graces and refinements; until, if we were to calculate our age by the ordinary growth of social tone and breeding, we might without vanity count by decades instead of years. This change in the social condition is due greatly to the difference, then and now, in the prime objects of life and effort. The accumulation of wealth is everywhere and at all times the moving spring of energy, not always for the gratification of a sordid desire for gain, but for the comfort which it brings, and the good which may be done with it. With our first settlers, making money seemed the sole aim and end of living. And while that passion continued the dominant one, the possession of money was the touchstone of influence; the man who gained the most of it was the man most regarded— with little reference, during the earlier years, to the means by which it was obtained, or to the mental or moral qualities of its possessor. Under the impulse of this spirit there could, of course, be little society worth its name, for the general tendency was toward narrowness, selfishness and vulgarity. It must be understood, however, that these sweeping remarks apply to society in the mass, and are held to be true of it only in that sense. For no one, whose residence dates back to our earliest days, can fail to recall many homes, in Saint Paul and vicinity, which were the seats of an elegant hospitality, and from which proceeded the most elevating influences. These cannot be remembered with more gratitude than is their due; they were the leaven that leavened the whole lump; and the air of graceful refinement that pervaded them, remains with us as the purest and best of the social atmosphere of today. We are still sordid enough, without doubt, but our growth has been in the right direction, and we can now see more in life than the gathering of a fortune. There is to-day more pride in the possession of a good name than in great riches; and there exists a healthily growing respect for social position and family repute, which are the fruits of good conduct and virtuous living. These things as tangibly mark right development as do the substitution of the opera and drama for the Indian dance and pow-wow, the popular lecture-room for the public gambling-hall, and the music of MOZART, BEETHOVEN and WAGNER for the grotesque mouthings of negro minstrelsy. 30 In public architecture, the progress is seen at a glance, by comparing the Mission of Saint Paul, (of which an engraving is given in this history,) with Saint Mary's, the First Baptist church, or the German Catholic cathedral; while scattered over the city are hundreds of elegant residences, which show that in domestic architecture, no stereotype forms have been used, but that expression has been given to cultivated individual tastes, in which lies the peculiar charm and beauty of any structure named, and used as, a home. Many of these are beauty spots upon the face of the city, reflecting a refining influence upon all who see them, and holding within their walls, in pictures and libraries, such treasures of art and knowledge as prove that all is not done for outward show, but that very much is the legitimate expression of enlightened sentiment and cultured taste. The strictly material progress of Saint Paul during the quarter century past, does not come within the purview of this chapter. In those preceding. the details of its growth in trade, commerce, population, manufactures, and all the industries which go to make up a prosperous community, have been as fully presented and discussed, as could be suitably done in such a work. But this may be said, that, coupling the substantial character of our development with its rapidity, the result is quite without example, even in this region and during this period of marvelous growth. We cannot, however, contemplate this picture of progress, pleasing as it is, without noticing that ghostly shadows fall upon it, day by day, as one by one of those who laid the foundations of our prosperity, pass away from our midst. The majority of the men who, twentyfive years ago, were influential in the political, financial, and commercial enterprises of the little town just christened after its mission chapel, and whose names and deeds are recorded in this book, sleep now in one or another of the pleasant cemeteries that lie on the outskirts of the city which they founded. The many are taken; the few are left. May these few linger among us during long years to come, enjoying the prosperity which they helped to create, and receiving the benediction of every worthy citizen of our beautiful Saint Paul! Treasurer: 1849-53-James W. Simpson. 1852-S. H. Sergeant. 1853-Robert Cummings. 1854-Nathaniel E. Tyson. 1855-Allen Pierse. 1856-(to March 23,) C. F. Stimson. 1856-68-Robert A. Smith. 1868-76-Calvin S. Uline. County Attorney: 1849-53-W. D. Phillips. 1870-72-Harvey Officer. 1873-74-W. W. Erwin. 1874-76-C. D. O'Brien. County Surveyor: 1852-53-S. P. Folsom. Coroner: 1854-J. E. Fullerton. Clerk of Court: 1850-53-J. K. Humphrey. 1853-54-A. J. Whitney. 1854-58-George W. Prescott 1858-62-R. F. Houseworth. 1862-66-George W. Prescott. 1866-76-Albert Armstrong Auditor: 1859-61-Alexander Buchanan, 1861-63-Tracy M. Metcalf. 1863-65-William H. Forbes. 1865-67-J. F. Hoyt. 1867-71-S. Lee Davis. Auditor: 1871-73-Hiram J. Taylor. 1873-John B. Olivier, (resigned.) 1873-76-S. Lee Davis. Court Commissioner: 1861-67-Oscar Malmros. 1872-76-G. Siegenthaler. District Judge: 1858-64-E. C. Palmer. 1864-78-Westcott Wilkin. Common Pleas fudges: 1866-75-William Sprigg Hall. County Commissioners. Acker Henry, 1869-71. Baker D. A. J., 1858 to '61. Barney T. J., 1871-73. Bennett Abr., 1855 to '58. Betz J. G., 1861-63. Burbank, J. C., 1860. Clark Martin D., 1858 to '60. Davern Wm., 1858-9. Emerson C. L., 1858-9. Godfrey Ard., Nov. 1849 to Jan. 1850. Hale H., 1862 from 5th July. Hoyt L., 1871-3. Kelly Dan., 1871-5. Kilroy John P., 1862-66. Lee William, 1875. Lindeke William, 1873-5. McClung J. W., 1860. McGrorty William B., 1858-9. McLean N., 1856 to '59. Marvin L., 1859. Morgan Charles A., 1865 from Sept 9. Murray James F., 1858-9. Nicols John, 1860-1, 1871-3. County Commissioners; Rice Edmund, 1856 to '58. House of Representatives : Robert Louis, Nov. 1849 to Jan. 1856. Russell R. P., 1850-3. Ryan Patrick, 1864-6. Schurmeier C. H., 1872-3. Selby J. W., 1862. Smith John, 1860-1. Wilson J. P., Jan. 1854 to April 1856. Senate. Becker George L., 1868-9-70-1. Farrington George W., 1852-3. Mackubin C. N., 1860. Murray William P., 1854-5-66-7-75-6. Otis George L., 1866. Rice Edmund, 1864-5-73-4- Smith James, Jr., 1861-2-3-76. Van Etten Isaac, 1854-5-8. House of Representatives: Brainard H. J., 1873. Branch William, 1857-66. Brawley Daniel F., 1855. Brunson Benjamin W., 1849-51. Burbank James C., 1872. Carver H. L. 1862. Castle Henry A., 1873. Cave Charles S., 1852-5. Crosby John W., 1858. Gilfillan Charles D., 1865-76. Haus Reuben, 1855-6. Hoyt Lorenzo, 1874-5. Jackson Henry, 1849. Kidder Jefferson P., 1863-4. Mitsch George, 1860. Murray William P., 1852-3-7-07-8.* Nessel Andrew, 1861. Nobles William H., 1856. Noot William, 1853-4. Rice Edmund, 1851-67-72. * Elected, but did not take his seat. |