest owner of pine lands on the upjier Mississippi, associated w'ith him Major Geo. A. Camp, under the firm name of Camp & Walker. They bought the steam saw mill of J. Dean & Co., known as the Pacific mill and locjited on the river bank at the foot of First avenue north. They immediately stocked the mill and became large manufacturers of lumber. In the fall of LSSO the mill burned, but was rebuilt in the vvinterfol- lowing nearly on the old site, and attluit Lime it was the most com])lete saw mill in the Northwest. Messrs. Camp &; Walker continued to ojjerate the mill un- til 1887,wdien they sold it to the Bovey- DeLaittre Lumber Co., who nu)ved it up river to Shingle creek, just north of the city limits and rel)uilt it, and Camp <S: Walker closed out their lundjcr mainilac- turing business.

In 187S Kx-Gov. John S. Pillsbury, who had l)een interested in the manu- facture of luml)er more or less since 18r)7, formed a partnershi|) with C. A. Smith, mider the firm name of C. .\. Smith & Co. Messrs Smith iv: Co. hrul their logs s.awed by different mills by the thousand, vmtil IS'. II , when in July of that year they j)ur- chased the saw mill located on Main street near l'"ourth avenue northeast.

I

I--,

n

MANUFACTURES.

567

igh Bros. & Kilgore, and i . II, Lo its full capacity during the

;. 'Jl, sawing y7,000,()00 leet of • r. At the close of the sawing sea- 'II, iiowever, they sold the mill to Nel- -i>n,Tenney& Co., and will have tli.-i^ wn logs sawed by the thousand. P. G. Lamoreaux also built a saw .aill during the j'car of 1879 on the east side just above Plymouth avenuebridge. After operating the mill for a few years it became the propert)'^ of Fletcher Bros., and has since been run ffir different part- ies sawing by the th<iusaml. E. A. Horr & Co. operated the mill during the sea- son of 1890, and in 1S91 they purchased the property and continued to run the

:i i;

nif„-oii.vM.- i-pHt t.-.i

Benjamin Fkankun NEi-SON. A gen- eration has passed since the close of the war of the Rebellion. The survivors of its contests in arm's, have crossed the meridian of life. Their animosities have '(jftened, their judgments matured, and their love for a common Unioi cned, or if once alienated, ha-. ..^.i. »v.- - lured. Those who once wore the blue liatemize with those who donned the gray, and the acrimonies which were once bitter between them, have melted into a common respect. Mihneapolis entered into the struggle with enthusi- asm, and sent her choicest citizens to the front. But she has always been kind and tolerant to those who were on the other side,. Her cosmopolitan popula- tion cherish neitherbigotr\'nor proscrip- tion. Thus, she made a celebrated con- federate general her citj' engineer, and elected one who bore arpis against herin Virginia to her chief magistracy. With s;milar courtes}' and forbearance she re- ceived Mr. Nelson, after the war was over, and has entrusted to him her ■' ■■- - est interest^*, and placed upon h; chief honors. And no one, born witt

her owi\ limits, and following her tat tercd flags, could niore loyall}' and hon- orably bear them than he. '

Benjamin P. Nelson was born in Lewis County, Kentuckj-, on the 4th of A' 1S43. His parents were natives of ^ .■.!! erset County, Maryland. His father was in infirm health, and the support of the family devolved upon the sons. The necessities of earning a living turned his early efforts into industrial lines, and left but fragmentary times for attend- ence at school. At seventeen years of age ,he engaged with a partner in tho lumber business, which at fii-st promis- ing success, was after two years broken up by the war. .\n attempt at farmiiig shared the same fate. It will be remem- bered that the state of Kentucky was de- batable ground in the early part of tlK- war. She was a slave holding state, and most of her citi;reTis sympathized with the coTi 10 state was

bv the ^ : ^lic federal p;j>>v.

from ;i :on. Hence such of

io join the Rebel ;..... .. "f loyalty to the!-;

Ncvertl -;e part of them

to join the stjui.h in arms Among was young Nelson, who at ninci^ii, with a firm conviction of doing right, and animated with the contagius spirit of his section, enlisted in 1862 in Com- panj' C. of the second Kentucky batta- lion, and went immedi service, under the conn,...,:.. ■■■. i.^(i..i.i Kirby Smith.

During t ' paigning w tending int' see ant'

Thf li

c-

lllnrii

storei

Iralr: i;r;:;', once Ij:::..-

asm, aid v otesidt

fedei

rate jr

MANUFACTURES.

5G7

built by Clough Bros. & Kilgore, and have run it to its full capacity during the year 1S91, sawing 37,000,000 feet of lumber. At the close of the sawing sea- son, however, they sold the mill to Nel- son, Tenney & Co., and will have their own logs sawed by the thousand.

P. G. Lamoreaux also built a saw mill during the year of 1879 on the east side just above Plymouth avenue bridge. After operating the mill for a few years it became the jjroperty of Fletcher Bros., and has since been rvin for different part- ies sawing by the thousand. E. A.Horr & Co. operated the mill during the sea- son of 1890, and in 1891 they purchased the projierty and continued to run the mill, having thoroughly refitted it.

Benj.\mi.\ Franklin Nelson. A gen- eration has passed since the close of the war of the Rebellion. The survivors of its contests in arms, have crossed the meridian of life. Their animosities have softened, their judgments matured, and their love for a common Union, strength- ened, or if once alienated, has been re- stored. Those who once wore the blue fraternize with those who donned the gra\', and the acrimonies which were once bitter between them, have melted into a common respect. Minneapolis entered into the struggle with enthusi- asm, and sent her clioicest citizens to the front. But she has always been kind and tolerant to those who were on the other side. Her cosmopolitan popula- tion cherish neither bigotry nor proscrip- tion. Thus, she made a celebrated con- federate general her city engineer, and elected one who bore arms against her in Virginia to her chief magistracy. With similar courtesy and forbearance she re- ceived Mr. Nelson, after the war was over, and has entrusted to him her dear- est interests, and placed upon liim her chief honors. And no one, born within

her own limits, and following her tat- tered flags, covdd more lo3'ally and hon- orably bear them than he.

Benjamin F. Nelson was born in Lewis Count}', Kentucky, on the 4th of May, 1843. His parents were natives of Som- erset County, Maryland. His father was in infirm health, and the support of the family devolved ujjon the sons. The necessities of earning a living turned his early efforts into industrial lines, and left but fragmentary times for attend- ence at school. At seventeen years of age he engaged with a partner in the lumber business, which at first jjromis- ing success, was after two years broken up by the war. An attempt at farming sluired the same fate. It will be remem- bered that the state of Kentucky was de- batable ground in the early part of the war. She was a slaveholdingstate, and most of her citizens sympathized with the confederacy; but the state was held bv the strong arm of the federal power from actual secession. Hence such of her people as chose to join the Rebellion, had not theexcuseof loyalty to the state. Nevertheless a lai'ge part of them chose to join the south in arms Among such was young Nelson, who at nineteen, with a firm conviction of doing right, and animated with the contagius spirit ofhis section, enlisted in 18G2 in Com- pany C. of the second Kentucky batta- lion, and went immediately into active service, under the command of General Kirby Smith.

During the next two v^ears his cam- jDaigning was active and laborious, ex- tending into Virginia, Alabama, Tennes- see and Georgia. He served successiveh- under Humphrey Marshall, Wheeler, For- rest and John Morgan, and participated in the battles of Chicamaugua, McMimi- ville, Shelbyville, I^ookout Mountain, Sterling and Greenville. The marchings were rapid and exhausting, the raids

568

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

spirited, riiid the tightin<> severe; but he escaped all the perils of the iiiareh, the field and liieeainp. In 1864 he was de- tached u]K)n recruiting duty in Ken- tucky, and venturing within the federal lines, as far as the Ohio river, he had se- cured a few recruits, and returning was captured and sent to Lexington and jjlaced in close confinement. There two of his unfortunate recruits were executed, find it was for a time uncertain but that he might he treated as a spy. He was, however, held as a prisoner of war, and sent to Camp Douglas in Chicago, where he was detained in custody until 1865, w'hen he was sent to Richmond; and at the close of the war, in accordance with the liberal terms accorded by General Grant, ujjon Lee's surrender, he was pa- roled.

After the war he returned to Lewis County, K}'., where he remained through the summer working in a saw mill vintil the latter part of August, when he decid- ed to try his fortune in the far west. The sovith, with its sleepy mannei's and cus- toms was too slow for the man of am- bition and enterprise that young Benja- min now was, and on the 3d day of Sep- tember, 1865, he set foot in the then little towm of St. Paul, Minn. Only one day did he remain there, but came on to the Falls (^f St. Anthony to look for work in tlie mills, if ])<)ssible. While walking about the village of St. Anthony that day he wandered dovxai near where the university now stands and lay down on the grass. In this position he studied the I-'alls of St. Anthony, which were be- fore hiui, and estimated their power, wliicli was then going to waste. He full v made up mind that he was lying on the site of Ji city that would some day be a great one, because of the power in the falls. He estimated the i)ower at 100,- 000 horse ])ower, and it has since ])een l)roven that the estimate was right.

Fully resolved to make St. Anthony his home. Air. Nelson went to work raft- ing lumber, to be sent down the river, as there wfis then no railroadsinto thecity. When the season was over he took up a claim near Waverh', built a house, and staid a few nights, but again decided that he did not care aboutfarming. That winter he chopped wood at Watertown, Minn., and when the spring opened uj) he came back to Minneapolis and went to work in the saw mills. Thenextwin- ter he contracted to haul logs at Lake Winsted. This venture was not a suc- cess, and so in the spring he began to work in a shingle mill, where he remained two years. He then took the contract for making the shingles by the 1,000, and continued it tor seven years. The mill was owned by Martin & Brown at first and the firm was then changed to Butler & Mills. In this venture Mr. Nelson saved some money, and in 1872 he form- ed a partnership with WarrenC. Stetson.

This firm started a planing mill, and as the business grew, the St. Louis mill was built. The partnership was dis- solved a few years later, Mr. Stetson taking the old mill, called the Pacific, and Mr. Nelson retaining the St. Louis mill. Through the planing \vork he en- tered the lumber business, taking lumber as ])ay for planing. The trade increased until the year 1881, when Mr. Nelson took into business with him W. M. Ten- ney and H. W. McNair, under the firm name of Nelson, Tenney & Co. This firm continued, H.B. Fry entering a few years later, and Mr. McNair retiring. W. I". Brooks afterwards was added to the firm, which in 1882 bought the old Fred Clarke saw mill, and began the manu- facturing of lumber on a small scale. Only a lew millions of feet were made at first, but the business grew with thecity, until last year 50,000,000 feet of lumber wcre m;inufactui-e(l b\- the firm. The

4

MANUFACTURES.

569

plant contains two large mills and a smaller one, together capable of cutting 100,000,000 feet if necessary . Thus it is seen how a man of ambition and energy, as B. F. Nelson, was able to work u])- ward, starting without a dollar, until now he is at the head of one of the larg- est lumber manufacturing enterprises in the Northwest.

Mr. Nelson is also interested in theNel- son Paper company, being founder and in'esident,as well as president of the Hen- nepin Paper company, at Little Falls, Minn.

While giving his attention primarily to his large business aftViirs, Mr. Nelson has been called to perform important civic duties. In 1879 he was elected al- derman of the First Ward of the city of Minneapolis, and served as a member of the City Comicil until 18S5. He was elected a member of the Park Board soon after the organization of that important branch of the municijjal government in 18S.3, and was an fictive participant in adopting the park sj'stem which has added so much to the beauty of the city. He also served as a member of the Board of Education for seven consecutive years, from 1884 to 1891, a service of little eclat before the public, but one of the most useful and responsible in the city govern- ment.

Mr. Nelson has l)een twice married, first in 1869 to Martha Ross who died five years later, leaving two sons, Wil- liam E. and Guj' H. His ])resent wife was Mary Fredingburg, who bore him one daughter, Bessie E.

His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcojjal Church, of which he is an active member, adtninistering one of its most important educational trusts, as trustee of Hamline University.

His social and charitable inclinations have found abundant occupation in Ma-

sonic affilicition, in which mystic order he has received the highest degree.

In politics he is a Democrat, not of the demonstrative sort, but ([uietly and firmly holding the political doctrines of Thomas Jefferson. These led him in youth to take U]) arms in defence of state rights, and throughout all his years of active life he has steadfasth' adhered to the idea of a simple, honest, Democratic government.

Take him all in all, Mr. Nelson is a unique man. His counterpart is rarely found. Accepting the lot of common la- bor, his integrity, industry and sagacity have raised him to the front rank of bus- iness men and made his career a conspic- uous success. Coming to an unsympa- thizing community without prestige or friends, he has been here entrusted with the most responsible public functions. In a citj' whose dominant majority do not espouse his political views, he occu- l)ies a position of infltiencc and dignity. Simple in demeanor, unostentatious in manner of life, f|uiet, thoughtful, almost sombre in aspect, he has attached friends of wh(jm the most gifted might be proud. He is spare, erect, sedate. Not yet in his climacteric, there are yet imattained suc- cess before him.

On November 1st, 1880, the firm of Nelson, Tenney & Co., was formed; the partners being B. F. Nelson, W. M. Ten- ney and Hugh W. McNair, Mr. Nelson having been engaged in operating ])laning mills and manufacturing lum- ber for many years previous to that date. The3' had their logs sawed the first year by the thousand. In the fall of 1881 they purchased the saw mill at the foot of Fourth avenue northeast on the river bank, known as the Rollins mill. This mill had been built in 1871 by Capt. John Rollins, and after chang-

570

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

iiig hands several times Ijecanie the prop- erty of F. P. Chirk in 1873. Heoperated it for several years and sold it to T. A. Harrison, who owned it at the time of its purehase by Nelson, Teniiey & Co. On January 1, 1883, H. B. Fr3'e beeame a member of the firm of Nelson, Tenney & Co., and in 1887 Mr. Hugh McNair retired from the firm and \Y. F. Brooks became a member, the firm name remain- ing the same. Messrs. Nelson, Tenney & Co. have continued to be extensive man- ufacturers of lumber until the jiresent time, and still operate their mill, having added considerable to its original dimen- sions. They also own and operate a large number of retail lumber yards on the line of the Minneajjolis & St. Louis K. K. During the winter of 1891-2 they purchased the Clough Bros. & Kil- gorc mill, adjoining, and will operate it in connection with their old mill, which makes their saw mill capacity the larg- est of any firm in Minneapolis.

In 1880, also, the Northern Mill Co., incorporated, and built a large saw mill on the river bank at Thirty-second ave- nue north. Since the completion of the mill the company has operated it at full caj)acity dm'ing the sawing season. In 1800 Alcssrs. (ilass and McE)wen, who had been large dealers in lumber, having their logs sawed by the thousand, con- solid.'ited their business with that of the Northern Mill Co., and the new concern continties to o])erate the mill. The offi- cers of the com])any are as follows: W. B. Ransom, ])resident ; j. Iv Class, vice- president; Kay \V. Jones, secretary and treasurer. They are doing a large and growing business.

During the same year Messrs M. A. Richardson, H. H. Smith, N.C. Leighton and W. S. Benton built a saw mill be- tween Seventeenth and Eightcentli ave- nues north, and named it the Diamond

mill. Air. Iient<jn sold out to his yiixrt- ners the following winter, and Mr. Leigh- ton sold out two 3-ears later, and the firm became Smith & Richardson, and they have since operated the Diamond mill, sawing logs for other parties by the thousand.

Beede & Bray built a saw mill on the east side just south of Plymouth avenue bridge during the year of 1882. They operated it xuitil 188()wlien the mill was closed up by the creditors of the firm and stood idle for a year when it was oper- ated bj' the thousand for different part- ies until 1889, and then sold to E. W. Backus iK: Co., who continue to operate the mill. This firm was formerly Lee & Backus and had its logs sawed 1)v the thousand. Mr. Lee retired in 1888 and the firm name became \l. W. Backus & Co , and they are among the large man- ufacturers of lumber in Minneajiolis.

In 1880 Minneapolis had risen to the third place among the lumber producing cities of the United States. The value of her saw mill products in that year was $2,74.0,848. Ten years later this value was tri])led and Minneapolis was in first place with products exceeding by over $2,000,000 those of the uextcity in rank. This remarkable advance is shown in the accompanying table:

I.lMISIiK PKODICTS OF SIX LlC.VUI.Ni; Cri'IKS.

1880.

Cities.

? ^ n c aj ^

Biiy City, Midi

Muskegon, Mich

.Minnc.-ipolis, Minn.

Saj^^inaw, Mich

Manistee, Mich

Menominee, Mieh...

Value ot saw mill products.

Total .

$3,702,298 3,199,250 2,74-0,S48 2,035,G0() 1.867,500 1,294,834

.|$l4,8t0,336

MANUFACTURES.

571

IS'JO.

Minneapolis, Minn I 1 $6,584,456

Menominee, Mich ' 2 ' 4,208,689

Mtisl<ei,n,n. ^rieh 3 4,()16,<)'.)4

Bav Citv. Mich 4 4,006.214

Oshkosli, Wis 5 3.810.150

I.a Crosse, Wis 6 3,202,636

Total $25,837,239

The above figures do not include a large quantity of forest products whicli should properly be credited to the lumber interests of Minneapolis. In 1890 the value of telegraph poles, fence posts, rait- wa}- ties, and piling, manufactured by Minneapolis concerns, reached $680,837. This would swell the total lumber busi- ness of the year to the handsome figure of $7,215,293.

Among the many firms tliat had lieen ])rominent in the manufacture of hnnber in Minneapolis previous to 1880, and have before or since that date retired from the Ivimber business, may be men- tioned W.S. Judd&Co., who did a large business from 1865 to 1875; the John Martin Lumber Co , Leavett, Chase & Co., Todd & Haven, D.C. Haven & Co., W. D. Washburn & Co., the Washbuni Mill Co., Crooker Bros. & Lamoreau.x, D. Morrison, Morrison Bros., Todd, Gorton & Co., Pomeroy, Bates & Co., I). W. Marr, Bedford, Boyce & Baker, W. E. Jones & Co., Fletcher Bros., The C. H. Ruddock Lumber Co., Butler & Walker, Tuttle & Lane, Levi Butler, Cole it Hammond, F. P. Clark, F. G. Mayo, Lovejoy Bros., J. Dean & Co., Camjj & Walker, Capt. John Rollins, H.T. Welles, Ankeny, Robinson & Pettit, Pettit, Rob- inson & Co., Ankeny & Newton, Farn- ham & Lovejoy, Cole & Weeks, Good- now" & Hawley, James Goodnow and Smith & Wyman. All of whom contrib- uted their part to the growth and exten- sion of the lumber business in Minne- apolis.

In the winter of 1880-'81, N. G.

Leighton built the Plymouth Saw Mill at the west end of Plymouth avenue bridge. He operated it for three years wdien he leased it to F. S. Stevens. In 1887 Merriman, Barrows & Co. bought a half interest in the Mill. On September 1st, 1890, the mill was destroyed by fire, but was immediately rebuilt. The mill is still leased and operated by F. S. Stevens, who saws by the thousand for other parties.

The lumber manufacturers of Minne- apolis have not been much inclined to an organization of their interests. Desult- ory- meetings have been held from time to time since the beginning of the manu- facture of hnnber at the Falls of St. Anthony, but in 1882 the lumber manu- facturers met and organized the Minne- apolis Lumber Exchange. J. B. Bassett was elected president and B. F. Nelson, secretary. These officers seem to have given satisfaction to the lumbermen, as there has been no change since that daj-. The Lumljer Exchange is a verv infor- mal organization. It has no special day fixed for its meetings ; has no directors and no treasurer, and the secretar3' keeps no minutes of its proceedings. Undoubt- edly, as the lumber business is so rapidh- expanding in this city the lumbermen will soon see the need of a more com- ])lete organization, and the present Min- neapolis Lumber Exchange will serve as a nucleus around which to gather it.

In 1883 Mr. T. B.Walker, desiring to utilize his pine in the northern part of the state and tributary to the Red River of the North, organized the Red River Lumber Co., and took his son, Gilbert M. Walker, into partnership. They built a large mill at Crookston, Minn., on the Red Lake River, and one at Grand Forks, N. D., on the Red River of the North. These mills have been in constant opera- tion during the sawing season and ai-e managed b}' Gilbert M. Walker, the bus-

■e-%***«-»

f *

572

HISTORY OF A//.V I-APOI

incss \tL-u\ii coniliKtcil. so far n" j"-7.^i. ill MiiiiK-apolis.

In lunc. 18«G. the Hall »■

her Co. was m. •»'

ineiiibtTS of tilt , "

P. A. Duccy. Thos H Shcvliti ami II ' Clark. The first year business, its lojjs wt: Camj) & Walker mill, at the f«>ol .. avenue north.

it built a first <

of the old Mortit mill at tl avenue north on t' Mr. Itucey sold h pany to the other , G. A. K. Simpson Ijcxamc

On Aujjnst ' ' '""" died, and his j

his heirs Sinec h«» death ti has been eon' stockholders,

Simpson, who have alway* liccii tlic tive nianaj;iTs .■( : "

On I'ebrnarv Akeley Lumlwr Co \\n» in» and the folltiwinj; Imhi' elected; H. C Akclcx F. S. Farr, of Minnrai lev and Thomas lltinu. <>i .\iich. H C Akeley wnn ck^ ilent, Thomas ilumr, vicc-pr«^ Ray \V. Jones, sevrelary . The company «>|»crate> a ! in North Minnea|><di!> at dunn<; the sawing (M^nsoii. n» can from the seasons cut of Isyl ' levmill iKiviu).; the lu)norof <ui lumber than any other saw v ncajjolis; the cut ' '

of lumber, l>esi<li--

Smith iS: Kurrij;an own a > on the cast side near I'lvmon bridge, which tliey (>|K-r;itt parties, sawiiij,' by the ih' B. Chattcrtiin. who ■■ the cast end of I'lynn';. oiHjrates it in sawiii;; K:t.-^\:n ;►. .»ix

'•I

- '■ ■-' \-

■ > '■'■'■\\: 111 a

crion has since

•;iiea|K.lis have

•er lur many

nsicad,

- I ihuus-

"initient of

• . who are

- way, their

' largest in

••I'^^-rate in

' '-luit time

-- McClurc,

adF H.

Mr F M Clarke as

Ml lutnlKT,

. the ihous-

i» Ikct a

- Jesse G.

\S Johnson,

■- I,;.,

■ dwood luni-

. t '. !inr>tiH.'li

^ ll.iilcs.H.

.V Co Many

J n^ or in

> hut as

*r they

. incQtioDcd hcTT

r tl.iw of cmigra- «• i;<

] !>cri were three ! ' .«.-' >rpc E., •K iilciitibed ^^f town.

I

*

572

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

incss beiiifi coniliictcd, so far as possible, in Minneapolis.

In June, 1886, the Hall & Ducey Lum- ber Co. was incorporated. The original members of the company being S. C. Hall, P. A. Ducey, Thos. H. Shevlin and H. C. Clark. The first year the company did business, its logs were sawed at the Camp & Walker mill, at the foot of First avenue north, but the following winter it built a first class saw mill on the site of the old Moflit mill at the foot of Fifth avenue north on the river bank. In 1887 Mr. Ducey sold his interest in the com- pany to the other partners at which time G. A. R. Simpson became a stockholder.

On August 3d, 1888, Mr. S. C. Hall died, and his part of the stock went to his heirs. Since his death the business has been conducted by the surviving stockholders, Alessrs Shevlin, Clark & Simpson, who have always been the ac- tive managers of the corporation.

On February 11th, 1889, the H. C. Akeley Lumber Co. was incorporated and the following board of directors was elected: H. C. Akeley, Ray W, Jones and F. S. Farr, of Minneapolis; C. H. Hack- ley and Thomas Hume, of Muskegon, Mich. H. C. Akeley was elected presi- dent, Thomas Hume, vice-])resident, and Ray W. Jones, secretary and treasurer. Tile com])any oi:)erates a large saw mill in North Alinneapolis at full capacity, during the sawing season, as can be seen from the seasons cut of 1891. The Ake- ley mill having the honor of sawingmorc lumber than any other saw mill in Min- neapolis; the cut being (31,620,318 feet of lumber, besides shingles and lath.

Smith <S: Kurrigan own a shingle mill on the east side near Plymouth avenue bridge, which they oi)erate for other parties, sawing by the thousand; and J. B. Chatterton, who owns a small mill at the east end ol Plymouth avenue bridge, ojjerates it in sawing cedar jjosts. The

mill was built in 1876 by Hobart & Chatterton, but Mr. Hobart letired in a few years and Mr. Chatterton has since operated the mill alone.

Several firms in Minneapolis have been large operators in lumber for many years without owning mills, but instead, have had their logs sawed by the thous- and. Perhaps the most prominent of these is N. P. Clarke & Co., who are large manufacturers in this wa\', their lumber cut being among the largest in the city. The firm began to operate in Minneapolis in 1875, and at that time the firm name was Clarke & McClure, but Mr. McClure died in 1885, and F. H. Clarke succeeded him in the bvisiness, and the firm name was changed to N. P. Clarke & Co., with Air. F. H. Clarke as manager.

Among other operators in lumber, who have their logs sawed by the thous- and, are H. F. Brown (who has been a large operator for many years); Jesse G. Jones. W. S. Hill & Co.^ W. W. Johnson, Carpenter Bros. & Co., and also John Dudley, who has his logs sawed outside of Minneapolis. And in hardwood lum- ber the following dealers have their stock cut outside of the city: W. C. Bailey, H. A. Bennett and Bovce Bros. & Co. Alanv' other firms are engaged in logging or in jobbing lumber in Minneajjolis, but as they do not manufacture lumber the^' cannot be appropriately mentioned here by name.

Jessk G. Jones. The ilow of emigra- tion from New England to Minneapolis of the season of 1856, brought D. Y. Jones with his familv. There were three sons, Jesse G.,Ste])hen H.and George E., who with their father became identified with the interests of the growing town. They had removed from Washington County, Maine, where the father had been engaged in agriculture. They traced

* ■', ivlio

w

1*1 m km a

\ ■•.

,r if fill?"-

^^^t

572

HISTORY Ol Ml.\.\liAl'ULlS.

ii.t-ss being tonducud, so far as possible, ill Minneap<ilis.

In June. 1 8.HG, the Hall & Diicey Lum- ber Co was incorporated. The orisvinal members of the compan\- being S. C. Hall, P. A. Ducey, Thos. H. Shevlin and H. C. Clark. The first 3'ear the company did business, its logs were sawed at the Camp & Walker mill, at the foot of First avenue north, but the following winter it built a iirst class saw mill on. the site of the old Moffit mill at the foot of Fifth avenue north on the river bank. In 1887 Mr. Ducey sold his interest in the com- pany to the other partners at which tinte G. A. R. Simpson became a stockholder.

On August 3d, 1888, Mr. S. C. Hall died, and his part of the stock w«nt to his heirs. Since his death the Tivisiness has been conducted bj' the surviving stockholders, Messrs Shevlin, Clark & Simpson, who have always been the ac- tive managers of the <-"'•"' r-ition.

On February 11 , the H. C.

Akeley Lumber Co. was incorporated and the following board of directors was elected: H. C. Akeley, Kay W.Jones and F. S. Farr, of Minneapolis; C. H. Hack- ley and Thomas Hume, of Muskegon, Mich. H. C. Akelt-y was elected presi- dent, Thomas Hume, vice-president, and Ray W . Jones, secretary and treasurer. Tiie company operates a large saw mill in North Minneapolis at full capacity, during the sawing season, as can be seen from the seasons cut of 1891. The Ake- ley mili having the honor of sawing more lumlii r than unj' other saw mill in Min- neapolis; the cut l)eing 61,620,318 feet of lumb 'i.s and lath.

Smiti. .- n a shingle mill

on the east vmoiith avenue

bridge, T other

])arties, - ntid J.

H. Chattert.. ilat

Ijndge, - The

mill was built in 1876 by Hobart & Chatterton, but Mr. lloI)art letired in a few years and Mr. ChiT Sertou has since oix;rated the mill .

Several fir- - h;;(1m)1iv, have

been large ope : nljer lor many

years without owning mills, but instead, have had their logs sawed by the thous- and. Perhaps the most prominent of these is N. P. Clarke & Co., who are large manufacturers in this way, their lumber cut Ijeing among the largest in the city. The firm began to operate in Minneapolis in 1875, and at that time the firm name was Clarke & McClure, but Mr. McClure died in 188.5, and F. H. Clarke succeeded him in the business, and the firm name was changed to N. P. Clarke & Co., with Mr. F. H. Clarke as manager.

Among other of^rators in lumber, who have their logs sawed bj' the thous- and, are H. F. Brown (who has been a large operator for many years); Jesse G. Jones. W. S. Hill & Co.] W. W. Johnson, Carpenter Bros. & Co., and also John Dudley, who has his logs sawed outside of Minneapolis. And in hardwood lum- ber the following dealei's have their stock cut outside of the city: W. C. Bailey, H. A. Bennett and BoyceBros. & Co. Many other firms are engaged in logging or in jobbing lumber in Minneapolis, but as thev' do not mai/ufacture lumber they cannot be approiu mv. U- ir.cinioned here bj' name.

Jesse G. Jones! The flow of emigra- tion from New England to Minneapolis of the season of 1856, brought D. Y. Jones with his faniilv. There were three sons, Jesse G, Stephen H. and George E.,

who with their fa with the inlcri.^' They hat' County, Mame, .

■me identified

towing town.

Washington

icr.- the father had

been entragcd in atri iculturc. Thev traced

SV-'

'^f^'^^^S^

MANUFACTURES.

573

their aiicestrj to the pilgrim stock, being descendents of John Alden.

Jesse G. Jones is the second son. He was born March 14, 1SH9, and had aided in the labors of the farm and attended the common school of the neighborhood. After reaching Minne- apolis, at the age of seventeen, he en- tered the public school and attended for two years, completing the course of in- struction then afforded here.

D. Y. Jones established himself in bus- iness, opening a store on the east side of what was then known as Bridge Square, for the sale of clothing, boots and shoes, and some staple articles of merchandise. The City Hall and Center block were not then built, and the whole area between Nicollet and Hennepin ave- nues from the suspension bridge to the site of the Nicollet house was an open space. The sons assisted their father in the store, and Jesse soon became inter- ested in it, under the style of D. Y. Jones & Co. On the 10th of June, 1860, a con- flagration swept away the entire block from First to Second streets, where the store of the Jones' was situated, entail- ing a serious loss upon the occupants and consuming the chief business estab- lishments of the town. The Jones firm rebuilt their store in a more permanent st^de, erecting the first stone building in the town. The business was continued for many years and occu]3ied the atten- tion of Jesse until he entered the mili- tary service.

During the summer of 1861 pul)lic attentif)!! in Minnea])olis was engrossed, as was the case throughout the country, with military preparations. Regiment after regiment was recruited, drilled and marched to the seat of war. The young men, penetrated with the patriotic spirit, volunteered, and Jesse Jones was among those who freely offered themselves for the country's service. He enlisted and

was mustered into Company A, of the Third Regiment of Minnesota Infantry, on the 27th day of September, 1861. Henry A. Lester, a captain in the cele- brated First Regiment, was colonel of the regiment and Wm. W. Webster captain of Company A. Mr. Jones was made corporal and two years later was promoted to be commissary sargeant. The regiment was assigned to duty in Tennessee and Kentucky, and was engaged in guarding the railways, and in conflicts with the guerillas. In July, 1862, the regiment was surrendered to the guerilla chief, Gen. Forrest, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., and soon after- ward the privates and subalterns were ]3arolled and were returned to Minnesota. Hardly had they reached the state when the Indian outbreak called them into ser- vice, as veterans. They bore the brunt of the battle of Wood Lake, on the upper Minnesota, which occurred Sep- tember 28, 1862, in which the power of the savage foe was broken. In this en- gagement Mr. Jones was severely wound- ed, but had sufficiently recovered to ac- company the regiment on its return to the South in the following January. From this time until his discharge, Sept. 16, 1865, at the close of the war, he par- ticipated in the marches, the struggles, and the victories of his noble regiment, now passed to the command of Col. C. C. Andrews. The nature of these will be recalled at the mention of the names of Fort Henr}-, Donelson, Vicksljurg, Little Kock and Fitzhugh's Woods.

On his return, Mr. Jones found his health seriously impaired, but a year devoted to nursing, with the aid of the invigorating atmosphere of Minnesota, restored him in such a degree that he resumed his place in the store, and took lip the business which had been so long interrujjted, but which nevertheless had been continued bv his father.

574

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

The next year, ISGT, Mr. Jones was united in nuirriage with Miss Annie M., second daughter of WilHam M. Harri- son. He purchased three lots jit the cor- ner of Tenth street and First avenue south, then far out of the town, where he erected a residence and has made his home to the present time. The house was burned in 1879, l)ut was immedi- ately rebuilt. It is one of the ]jleasant and inviting residences of a beautiful street, in ti cit\' noted for the beauty and elegance of its homes.

In the fall of this year a ticket was made up for the public offices, irrespective of ])arty. called the Soldiers' ticket, though in fact it was run in opposition to the regularly nominated candidates of the Rejjublican party. IVIr. Jones was put u])on this ticket as candidate for County Treasurer, and was elected to the office, which had now become one of importance and no small responsibility. He was re-elected two years later, hold- ing the office for four years.

Mr. Jones, always prudent and saga- cious in business affairs, invested a por- tion of his increasing means in real estate, which, through the phenominal increase in values in a town growing during his active life from a thousand to more than two hundred thousand of population, has l)rought him large ])rofits. He also obtained I'roiii time to time timbci'ed land throughout the region of the upper Mississi])])!. About 1S7;) he engaged in th'.- luinl)er l)usiness, which he has since carried on, at times on a large scale. He did not t)uild a saw mill, but cutting or hiring cut the timber Irom hisown lands, he had it sawed at niercliant mills, and ojjcncd a lumber yard, and engaged in yarding, drying, sorting and selling his own Iund)er.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have ever kei)t a hospitable home. They have shared largelv in the social life of tlie citv, and

are foremost in charitable work as well tis literary- and artistic culture. Mrs. Jones' mother, the late widow of Wm. M. Harrison endowed liberally the Home of the Ladies Christian Association, also Northwestern Hospital, so that they fall naturalh- into a line of be- nevolent work. They havetwochildren, a daughter, the wife of Mr. John Nichol- son, and William Harrison Jones.

The family are attached to the West- minster Presbyterian church. Mr. Jones is an honoary member of Hennepin Lodge No. 4, A. O. F. M. He is a life member of the Young Men's Christian Association, in whose enterprise of erect- ing the magnificent building on Tenth street, he took great in terest, and toward the cost of which he was a liberal con- tributor.

It goes without saying that one who carried a musket through the battle fields of the Rebellion, would be active in the work and organization of the tirand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Jones also bears a part in other social and benevolent associations.

Without brilliant C|ualities, which lift some men to notice and favor in profes- sicmal and official life, Mr. Jones ])ossesses persistent industiw, integrity of charac- ter, and a courteous and friendly bearing, which have made him an honored citizen, and a sincere and attached friend.

The development of the hnnber inter- ests of Minneapolis is nowhere better shown in condensed form than in the fol- lowing table of the "yearly cut" since the beginning of activity in 1870. It will l)e observed tiiat the advance has not been regular. After reaching two hundred millions feet in 1S7() the ]iro- duction diop|)cd of! and did not ])ass the two liundred jxtint again imtil 1S81. I hiring the following year over three luiudrcd and fourteen millions leet were

MANUFACTURES.

575

cut; but this point was not reached again until 188S. These fluctuations were due to various causes. In some years the supply of logs was small, and in others, late springs and early winters cut short the sawing season. But the steady increase of the average cut is sig- nificant:

\^av. Veet of lumber cut.

ISTo' 118,233,112

1S71 117,557,029

1872 167,918,814

1873 189,909,782

1874. 191,305,679

1875 156,665,000

1876 200,371,277

1877 129,076,000

1878 130,274,076

1879 149,754,547

1880 195,452,182

1881 234,254,071

1882 314,363,168

1883... 272,793,222

1884 300,724.373

1885 313,998,166

1886 262,636,019

1887 220,822,974

1888 337,663,501

1889 275,855,648

1890 344,574,362

1891 ...447,713,252

The growth of the lumber interest in Minneapolis is also well shown by the following comparative statement show- ing totals of capital invested and value of production for the census years of 1880 and 1890, by the principal white pine lumber producing points in the United States:

Minneapolis has quadrupled her capi- tal in the ten years, advancing from third to first place in this respect as in the total value of products.

In the above table, compiled from the report of the eleventh census, Minneapo- lis is credited with only 325,629,000 feet as the lumber cut of 1890, while in fact the amount sawed was 344, 57-t, 302 feet. During the year 1891 over (me hundred million or more feet of lumber were cut, an accomplishment which places the city much further in the advance of all com- pettitors. The great lumber cut of 1891 was distributed among the local mills as follow :

Minneapolis. Menominee .

Bay City

Muskegon....

/■1880 11890 /1880 11800 (1880 11890 /1880 1 1800

Oshko.sh {}««^

, „ 11880

Lacrosse '^f^

ii	•S»i
•Mfl	.j =
u5
z-	«"
16	3
17	1
4	0
9	•A
22	2
22	4
27	1
19	2
22	4
14	(i
(i	n
12	5

Capital.

Lumber, feet, board measure.

82. 40.='), I II II I 8.3K'J.:ili4 l.l.'j.'i.llilll 0.7].".. I ■>4 3,042,111111 0.70K.-.iSi:i 3,9;ii,71lll 7,410,.'ii;,-, 1,342.111111 3,114, iiiill 1,324.71111 6,208.399

MILL.

Lumber.

Bovev-DeLalttre Lbr. Co.

Northern Mill Co

H C Akeley Lbr. Co

.J. W. Day* Co

Dlamoiul Mill Co

Plvmiuth Mill Co

Hall & Ducpy Lbr. Co

.1. B. Bassett & Co

Smith & Kurlgan

E. A. HorrA Co

E. W. Backus &Co

Nelson, Teiniey & Co

C. A. Smith <5c Co

McMullen .4: Co

Shingles. Lath.

Total. 1891.. Total, 1890..

Increase..

23,.500,000' 42,01111.000 01,l>2ll,313 22.707,300 36,219,711 35.150.703 32.000,000 8,750,000

28,233,134 35,944,564 51,038,326 34.543,036 31,000,000

447.713,-52 344.574,362

103,138,890

13,250,0001 11.000,000 37,714,500

4,870,000

7,290,0001 17,052,5001 11.000,000!

4,000.000! 32,134,000

7,790,7«0 13,541,000 27,711.0001

7,805,250 12,000,000

4,750.000 10,000,000 1K,020,700 5,-244,000 8,111,000 8,040,000 5,700,000 2,000,000

207,221,000 162,217,500

45,003,500

6,546,000 4,933,7.50 15,776,900 7,960,250 8,000,000

07,697,600 80,275,350

17,422,250

In early days the Minneapolis lumber- men were mostly from Maine. This was true of the rank and file employed in the mills and in the woods, as well as of tlie manufacturers themselves, and it is said that to have come from Maine was a

shingles, number.

OKI ,111 10

i;2'.i.(iiio 11110,1100 lUl.illili I 10, III III 747,111111, 507.11110 2.'/2,ll0ll 575,(11111 HKl.illlll 707,111111 ,980,0110;

,660, .327,

,239,

,1.S7 ,s:i'.i, ,3111,

!l(i'l .0211

,000 ,000

I II 10 ,11110 ,11110

staves, number.

^"il^^.^.r Value of re. of mill pro, "''11 ,.„ manufnc-' ducts and ?'", '""'i turers-lBSO.; remanufac- ducttf. tures.

6,300,000

,416, ,294,

I Aggregate of Total yaluel forest pro-

,000 ,0001

H4,' 114,1

III 1(1'.

,ii(i(i!.

,(1001

133,000

S454,

190, 14.

580, 5.

331, 27, 51,

,919 450 .418 ,411 ,905 ,000 ,982 ,019 ,825

09,280

Sl,9„2,600

662,066

315,806

'7!666

"■2,'osi,iii

'645/203

ducts, mill p r o d u c ts. and reman- ufHCturers" 1890.

740, ,584, ,294, ,208, ,702, ,006, ,651, ,000, ,052, ,819, 880, ,202,

848! ,456! ,834i ,089 ,298 ,2141 ,377! ,214 ,014 ,150; ,107 ,636

87,215,

"4,'786]

'4,366,

"4,'i'i.'>!

"3,'964 ■'3!5'76

293 983 6.53 Oi't'-i ,4.56 .522

576

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS-

sure passport to a job in the mills or on the drive. Thron<i;h this jjcculiar lo\alt_v to state, quite a rivalry grew up among the early settlers, and an occasional fistic encounter among the laborers was by no means uncommon. Maine was sarcastically alluded to as the "State of Bangor," and the sons of Maine were called Maineites; but the men from Mtiine soon learned to know that other states produced good men, and the men from other states soon learned to appre- ciate and copy the good qualities of the sturdy New Pinglanders, until all rivalry has died out and the accusation of par- tiality is no longer made.

Tile business ol logging on the tqjjjcr Mississippi River and its tributaries, which is necessarily jireliminary to the manufacture of lumber at Minneapolis, is conducted not only by the lumber manufactvirers but by a large number of pine land owners, and practical loggers as well, located at Minneapolis. The men employed at the saw mills in sum- mer, work for the loggers in winter, and the busy hum of the mill is exchanged for the merry ring of the woodsiiKui's ax, and the pleasures of home life for the weary round of the logging camp, with its acconi])aiiying Ijaked beans and salt pork, and an occasional song or story to rehevc the tedium of the winter eve- nings. In the spring the camp is ex- changed for the wanagan and the drive comes down with the spring floods, and with the drive, the loggers. The wana- gan is banked for the season, and the manufacturer again becomes the center of attraction ior the red sliirLed kiml)er- nien. Many of our most |)rouiinent man- ufacturers made their first money at logging, .and although they have now exchanged tlie flannel shirts and lieavv boots of the logging cam]) and drive, for

The ivrilor is iiiilebtofl tu the MinHiswipjii \'tiH«y J.iiinhHrimiii fur tliH ut^H of itH lileH in tlie com pi 1 at ion of MtiitiHtics reliit iii,{ to the luiiilufacturH of Itjiuheriit MiiiiieapoliH.

the attire more a])pro]iriate to their in- creased wealtii, and the amenities of city life, yet the\' look back with pride and pleasure to the days s]3ent among the fragrant jjines of tiie Minnesota forests. The methods of sawing and handling lumber have greatly changed within the last twenty-five years. The railroad has done a\vay with the sluice way .and the Mississipjii river raft. The gang saw drove out the old-fashioned up and down saw. The "nigger" and the live rolls save a large amount of lifting and carrying; even the motive ])ower has changed, and now steam is the rule, and w<ater the exception ; the great waste of material has been stopped, and the lum- ber is sawed thin. Thin saws are used also, the slabs and edgings .are sold for fuel, and the sawdust is used to generate steam for power; and 3'et the enterpris- ing lumberman is not satisfied, but util- izes every new invention to improve his business, and he deserves to succeed.

FLOUR MANUFACTURERS.

The manufacture of flour in Minne.a])- olis, which has grown to such pi'opor- tions as to far outstrip lumber in the value of the manufactured product, also h.ad its l)irth on the St. Anthony side of the river.

With the exception of the old govern- ment mill, the first mill erected in Min- neapolis for grinding grain was built by Richard Rogers, and was completed in May, 1851, and had one run of stone. The site of the mill w.as on the St. An- thonv side ot the river, l)etween First and Second .avenues soutlieast. The mill was onlva grist mill, but it was the iirst at the Falls of St. .\ntliony re,'ill\- wurthy of the name. In 1.S52 Mr. Rogers, with Air. lM\'uiklin Steele ;is a ])artner, .added {Uiother run of stone, wliieli was used exclusivelv for grinding Hour for local c()iisinn])tion. The mill was su])])lied witli w;iter i)ower from Mi. Steele's new

MANUFACTURES.

ill

(lam, and was run by the proprietors until it was destroyed by fire in 1857.

In the spring of 1854 Franklin Steele told J. W. Eastman, who had just ar- rived from New Hampshire, that lie would lease him a mill site on Hennejjin Island for a nominal sum, providing he would settle the dispute between Dr. Kingslcy and himself, as to the owncr- shi|) of the island, both claiming title by pre-emption. After considerable nego- tiation Mr. Eastman settled the difli- culty, by getting the parties to the dis- l)ute to consent to a division of the Island between them. Mr. Steele taking the easterly half and Dr. Kingslej- the westerly half Mr. Eastman associated with him Capt. John Rollins and R. V. Upton, and Mr. Steele leased them a water power, for twenty years, at the nominal rate of $200 per year, they to have rdl the waterthey wanted for a five mill mill. They proceeded at once to build a flouring mill on a site located near the lower end of Hennepin Island, and on the east side of the island. The logs not having come down the \-ear be- fore, they had to send up river and have the timber cut, hewed, and floated down to St. Anthony. They sent to Pittsburgh and Huifalo for the nuichinery. At that time there was not a complete foundry or machine shoj) in the territory of Min- nesota. After the mill was completed, Mr. W. W. Eastman became a part- ner inthe firm,andthe firm namebecame Rollins, Eastman and I'pton, and they christened their mill "The Minnesota." They built a sluicewa3-up to Mr. Steele's dam, to convey the water to their flume. The mill was -4-0 by 60 feet in size, and three stories high, besides the basement. It had five run of stone. At that time butlittle wheat was raised in Minnesota, and the ])ro]irictors procured their main supply from Iowa and Wisconsin, con- siderable bciiiL;' hauled over Hill miles i)v

the farmers in lumber wagons, and the balance was brought up the Mississippi River in boats. The mill was started in October, 1854, and was a paying invest- ment from the beginning; costing $16,- 000 when completed, and it cleared $24,000 the first year.

The first flour ever shipped to the east- ern markets was shipped from this mill in 1858, as previous to that date an abundant market was found in Minne- sota and Wisconsin. The freight on that shipment of floiu' amounted to $2.25 per bbl , which is (piite an excess over jDresent rates of freight. In later years the capacity of the mill was increased, and it changed proprietors also, Capt. John Rollins retiring in 1857, and W. W. liastman retiring in 1858. W. F. Cahill became a partner in 1863, Mr. U]iton retiring from the firm. The mill was then rebuilt, and its name changed to the "Island Mill," ami under that name its product attained quite a rcputatifin in the eastern markets. Maj. Morrill became part owner of the mill in 1868, and in 1870 the mill was ])artiall\' de- stroyed 1)3' tlie washout caused bv the Eastman tunnel under Hennepin Island ; but it was repaired at once. Immedi- ateh' after repairing the mill Messrs. Eastman & Morrill sold it to Edward Rrown and Harmon Martin, who oper- ated it under the firm name of Hrown cS: Martin until it was destroyed by fire on iMarch 5th, 1872. The building of this mill marked an e|)Och in the history of Minneapolis, as the history of flour man- ufacturing commenced fit that date, and the energy- and enterprise manifested by the builders and projectors under such verv discouraging circunistaiices is wor- th\' of commendation.

What a result has been achieved from this modest beginning. Messrs. Rollins, I'^astman & I'jjton little thought that lliev were the pioneers in establishing

578

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

an industry at the Falls of St. Anthony, which would, in a few years, make tlie recently named Cit}' of Minneapolis fa- mous the world over. As they <iround their grist and received the honest mil- ler's toll, tlie\' could have seen, with tlie vision of a seer, the growth and exten- sion of their dusty traffic, until tower- ing mills arose on every side, furnishing emi)loyment to thousands of men, with scores of rushing trains bringing the amber grain "to grist" from tributary fields, while otlier scores of trains sjied out to carry tlie manufactured product to every land and clinic, until Minneap- olis had become the greatest flour man- ufacturing cit3- of the world.

In 1856 Prescott & Morrison built a grist mill on Hennepin Island, just above the Minnesota Mill. It was located just at the end of the bridge, crossing from Tliird avenue southeast to Hennepin Is- land, and was run until 1.S72, when it was desti'oyed by fire on March 5tli oi' that year. This was the sccf)nd grist mill built on the cast side, and was first named theRivcr Mill, but afterward was called the I'ariner's Mill.

'.\Vii.i.i.\.M \V.\i.i,.\CK Iv.\sT.\i.v.N was a New Hamiishirc boy, born Februaiy G, 1S27, at Conway, under the shadow of old Keersarge, and within view of the towering peak of Mount Washington. The town, on the upper waters of the Saco, is iVinied for bciulilul scenery, and is a favorite resort for artists, as well as a i)opular summer resort. It is one oi" those rugged nurseries of men of energy and self reliance, who, emigrating to the cities and the broader fields of the West, 1)V cnler])risc and industry lia\e l.'iid the found.'itions of states and built up cities. His lather was\Villi;im K.Ivastnian, one of the oldest .'ind most respected citizens of that ])laee. He was a niercli;int, a tiller of the soil, amanufacturerol'paiicr,

and for a term was sheriff of the county. William K. Eastman removed to Alinne- aiiolis in the later years of his life, and died a few N'cars since at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The sons grew to manhood amid the mountains, nourished to strength and agilitv by the pure air and wholesome fare, and cultivated into finer manners and more gentle spirit by contact with artists and sojourners who brought the refinement and exhibited the elegancies of cultured communities.

Voung Fastman, as he grew u]i, w.is employed in his father's paper mill. He varied the monotony of life by driving stage among the mountains, and made a trip to California, liut was not sulfi- ciently attracted by lil'c on the coast to settle tliei-e.

Mr. Fastnian took up his residence in St. Anthony in 1854, where his brother John and a sister, Mrs. D. .\. Secombe, had already settled. About the time of his arrival, his brother, with Ca])t. Rol- lins and R. P. I'])ton, li.-id conimenced the erection of a large flouring mill on Henneiiin Island, William W. Fastni;in joined the entcr])rise. Fxce])t the old government mill built on the west side in 1S21, fi)r the use of the military jiost, this was the ])ioncer f)f the immense niill- ingbusiness which has made Minneapolis fanuius throughout theworld. The mill continued in successful operation until, after jiassing into other hands, it w.-is (Icstroved bv fu'c.

.'\ssoon as thed.'im of the Minnea])olis Mill Com|)any \\as coni])leted, and the can;d so l.'ir cxcaxatcd as to hirnish w.'iterlbr hydraulic ])ower, Mr. Ivaslman, in connection with .Mr. Paris Ciibson, with whom he lorn led a busiiK'ss p.'irtiu-r- ship, erected upon it, on the north side of Cataract street, a line stone mill, with five run of buhrs, which the\ christened "Cat.'iract Mills." Here was ground the first Hour that found its wav to eastern

.-■.:; .■•■■i-i

\

I

	7/y	^ /^
	///// ^	A-^ .
	V /X//' >	^ /--
r "	//:/ /	.(C ^^''
„„■,^<lBrtm■r•
, yvrth*"'
.■"■.villi
..'.';*■
,-\:i<;-
, ., M .■listen'
	1 B^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l	^^1
	V ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H	^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H
		^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H

r

578

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

an indiiit

'"alls of St. Anthony,

years, make the

i Minneapolis fn-

As they ground

■ 1 the honest mil-

■ve seen, with the

rowth and exten-

affic, until towcr-

^ , V 1 y side, furnishing

■ )usands of men, with

liiig trains bringing the

to grist" from tributar3^

.her scores of trains sped

ay the manufactured product

iiid and clime, uml! \';inK-np-

•come the greati ;i;.n-

_ city of ■ lil.

'' ' - ...rrison built a

is! and, just abo

•^ located jusL

■ a a til		u;ii it
. . lire on		iT: ■>r
lis was th(
ast side.	am.
i'l l.iil :	fU-r

llllv

■-lie Wot. ■ e laid ihv ind built U]i

■'i'l-'",

and for a term was sheriff of the county. William K. Eastman removed to Minne- apolis in the later years of his life, and died afew years since at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The sons grew to manhood amid the mountains, nourished to strength and agility hy the pure air and wholesome fare, and cultivated into finer manners and more gentle spirit by contact with artists and sojounierswho brought the refinement and exhibited the elegancies of cultured communities.

Young Eastman, as he grew up, was emploA^ed in his father's paper mill. He varied the monotou}' of life by driving stage among the mountains, and made a trip to California, but was not suffi- cii'iitl^' attract! (1 l>v l-i- .>ii Mu- Cdnsl fn 'e there, Mr. Eastmct'.i residence iu

St At'thonyin 1 . liis brother

d a sister, Mrs. D. A. Secombe,

About the time of

ler, with Capt. Rol-

, had commenced the

• ■ flouring mill on

iHinni W. Eastman

Except the old

; L on the west side in

f the military post,

of the immense mill-

I :ide Minneapolis

\orld. The mill

lul opcraticjn until,

u uiLf other hands, it was

' 1 \' fire.

As soon as thcdam of the Minneapolis

"" Company was completed, and tlic

d so far excavated as to furnisli

vvaterforhydraulic power, Mr. Eastiii ■

in connection witli Mr. Paris Gi])S(iii,

with whom he formed :• business partner-

diip, erected ujn he north side oi

;iract street, ' u:. stone mill, with

run of buhrs which they christened

itaract . lore was ground the

;,,- thtur thai iiHiad its Way to eastern

7l^Z^i^6^C

\4^^j^^^

MANUFACTURES.

579

markets. It \Yas not "patent" flour, l)iit a sound, strong flour, made from the " hard " spring wheat of the region, and though dark in color, was much sought l)v bakers for its superior strength. The mill still stands, and furnished with machinery for the new]3rocess,is turning out its quota of flour, under the manage- ment of E. R. Barber.

When the Cataract mill had lieen put into successful operation, Messrs. East- man and Gibson built a wfiolen factory at the I'^alls. A tunnel led the water from the canal to the mill, the first one constructed here, which was the means of great extension of the water power of the falls. It became famous for the ex- cellence of its blankets, which were ex- hibited in competition with the best makes, both foreign and domestic, and invariably took first premium. The mill made cloth and flannels as well, all of excellent quality . Tiie North Star Woolen Mills are the successors of this pioneer mill, occupying the same premises built by Mr. Eastnuin. Mr. Eastman built the first paper mill on the East Side in 1860. It was his old trade. He also built the Anchor mill, the largest then in the city, having twelve runs of 4V2 feet stones, now one of the Pillsburv plant.

The pioneers of Minneapolis were largely engaged in lumbering. Men from the Kennebec and the Penobscot were already swam])ing roads among the tall ]5ines of Rum river and the Mississijipi. S]3ring floods filled the booms, and mills were shrieking as their revolving saws tore through the monster logs. It was impossible for a New England boy to overlook so inviting a field for business and enterprise. So Mr. Eastman fol- lowed the Lovejoys and Morrisons, the KoUins and Marrs, and was soon en- gaged in the fascinating business. Por many years he has Ijeen connected with lumbering enterprises, chiefly as Eastman

Bovey & Co., who have been anioug the largest owners of pine and manufactur- ers of lumber.

For many years Nicollet island re- mained a wooded gem interposed be- tween the rapidly growing ejist and west divisions of the city. It rose by a gentle ascent to a rounded central summit, and was covered with tall maples. Save the highway, which connected the l)ridges across the two branches of the river; its native sj^mmetr}' was untouched. It was esteemed too valuable for cultivation and yet was not demanded for imjjrove- ment. Mr. Eastman's e^^e was captiv- ated, whether by its beauty or its adapt- ation to ])ractical uses, did not then appear, but he negotiated for its ])ur- chase, £ind, aided In' two or three friends who took interests with him, they Ije- came its owner. The up])er and most beautiful part of the island was offered to the city on reasonable terms for a public park, but was declined.

Mr. Eastman had always manifested great faith in water power. He had studied its problems on the banks of the Saco, among the moxmtain torrents. He a])preciated the almost exhaust less power which glided unused over the smooth ledge of the river's bed, and thought out a plan to utilize the new purchase, Ijy creating vast mill sites. The scheme was a promising one. Everv known condition favored its success. It was to excavate a tunnel inthesoftsand rock from below the falls, underneath the island; then In- raceways, leacHug from the river above, the water could l)c conducted to water wheels set at the tunnel level, which would serve as a tail race for the spent water. Thus the lull head of the heighth of the falls, some fort\- feet, more or less, would be made available. The St. Anthony Falls Water Power Com|iany favored the plan and executed a lease of the required

580

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

water. Tlic tunnel was comnienccd and extended from l)elow several hundred feet, when, alas, for the sta1)ility of the best htmian calculations! A subter- ranean water course in the sand rock was encountered, which, leadinj; from the river above b\- imdiscovcrcd chan- nels, gave way — the tunnel collajiscd, and the current of the might\- Alis- sissi])]ii begjin to enter, and thi^eat- ened to make the tunnel its channel, ^lills in its course were swept away and the greatest consternation spread among the i)eo])lc. To sto]5 thega])was made a common cause, and 1)\' the most energetic efforts a temporary barrier was inter])oscd. Of coiu-se,the hydraulic scheme collai)sed with the tunnel. But in the end the accident was a blessing in disguise. It disclosed the weakness of the barrier to the falls, and led to the construction by the government of a stone dyke imderne^ith the ledge from baidv to bank of the river, which has effectually and ])ermanently seemed the frdls from any like injur\-. The |)lan of this work was suggested to the govern- ment engineer by Mr. Eastman. In con- structing it other hidden water courses were uncovered, which, but for the timely discovery, would have destroyed the falls.

The sclieme for immediately utilizing the island had failed, but the ingenuity and enterprise of its i)rineip,'d owner eventufdly aecom])lished it. The island was found to l)e underneaLli the soil a soliil stone ([uarrv. This was opened and soon was constructed a hmg row of shops ujion the lower ])art of the island, su])i)lied with nu)tive power from the falls, which were leased to various man- ufaeturers. Long lines of tenement blocks were 1)uilt from the same solid materifd, and filled with families. Mr. Ivastman himself erecLed sixlvhouses on

the island from stone (piarried from the sjjot. The u])])er i)art of the island was laid out and ])latted, and Mr. Eastman led off in its im])rovement by erecting upon the highest knoll a fine dwelling house for the use of his f)wn family. Others followed him, and now the up]>er part ofthcisland isoncof the mostdesir- ;ible and beautiful quarters of the city, while the connecting street is compara- tively lined with business houses. Mr. Eastman organized the comi)any which built the Syndicate block, and had charge of its erection. It is the largest building of its kind in the I'nited States. He also built on his own account the Ivastman block, on Nicollet avenue.

A taste for catering to tourists and health seekers seems to have sm-vivcfl from Mr. Eastman's boyhood. At the opening of the Nicollet house, in ISoS, he officiated as one of the vice-presidents, and graced the occasion with a s])eeeli — one of the few attributed to him. In recent years lie has erected a magnilicent hotel at Hot S]irings, Arkansas, supply- ing a much needed facility to those who for health or pleasure visit tli.'it popular resort. The "Eastman" is one of the l.'irgest and best ecpii])pc(l in thecountry, classed with the Coronado at San Diego, and the I'oncc de Leon at Jacksonville.

Wlicn the Northern Pacific railroad was begun, Mr. Eastman joined witii other prominent citizens of Minneajjolis ill a eoustruction company wliich built tlic first seetion of that road, exteiuling from the St. Louis river through Minne- sota to the north.

He li.-is been tiie iirojeetor of many cn- terprizes of a minor cli.tracter, affecting favorably the growl ii of the city, and has likewise been connected with others in building up its varied industries. His life h;is been a busy one. His restless eiKTi^ics h.'ivi- Ibiiiid \eiit in iiu'essant

MANUFACTURES.

581

work, bringing nnicli prolit to liiiiisclf, l)ut often imdcrtriken as well onL ot regard to the ])nljlie welfare.

His phvsique is spai'e; his tempera- ment nervotis ; curt and incisive in speed i , he sometimes seems abrupt, but in trutli is a ])leasant and agreeable companion, a hospitable host, a liberal citizen, and generous friend.

Mr. Eastman mari-ied Aliss Susan K. Lovejoy, of Conway, in 1855. His fam- ily consists of an only son, Frederick W. Eastman, married and established in business in Minneapolis. An only daugh- ter, married to A. C. Loring, died in early motherhood. An infant daughter died in 1S74-.

In later years he lias laid off the bur- dens of new enter])rizes, attending to his large private interests, and passingmuch time in travel. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman have always liorne a conspicuous j)art in the social life of the city. Their ele- gant home on Nicollet Island is often opened for social entertainment, and is a center of cordial hospitalit3'. They are prominent members of the Church of the Redeemer, and liberal supporters of its religious and charitfd)le work.

We are again indebted to W. W. East- man for pioneer work in the line of mer- chant milling. After leaving the Minne- sota Mill, he was not long idle, but in 1859 he associated with him Mr. Paris Gil)Son, recently of the State of Maine, under the firm name of Eastman & Gib- son, and proceeded to build the Catar- act Alill, located at the corner of First street and Sixth avenue south, or Cat- aract street. This was the first flour mill built on the west side of the river, and, as such, its entire history will be inteseresting. The mill was originally built two stories high, and contained four run of stone. Messrs. Eastman and Gibson started the mill immediatelv

upon its completion, and continued to run it until 18G4-, when W. S. Judd, Geo. \. Urackett and John De Tvaittrc were associated with them under the firm name of Erstman, (iibson & Co., and Lhc firm thus composed commenced at once to erect the woolen mills known as the North Star Mill. After com]3lcting the woolen mills, the firm was divided, Messrs. Eastman, (nbson & De Laittre taking the woolen mills as their part of the business, and Messrs. Judd & Brack- ett taking the Cataract Flour Mill.

The Cataract Mill is now considered a small mill, but the newsjjapers of Min- neapolis evidently considered it quite wonderful in that day, by the way the "enormous capacity" and "four enor- mous stones" are referred to in the fol- lowing article i)ublished in the Minneaji- olis Chronicle in 18(35, under the head of

l''I.(>liR MILLS.

"The cclcljratcd ' Cataract Mill' of Kastniaii, (libson & Co. has been in ojicration all winter and is Uif mill of the Northwest. Since the close of navis^ation tlie four enormous mill stones have been steadily revolving, and a product of 20,000 barrels was the result to May 1st. To enclose this enormous quantity of flour the cooper shops connected with the mill have been steadily at work all winter, turning out 325 barrels a day, and em- ploying nearly forty men. Long lines of wagons and teams stand constantly before the great re- ceiving wheat bin, and as fast as one farmer has discharged his load another is ready to take his turn. The su|)erior (|ualiLy of wheat raised in the region of Hennepin county has given the ' Cata- ract ' brand ol flour a great rcjjut.-ition in tile state and abroad."

Judd & Brackett operated the mill until 1867, when Mr. Judd retired from the firm and Geo. A. Brackett run it for one year alone. He then sold the mill to Commodore Davidson, of St. Paul, who leased it W. M. Brackett. Mr. Brackett operated it until the fall of 18G9, when the mill was sold by C<nnniodore Davidson to D. K. Barber, of Minnca])o- lis. On May 17, 1871, Mr. Barber leased it to his son-in-law, J. Welles

582

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

GfirdiiLT, who operated the mill until September 1st, 1S73, at whieh date Mr. Gardner formed a partnership with Mr. Barber, under the firm name of Gardner & Harber. Thev continued to operate the mill until the death of Mr. Gardner, which occurred in May, 1870. After Air. Gardner's death Mr. Barber took his son into the firm, and the firm name became D. R. Barljer & Son. The ca])a- city of the mill was immediately in- creased, and two more stories were ad- ded. D. R. Barber died in a few years thereafter, and the mill lias since licen run 1)}- Mr. E. R. Barber, but under the same firm name.

Daniel R. Bakhkr. This early set- tler and res]3ected citizen of Minneapcjlis sprang from the sturdy yeomanry of Ver- mont. His father was Roswell Barber, a farmer living on the shore of Lake Champlain, who traced his ances- tr}- far back to colonial times. His mother was Aurelia Marion Barber. Daniel R. was born at Benson, Rutland County, Vermont, February- 14th, 1817. He was habituated in early years to la- bor on his father's farm, though given full o]:)portunity to acquire the rudiments taught in the common schools. His studies were comj)leted at the neighbor- ing seminary at Castleton. He aspired to a collegiate education, but was com- pelled to relincpiisli it through weakness of the eyes. He then turned his atten- tion to mereanLile life, and at the age of twenty-five foimd himself ])roj)rietor of the ])rincipal store in his native town. For the ten following years heeonductcd this business with such success that he was enabled to close it with a consider- able accumulated cajjilal.

Meanwhile he wjis united in marriage in I'ebruary, IS-lo, \N'ith Miss Ivllen L. Bottum, of the neighboring town of ( )r- well.

In the 3-ear, 1855, Mr. Barber niadca trip throughout the Northwest, and se- lected the new settlement at St. Anthony I-'alls as his future home. Returning he made arrangements to remove, and in the following spring (1856) he brought liis lamily to their future home. Two children had come to the house in Ver- mont, Julia, afterwards married to Wel- les S. Gardner, and now wife of Big-

elow, and Edward R., now a leading miller at Minneapolis. Mr, Barber jit first associated himself in business with Carlos Wilcox, a young man also from the Green Mountain state. The firm en- gaged in the real estate business, and Mr. Barber made use of his liberal fortune in loans and real estate investments, most of them probjd)ly forced upon him by the collapse of values succeeding the i)anicof 1857. But he also established a home, building a modest but comfortable dwell- ing house at the corner of Foin'th and Helen streets, where the family lived for many years. It was a home of refine- ment and C(uiet domestic hapjiincss. There w£is offered an tmostentatiotisbut cordial hospitality, and an example of the household virtues which imjjressed itself u])on the social life of the connnini- ity. Mrs. Barber was a lady of unusual sweetness of character, of ])leasing man- ners, and active in all the ways of hosiii- tality and charit\-.

Thev attached themselves to the 1'1\- mouth Congregational Clnn-ch, ol \\ liicli Mr. Barber was for many years deacon, and entered into all the unpretentious but fruitfid work of building up the re- ligious iind social interests of the com- munity.

Mr. Barber made no haste to enter into business after the subsidence of the ])anic. He was cautious and conserva- tive, though by no means sordid nor il- lihtral. He had some 1,'inds ne;ir the

•> 'I -111".

.-,;. it '.*' '■*■

,.< «:ir '*

iw k

582

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

(iardn<'

..I :'i Hi'

■1,'

"> opcratcfl the mJll tintil

he firm nan

<-] iu May, death Mr. t:.;i. !;ci 11 • firm, and the firm li

e D. R. Barber & Son. The' c

K ! rber died in a Lcr, and the mill hgs j Mr. E. K. Barber, bnt

(inu iiaiTu .

)EL R. Bakukr ! respected ci^i' from the st'

V ho trat-eil hi-

' times.

,.; ..Virion Bai - at Benson. Kntlai.

In the year, 1855, Mr. Barber madea

Northwest, and se-

uent atSt. Anthony

tifi future home. Returning h^

j'jinents to remove, and in

J spring (1856) he brotight

< their future home. T\\<'

■ come to the hotise in Yer-

ittervvards married to Wel-

nd now wife of Big-

srd R., now a leading ipolis. Mr. Barl3er at • iraself in business with man also from Lv. The firm en- I tc business, and Mr. ''Vieral fortune in . cstments, most \ed ufion himbythe Hng the panic of ilished a home, nfortabledwell- of Fourth and , .imily lived for

home of refiix "uitstic happiness, unostentatious but an example of liich impressed of the commim- •i a Ifidy of unusual ■ of pleasing man- ways of hospi-

Ls\ C 'U

nd hin

I,: _ conduce

'.ith such success that 1

vMTisidt

I \:.:rt 1(1 iiio i'ly- linrch, of which ner was tor many years deacon, red into all the unpretentious ful work of building up the - - ind social interests of the com-

''>arber made no haste to enter

business after the subsidence of the

•.as cautifius and conserva-

\)\- wo jD'jaas sordid nor \]-.

He had some lands near the

V

* KYI

^

3^

49, /I, /^ ^Ze.

^

•,c

\

MANUFACTURES.

583

grnwin^ti oily, and spent niuch Uiuc in tlifir cultivation and improvement.

At the election of 1861 he was chosen one of the county commissioners, and the same year was a])pointed assessor, an office which he held in town and city for eleven v^ears. He afterwards resumed mercantile pursuits, first conducting a grocery business, and afterwards a dry goods store. In 1871 he purchased the Cataract flouring mill, the pioneer mill at the falls. After removing the ma- chinery, introducing the newest improve- ments in the process of manufacturing flour, he operated the mill, with his son-in- law, J. Welles Gardner, who was a young man of much enterprise and spirit. After the death of Mr. Gardner he introduced his son, Edward R. Barber, into the bus- iness, which was continued with great energy through his life. The flour made at the Cataract mill took rank among the leading brands made at the "Flour City," and had a wide sale and good reputation. The conduct of the flour manufacturing Inisiness is an exacting occupation. The margin of profit is small, and the necessity of continuous operation urgent. It requires the use of large capital, and often calls for a liberal use of credit. The change in Mr. Bar- ber's habits, from the freedom of his semi-rural life, to the confinement of the oflice, with its anxieties and responsibil- ity, no doidjt was unfavorable to his health. He was a robust man, and seemed to possess uncommon physical vigor, but in 1880 he was stricken with partial paralysis, which retired him from active business. The following years were devoted to eflbrts at restoration, during which all available means were tried in vain. He was not an acute suf- ferer. He had a ])leasant home, was the object of the tenderest care, enjoyed the symjiathy of friends, and was able to go about tile country, and even to prirtici-

])ate in social relations. But the nervous eciuilibrium of his system was disturbed, and he gradually weakened, physical and mental vigor slowly decaying, initil, on the 17th of April, 188(5, he was released from the long suspense, and passed peace- fully away, having nearly reached his three score and ten 3'ears of life.

Mr. Barber had lived in Minneapolis for thirty 3-ears. During this period it had passed from a rural village to a bustling city. To its growth and pros- perity he had contributed, according to his opportunity and abilit}-. He had actively engaged in its business and ]3ar- ticipated in its enterprises. He was not and)itious of fame or fortime. He was neither avaricious nor sordid. He was content to walk the medium path of in- dusti'v without pride or ostentation. He was firm in his principles, upright in his conduct, irreproachable in his habits, kindly and courteous in his intercourse, and aljove all kindly and aftectionate in his domestic life. While other lives have been more conspicuous in those (|ualities which attract public admiration, bolder in conception, and brilliant in execution, holding themselves in positions of office and power, before the admiring gaze of the public, none have been more salutary in its record of duty faithfully done, and in its example of an u[)right, virtuous and beneficent life.

The Cataract Mill attained consitl- eridjlc prestige as being the first mei'- ehant mill on the west side of the river. To the few inhabitants then living in Minneapolis it seemed a great undertak- ing to build such a mill and, though the Cataract mill is now but a small mill beside the mammoth structures that sur- round it, yet there is no doubt but that taking into consideration the time at which it was built and the means at hand for jjutting up such a structure, it

nsj- HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

rc(|iiiic(l ris imicli enterprise of its pro- several venrs, wlieii C. A. I'illshurv X: Co.

jectors to build siieh a mill as it does sold out to Chas. \V. Moore, and the linn

now to huild one of the more modern name was ciianged to Croekcr, I-'isk &

pattern and si/.e. Co. On Deeember, 4, 1S81, a fire, (jrigi-

Froni this be<iinnini; on the West Side nating in the Pillsbnry B mill, next ad-

the flouring mills soon began to multiply, joining the Minneapolis mill on the

The sjjace permitted in this work is not south, eoninuinicated with and eaused

sutticient to give a detailed history of the mill to explode, killing three firemen

each mill .\ brief outline will be sulti- who were endeavoring to quench the

eient. flames. In exjiloding the mill set fire to

In regular order followed the I'nion the Empire mill adjoining on the north,

mill which was built in 1863 by Henry and as a result they were all destroyed,

Ciibson and operated by him alone for together with the Excelsior mill. The

several years. Afterward by Ciibson & Minneapolis mill was rebuilt at once and

Darrow, George A. Hrackett, Hobart & its capacity increased to 600 barrels per

Shuler, Darrow & Dibble, W. I. McAffe day. Various changes and improve-

and others. It still stands on First street ments have been niadein the mill untilits

fronting on the canal, and is now owned capacity isnowrated at 1,500 barrels per

by the Minneapolis E'lour Manufactur- day. In 1887 Mr. Chas. W. Moore sold

ing Company, but is not in operation as his interest to in the mill to Louis W

a merchant mill. Campbell, the firm name remaining un-

For the year of 1865 the shipment of changed, and Mr. Campbell (who has

flour from Minneapolis and St. Anthony had a large experience in the flour busi-

was as follows : ness) became manager, being assisted by

,. ,. , p., . ,,, »""'^'' Mr. W. G. Crocker, a son of George W.

Minneapolis, hastnian, Gibson ec Lo., ' _ '^

Cataract Mill 4-0, 000 Crocker, and representing his father's

St. .\ntliony, Eastman, Cahill & Co., interests. In January , 18S9, Mr. Wood-

Islaiid Mill 32,830 Ijury Fisk died, and his heirs succeeded

-f,jt^^] 78,830 to his interest in the Minneapolis mill.

In 1864- Messrs. Frazee K: Muri)hy The firm is still styled Crocker, Fisk <&

built the Minneapolis Flour Mill The Co. The biography of Geo. W. Crocker

mill was located fronting west on the would practically be a history of the

canal between Sixth and Seventh avenues flour industry of Minneapolis, 'as he is

south. As originally built, the capacity undoubtedly the oldest i)ractical miller

of the mill was 250 barrels per day. In now engaged in tlie business, having

1870G.W.Crocker,C. A.Pillsbury& Co. been a miller in the old City mill about

andWellesGardner bought and operated the time it was changed from the Gov-

the mill under the firm name of Gardner, ernment mill, and he has jirogressed

I'illsburv ^i: Crocker. Their manage- through all the stages of advancement

mcnt was verv successful from the be- from i)raetical miller to projn-ietor. ginning, until the mill burned in October,

1871. It was rebuilt at once and en Gkokgk W.vsiunc.ton Ckockick. The

larged to ;'>5() barrels per day. Mr. life of Mr. Crocker in Minneapolis illus-

Gardner sold his interest to Woodbury trates the growth of the Hour milling

Fisk soon after the luill was rebuilt, and business from its beginning, in 1856,

the firm name was changed to I'illsbury, through all stages of its develo])ment to

Crocker i\: I'isk, and so continued for the preseiU time, as he was connected

ire tvi

M

»

.«Mrv nf tk

/-' C

. t

iF^.r

584

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

■ wly. i. is not

18tJ3 bvHenr.v

. i uy him alone for

wLv^rvvard by Gibson &

A. Brackett, Hoba'rt &

Miuier, Lfarrow & Dibble, W. I. McAff<

and others. It still stands on First street

iVoiitini!: on the canal,. incl is now owned

by the Minneapolis ing Compaiu', but i^ a mercl'ant mill.

For the year of 3 - flour from Minnvi" was as follows :

Manufactur-

'ICUL of

Vnthony

Minneai'i irt, Gibsoi

Cataract MM

St. Anthony, Eastnian, Cahill & Co. ■ Island Mill,..

I iTels

H.,000

_' S30

Total ,S,830

In 1864 Messrs. Frazee & Murphy built the Minneapolis Flour Mill, Thv mill was located fronting west on the canal between Sixth and Seventh avenues south. As originally built, the capacity of the mill was 2,50 barrels per vl;i>. In 1870G.W. Crocker, C. A. Plllsbvir-, <-;: Co. and Welles ' >ardner bought and j 'l,-,, mill ui'ilcr the firm name of (...■■ ■, i'Mlsl)ury <\: Crocker. Their manage- as ver}- successful from the be- ,,., ,.,i;i ii,.. ,,,;ii ^.ifiied in October, i - "," 1 I t once and en-

50 barrt'lb per day. Mr. ■ I'is interest to Woodbury ■ he mill was rebuilt, and ' i ) Pillsbury, ,,,_ ^v . . 'ttinued f"i'

\. Pillsbury & C i \ . .\ioore,. and the firm " ' . d to Ci'ocker, Fisk &

On December, 4, 1881, a fire, origi- lUiinig in the Pillsbury B mill, next ad- joining the Minneapolis mill on the sguth, communicated with and caused ' 0 mill to explode, killing three firemen no were endeavoring to quench the flame- jiloding the mill set fire '..

the Bnii!! • nill adjoining on the north, and as a lesult they were all destroyed, together v?ith the Excelsior mill. The Minneapolis' mill was rebuilt at once and its capjicitv increased to 600 barrels per I a nges and i mpro ^^ > - iiitiiL> liii^irue 11 liiadein the mill untilits capacity is now rated at l.oOObarrels per day. In 1887 Mr. Chas. W. Moort sold his interest to in the mill to Louis W Campbell, the firm name remaining in; changed, and Mr. Campbell (who has had a large experience in the flour busi- ness) became mmjitrcr, being assisted In Mr. W. G. Cn ^on of George W

(;,..,.-!..,- „,, • L.-i iiting ]iis fathei -

ii. .ary, 1889, Mr.Wooil

bury i isi< died, and his heirs succeeded to his interest in the Minneapolis mill. The firm is still stvlcd Crocker, Fisk & Co. The t" Geo. W. Crocker

would pn. . a history of the

flour industr; nea polls, 'as he is

undoubtcdb tne oiliest practical miller now engaged in the business, having been a milkr in the old City mill about the time it was changed from the Gov- ernment mill, and he has progressed through all the stages of advancement from practical miller to proprietor.

(JKOK!. '

life of Mr tnites the ... business from through all s;

.ROCKER. T'

HI Aiinneapolis illus- of the flour milling beginning, in ISf,*; ts developmeni: i ■n was connects'

/

MANUFACTURES.

58r

with Lhc first mill built on the West Side of the Falls of St. Anthoiw, and has continued without interruption in the business. It illustrates as well what habits of eeonoray, industry and undi- vided attention to one pursuit through a generation will accomplish in gather- ing a competent fortune and surround- ing one's self u'ith the comforts of home and the delights of children bred to so- briety and industi-y.

George W. Crocker is a native of the town of Hermon, Penobscot county, Maine, where he was born in 1832. His pai'cnts were Asa and Matilda Crocker, who led an humble and simple style of life, cultivating a small farm and keeping an inn on the high road to Bangor. His mother being in feeble health, when a cliild of seven 3'ears he was taken into the family of Mr. H. C. Warren, a farmer living in the town of Canaan, Somerset county. His mother dying a year after- wards, he continued with Mr. Warren for ten years, and until he started out for an independent life. These years were spent in labor on the farm, with short sessions at the district school through the winter months.

At the age of seventeen he left the farm to seek maintenance by his own exertion, and foimd employment at Providence, R. I., as a nurse in Butler hospital, where he remained for three years. In the summer of 1852, when but twenty years of age, he joined the pro- cession of emigrants which was moving to the Pacific coast in pursuit of a tem- porary El Dorado. The route taken was the only practicable one at that time, via the Isthmus of Panama, whicii involved a long and tedious sea voyage. Arrived in California he foxnid his way to Mari- posa county, where he first engaged in mining in the rich placers of the Merced, then as clerk in a store, and finally in the manaueinent of a mercantile establish-

ment. After three years, wnth a moder- ate accumulation of earnings, which might serve as a capital instartingin the East, he returned to the states by the same route by which he had gone out, and proceeding from his landing in New York to the Mississippi river at Dubuque, he took stage and came to Minneapolis, whei'e he arrived in July, 1855. He was then a young man of twenty-three, and had already an experience of six years in providing for himself, and had a moder- ate capital which his own industry had earned. Real estate and loans engaged his attention for the first two years, at the end of which the former had become dull, and the latter, for the most part, uncoUectable.

The old government mill at the west- erly end of the falls, having first been built b_v the garrison at Fort Snelling in 1822 and used for sawing lumber, and then for grinding grain, had been dis- used and had fallen into a forlorn and very dilapitated state. In 1854 Thomas H. Perkins had arrived here from western New York, and soon afterward secured the property and fitted it up for a grist mil!, naming it the City Mill. He jiut in two sets of buhrs — one for flour and one for feed. After putting the little mill in operation, he took Mr. vSmitli Ferrand as a partner. Soon afterwards Mr. Crocker purchased Mr. Ferrand's interest, and the firm of Perkins & Crocker was formed. The little mill was run on the primitive plan, grinding whatever grain was brought to it for toll, and supplying the little town with a part of its flour.

Mr. Crocker was not a miller, Init he had a good share of Yankee ingenuity and industr^^ and soon learned the rou- tine of the trade. He was no gentleman miller, but jjut on the dust3' garments of the i^ractical miller, and shouldered the sacks of grain and bags of flour. The

;'8()

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

trade llnis learned in the school of prac- tical experience has been jjursned under many connections throxigh all the stei)s of ]iro<jresHiYe improvement in the mill- in<ihusiness,and in the larger and better equipped mills, to the present time.

About 1S()5 the Cit^^Mill was sold to Berry & Hughes, and Messrs. Rowland- son & Crocker built the Arctic mill. This was a stone mill, upon the canal of the Mill Company, and had a capacity of three hundred barrels per day.

In 1870 Mr. Crocker sold his inteixst in the Arctic and bought an interest in the Minneapolis mill, which had been erected by Frazee, Murphy & Co. upon the Mill Company's canal. This mill then had the same capacity as the one sold. It has burned twice, once in Octo- ber, 1871, and again in December, 1881. The mill was immediately rebuilt at both times. Its machinery was renewed upon the introduction of the new pro- cess, and it has always kept abreast in all the successive improvements in mill- ing. The capacity of this mill has been increased at various times until at pres- ent it turns out 1,500 barrels of flour a day. The flour from this mill has al- ways ranked among the leaders, and has always maintained the highest stand- ard. The leading brand, "Crocker's Rest," has been on the market continu- ally for over twenty-two years, and is as well krown in New England as any flour made.

Since building the Arctic Mill, Air. Crocker has been connected with the fol- lowing milling firms, and has been the practical nuller in all of them : Perkins, Crocker & Co.; Perkins, Crocker& Toni- linson ; Crocker, Tomlinson&Co.; (lard- ner, Pillsbury & Crocker; Pillsbury, Crocker & Fisk, and Crocker, Fisk & Co. The latter is the style of the pres- ent milling firm, composed of Geo. W. Crocker, the estate of the late Woodbury Fisk and L. W. Campbell.

Thus for thirty-five ^-ears Mr. Crocker liasbeen continuously in the millingbusi- ness at Minneapolis, commencing with the first mill which ever turned a wheel in the state, and managing the first mill of any kind on the west bank of the river. His record as the first jiractical miller and the longest in the business, is one of which he ma3' justly be proud.

Mr. Crocker was happily married Dec. 25, 1862, to Miss Sarah Perkins Moore.

The children are William G., engaged like his father in milling, and George A., who is in the drug business. William G. maiTied Miss Mary Bull, daughter of the late B. S. Bull, and has for some time taken his fatlier's ])lace in the active management of the milling interests.

For some 3'ears past Mr. Crocker has laid oft" some of the burdens of business activity, as he has, by his close applica- tion, somewhat imjiaired his health, and finds it necessary' to lead a quiet and more retired life.

George W. Crocker is in every sense of the word a self made made man — widely respected for his reliability, honesty and U])rightness of character, for his abilitj' and energ\'. He has alwa\'S been consid- ered a wise counselor and advisor in all business matters, and especially in the manufacture of flour, as he has always been thoroughly acquainted witli the many details of that great industrv.

In 18G4- Stamwitz & Schober utilized the basement of Barnard Bros. & Shu- ey's furnitui-e faetor^'on the St..\nthony side of the river, in which to build a two- nni mill known as the St. .\nthony. They run it tintil 1871 when fire ended its existence.

In 18()5 Sunnnit Mill was built below the Island Mill on Hennepin Island. It w£is built by Kausbe & Co. and was the last mill built on IIenne])in Island and went down stream in the E;istman tun nel washout, in the spring of 1869.

V'

MANUFACTURES.

587

'1 I'.ros.., of" Philadelphia, put up the Mill in 1866. This was a

very \< ' for that date, containing

six run . and attaining quite a

reputation . products. It after-

ward became l icrty of Gardner &

I'illsbury, and in Massed to Chas.

A. Pillsbur}' & Co. . 's named the

PillsburyB Mill and i> 'c jn-operty

of the Pillsbury-Washli nir Mill

Co. This mill was destroy^ >.■ De-

cember 4th, 1881, but was r*^

once with increased capacity*.

The Arctic Mill was also built in h\ (ic!) \\'. Crocker and Edwin Kovv hi. >uii . ! !!'■ ^iuilding fronting on the cana. next below the Union Mill. In 186'. they sold out to Wm.Tomlinson and \V. L. Tiffany'. Mr. Tomlinson soon sold his interest to W. H. Dunwoody. In 1874 the mill was sold to N. G. Elliot and. P. B. Shuler. Mr. Elliot died soon after, and his interest was sold to J. W. Hobart and the firm became Hob ■'

.\.i til liiai 1 .;; iiK

\\ no si_)ui

Geo. Hineline, W. G Plank and Wheeler, who increased its capacity to H25 barrels per day and changed the name of the mill to the St. Anthony. After running it a few years they sold it to Samuel Morse and T. A. Sammis. Messrs. Morse and Sammis increased the mill to 600 barrels capacity, and wbc-: the firms of Morse & Sammis and ! ' Ml iii.son & Co. consolidated Septem- Ikm- 1st, 1SS9, under the name of the Minneapolis Flour Manufacturing Com- pany, the St. .Anthony Mill became part of its propert3\ and so remains.

Ex-Gov. C. C. Washburn, who owned a very large interest in the Minneapolis Mill Company had been interested in manufactures more or less since 1H!M' He had been a partner with D. Morriso' in logging and lumbering, and conclude.

in 1 S()() to build ;i llourini;" uiill ;ni<l util- ize some of the mill company's water power, In accordance with that idea he proceeded to build what was afterwanl known as the Washburn B Mill. The building was erected at the corner of Second street and what is now Seventh avenue south. At the time it was built, it was the largest flouring mill at the Falls of St. Anthony, and the largest west of Buffalo, N. Y. The machinery ,,..,,. .^i.;.,... .| fi-Qjii Buffalo. The buildinv'r 0 feet on the ground, ;nid tories high, and was completed m ■■>. The most improved flour r; ' ■nery was put in, and the mill \v;i:

run in 1867, having eleven run "1 ■ capacity of 800 barrels

perc. ';e building ,Tnd in-<'hi'i

ery coi, <vj $100,OuO.

Judd iS: ]'>. ' the mill ol y-v..

Wash1)ui,'i ; s at an nnnn- i

rental of $rj ' '

from the firm in i ■ t run the mill f'c;i . i]d ihcn surrendered < ■' ct in building liiK

i. At the tinii' was Hour milling, his firm wrr est milling firm at the Falls ot thony, operating the Catar.-u * "'ii. the Washburn B, the two m ing fifteen run of stone. Th^ late comers to Minneapolis d' that Mr. Brackett occupied tha i position at one time, and none but ';". old residents know that he was cvi r engaged in mcrcliant milling.

Georcf ! H. Chri^ Weeks L tive of ' coast of Ireland, btit was

■ ■' ■• . :intry. Ht ;- . iiood in .\!1 fer7U)ved if) WilmingUi:

I

^.k^-*

IK

f*g(M(Si

/

iv-'ii'i; '• ■

.il'lil^i'..

Pillslirrv: (if t!;t '■ Co. i--

snii, ■-

iiat '»: tlievsdi': L, Titiai; Iris iott';-' is:i :K and P :' " alter, ;,:■ ! Hiiiiar. Slrakr i>; :, llll^?': ive.'it"

r

'•i^-T^^i.:;?:zzo

name oi ; Altii'

tn ^ Mf^^r^ :/

&-'■ iii.c;,:,.

litr :-■ Miiict.

panv,tot>

nf;s-

!i!».v«.W»>-

MANUFACTURES.

587

Taylor I'.ros., of I'liiladclpliia, put up the Alaska Mill in 18(36. This was a very fine mill for that date, containing six run of stone, and attaining quite a reputation for its products. It after- ward became the property of Gardner & Pillsbury, and in 1874 passed to Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co. and was named the Pillsbury B Alill and is now the ]3ropert\' of the Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mill Co. This mill was destroyed by fire De- cember 4th, 1881, but was rebnilt at once with increased capacity.

The Arctic Mill was also built in 18(JG l)y Geo. W. Crocker and Edwin Rowland- son ; the briilding fronting on the canal next below the Union Mill. In 1869 thcA- sold out to Wm.Tomlinson and W. L. Tiffany. Mr. Tonilinson soon sold his interest to W. H. Dunwoody. In 187-4 the mill was sold to N. G. Elliot and P. B. Shuler. Mr. Elliot died soon after, and his interest was sold to J. W. Hobart and the firm became Hobart, Shnler & Elliott, then Hobart & Shuler. In 1879 the mill reverted to the North- western National Bank, who sold it to Geo. Hineline, W. G. Plank and S. H. Wheeler, wdio increased its capacity to 325 barrels i)er day and changed the name of the mill to the St. Anthony. After running it a few years they sold it to Samuel Morse and T. A. Sammis. Messrs. Morse and Sammis increased the mill to 600 barrels capacity, and when the firms of Morse & Sammis and D. Morrison & Co. consoHdated Septem- ber 1st, 1889, under the name of the Minneapolis Flour Manufacturing Com- pany, the St. Anthony Mill became part of its property, and so remains.

Ex-GoY. C. C. Washburn, who owned a very large interest in the Minneapolis Mill Company had been interested in manufactures more or less since 1856. He had been a j)artnerwith D. Morrison in logging an<l luiuliering, and concluded

in 186(5 to ])uil(l a flouring mill and util- ize some of the mill company's water power. In accordance with that idea he proceeded to build what was afterward known as the Washburn I? Mill. The building was erected at the corner of Second sti'eet and what is now Seventh avenue south. At the time it was built, it \vas the largest flouring mill at the P^alls of St. Anthony, and the largest west of Buffalo, N. Y. The machinery was shipped from Buffalo. The building was 66 by 100 feet on the ground, and six stories high, and was completed in 1866. The most improved flour mill machinery was put in, and the mill was ready to run in 1867, having eleven run of stone and a capacity of 800 barrels per day ; the entire building and machin- ery complete costing $10(X00O. Messrs. Judd & Brackett leased the mill of Gen. Washburn for five years at an annual rental of $12,000. Mr. Judd retired from the firm in 1867 and Geo. A. Brack- ett run the mill for one year more alone, and then surrendered his lease to accept a contract in building the Northern Pa- cific road. At the time Mr. Brackett w'as flour milling, his firm was the larg- est milling firm at the Falls of St. An- thony, o])erating the Cataract mill and the Washburn B, the two mills contain- ing fifteen run of stone. Those who are late comers to Minneapolis do not know that Mr. Brackett occupied that prcnul jiosition at one time, and none but the old residents know that he was ever engaged in merchant milling.

George Henkv Christi.vx. George H. Christian is a son of John and Susan Weeks Christian. His father was a na- tive of County Wicklow, on the east coast of Ireland, but was reared from in- fancy in this country. He resided until he reached manhood in Albany, New York, but removed to Wilmington, North

nss

HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

Carolina, \vlici"c ho was cngiigcd in nar- cantilc life. His family of .six children were born in ecnlial Alabama and North Carolina. Ocorgc li. was the fotnth child and was born at \Vetnnii)Ua, Coosa County, .\!a., in ISH'J.

I'assinj^ the years of infanc\' he was sent to Wilmington, North Ciirolina, to attend a private school where he e.x- eelled all his fellows in aptness for learn- ing. He was especially jiroficient in mathematical studies. Hut liis school advantages ceased when he was no more than twelve years old. .\t the age of eleven he came North and went to Wis- consin and remained with his father on a farm, and at fifteen years engaged in a shoe store in .Mbany, New York, with his uncle, .\fter a few 3'ears in this occupation he went to New York City where he fomul cm])]()yment as a clerk in the Continental Insurfince Com- pany. Here he remained until the war of the Rebellion disturbed so many rela-