Washington County, Minnesota - First Hotel - Houses Built - Fir8t Law¬, 1881

Position

In the spring of 1844 Anson Northrup makes his debut on the boards at Stillwater in his famous character as hotel builder, after which successful engagement he appears as an ubiqui¬ tous individual on the scene at various points in the North-west, wherever a few shanties had been erected and the ambitious settlers, looking for¬ ward to a city, demanded a hotel. He built the St. Charles hotel at St. Anthony, and laid the first brick in Minneapolis, in the erection of the famous Bushnell house. Hotels in those days were most important both as boarding houses and houses of entertainment, for families were scarce.

company on the Chippewa river, and at the Falls of St. Croix. After two trips of this kind, in which he showed the metal of which he was made, his quick apprehension grasped this want and his indomitable energy made his success. The mill company, alive to the interest of their settlement, offered inducements for the enter¬ prise, and Air. Northrup, biking advantage of suspension of work at the mills, on account of high water, obtained the services of Jacob Fisher and others; part of the lumber was brought from Marine. Thus the Northrup house was built, the ilrst hotel in what is Washington county, and equally noteworthy, Anson Northnip's first hotel. In the fall of 1844, William Willim came to Stillwater and plastered the Northrup hotel, and this was the first plastering done in Stillwater. This hotel fulfilled its func¬ tions and proved a valuable acquisition until 1840, when it was destroyed by fire.

A stable for the hotel was the next building erected, but this was soon converted into a store occupied by Walter R. Vail first, and afterwards by others. Changed and enlarged, this building is now located on the corner of Main and Nelson streets, where it is occupied by John Kinney, confectioner.

Socrates Nelson built a store and dwelling un¬ der one roof, which was the next. Here he lived and conducted a general merchandise trade until May 6th, 1867, when his death occurred.

John McKusick's boarding house came next, built in 1845, on the site where his present house stands, between Main and Second street. This building was burned in the fall of 1845, or early Bpring of 1846.

The next was Elam Greeley's residence, built on Main street, near the comer of Chestnut, nearly in front of the site of the Minnesota house. This house was removed and became the residence of William Willim, where he lived for about twenty-five years.

John McKusick's store comes next, built on the corner of Main and Myrtle streets. This build¬ ing has been subject to a variety of vicissitudes, used first as store then school-house, law-office,

Leaving the settlement to go on, let us return to the business enterprise, to which it owed its existence. Stillwater would forfeit its preroga¬ tive as a St. Croix town, had its origin been any other than the pineries and saw-mills. In early times water-power alone was used for mills, for reasons well understood, based on economy and lack of capital.

The little stream conducted over the bluff from McKusick's lake, did its duty in inaugurating business, but when population and wealth in¬ creased, and more power was demanded than could be obtained from the little stream, the canal was closed again and the pure water of the lake became the reservoir of the city as it still con¬ tinues.

While, however, it was pouring over the buck¬ ets of the great overshot wheel, it helped to build other towns. The first frame house in St. Paul, located at the upper end of Third street, was built from the lumber of this mill. The next lumber taken from Stillwater to St. Paul built the American house, just opposite.

The first work of the mill was in manufactur¬ ing the logs of McKusick and Greeley into lum¬ ber as previously stated. In the winter of 1844 and '45, logging on the river St. Croix, for furnish¬ ing future business began. This was carried on by John McKusick, Elam Greeley and Joseph R. Brown, at first, and was developed in proportion to the rapidly increasing demand by the forma¬ tion of numerous logging companies.

We have briefly traced the origin of the saw¬ mill enterprise which has made Stillwater the principal lumbering point on the St. Croix and developed one of the most enterprising cities of the North-west.

One industry cannot prosper without encour¬ aging many others, and we shall therefore, find contemporaneous with this mill other trades and industries represented.

the first mill-wright. He came to tlie site of Stillwater in 1842, and has remained in or near it ever since, and is probably the oldest of his trade in the valley.

Sylvester Stateler, the first blacksmith, has also appeared, coming to Joseph R. Brown's town of Dahkotah in 1842, working for the mill company in 1843 and '44. Stateler and Ramsden ironed the first sleigh ever made in Stillwater, for Walter R. Vail. Milton Taiscy opened a blacksmith shop here in 1848, and Z. FI. Foss, J. C. York, M. Moffat and others followed.

General merchandise; John McKusick kept supplies for the men employed on the mill, while in process of erection, beginning in the fall of 1843 and enlarging his stock in the spring of 1844 so as to meet the wants of the families and board¬ ing houses that had gathered around the enter¬ prise of the mill.

In the fall of 1844, Socrates Nelson opened the first store for general merchandise, beginning in a small way in a board shanty belonging to An¬ son Northrup. During the summer of 1845, as before stated, he built his store and dwelling combined on what is the corner of Main and Nel¬ son alley.

J. R. Brewster landed in Stillwater in June, 1846, and opened a store with general merchan¬ dise, near where A. Buth's boot and shoe store now stands.

Samuel Burkleo engaged in the mercantile business in company with W. II. Mower about 1850, but failed during the crash of 1857. The old stone building stood at the foot of Chestnut street, near the railroad crossing. At the spring flood of 1859, the building was floated off its foundation. Mr. Burkleo then moved to his farm in Baytown, where he resided until his death.

The next departure from a general stock was that of J. Schupp, who opened a grocery busi¬ ness in 1856, in what was known as Nelson's block, where N. F. Schwarz's boot and shoe store stands. He still continues located on Main street.

Christopher Carli was the first physician and is still a resident of Stillwater, the oldest physician in the St. Croix valley. The doctor came here when this was St. Croix county in 1841, and was for many years the only physician.

Others were Dr. J. B. Covey in 1845; Dr. E. G. Fugsly, in 1850; Dr. Joel K. Reiner and Dr. Noyes, in the summer of 1855; Dr. Muller, in 1856; Dr. J. C. Rhodes, who prospected in 1856 and moved here in May, 1857, and is the only one of those named who continues practice.

The first attorney was II. L. Moss, in the spring of 1846. M. S. Wilkinson opened a law office in the summer of 1848; followed during the same year by F. R. Bartlett and A. E. Arne. Theo¬ dore E. Parker came in 1850, and in 1853, Gold T. Curtis, McMillen and L. E. Thompson.

II. II. Murdock began law business and public life in Stillwater, in 1850, and about the same date William M. McCluer arrived. These men represented the early legal fraternity of Still¬ water.

Dr. Morey was the first dentist, opening his office in 1850. After him came Dr. Newell and others. Dr. Merry came October 14th, 1868, and is the oldest now engaged in the profession.

A record of the first lawsuit would be interest¬ ing, and in the absence of such records we give the account received from early settlers. This was the trial of an Indian for killing a white man and is related by J. D. McComb, who acted as sheriff in the arrest and detention of a young In¬ dian as a witness in the case. Mr. McComb kept his prisoner for two weeks prior to the trial at his own house, only using such vigilance as would prevent him from wandering off. During the day he was locked in a bed-room: during the morning and evening, while McComb was about the house, liberty of the premises was granted.

McComband the Iiulinn were sitting on the steps of the house, when suddenly a deer bounded past. The Indian, true to his instincts, started in pur¬ suit at full speed, but Mr. McConib called out: "Come back, you are a prisoner." lie obeyed, saying, "I forgot."

"Attorney, David Lambert. February term. William Ryan and James M. Ryan vs. Michael Trumley: in attachment; debt $204. Affidavit filed and writ issued August 9th, 1849; returned second Monday in February, 1850. Sheriff re¬ turns August 12th, 1849, "No property found." And now, February 15th, 1850, the parties not appearing, judgment of non-suit is entered. Fees paid."

The St. Croix Union was the first newspaper issued October 9th, 1854, under the management of Cable and Easton, and was democratic in poli¬ tics. The paper was suspended in November, 1857. The Messenger followed in 1860 and the Gazette in 1870.

The first marriages were: Jesse Taylor and Miss Abigail Edwards in the winter of 1844; William Cove and Miss Nancy Edwards. The wives were sisters of Mrs. Anson Northrop.

The first white child was Lisette Carli, daughter of Paul and Lydia A. Carli, born July 15th, 1843, in the old Tamarack house, in Joseph R. Brown's town, Dahkotah, now forming a part of Still¬ water. The first child born in Stillwater proper was William Taylor, a fruit of the first marriage mentioned above, in the early part of the winter of 1845.

The first deaths. Two men, who were en¬ gaged in rafting at the head of the lake during the summer of 1843, became sick from careless¬ ness of health during the hot weather. One of them, a Mr. Cole, was brought to the Tamarack house, where he died July 14th. The other, name unknown, died in the basement of the old court-house two days later. These two deaths and that of a child of Joseph R. Brown, occurred in Schulenburg and Carl i's addition to Stillwater, and the bodies were buried on the bluff just above where the Tamarack house stood. The exact spot is not known. In making an exca¬ vation a few years ago, some bones were found, supposed to be the remains of one of the men buried there. The first death that occurred in Stillwater proper, was that of Oscar F. Strick¬ land, employed in the mill, who contracted dis¬ ease, and died about the first of October, 1844. At this date no place had been chosen for a burying-place. This death suggested the necessity of making some provision for the disposition of the dead. The bluff rising some forty feet above the street, as it now appears, at the corner of Myrtle and Third streets was chosen. Mr. Strickland was buried there. A gentleman, an eye-witness of the occasion, says: "The occasion was solemn. The duties of honor and respect were performed by his companions of the mill employes. This being the first death of our number caused a deep feeling on the part of all present." Mr. Strickland was held in high es¬ teem by his fellow-craftsmen.

Early ministers. Rev. Mr. Ilurlburt, a Metho¬ dist Episcopal missionary, conducted a funeral service at the "Tamarack house," sometime during the summer of 1843, probably that of Mr. Cole, whose death has been mentioned. Revs. Ilurlburt and Brace visited this country on their mis¬ sionary tours, as occasion offered during the years of 1842 and '43. It is affirmed that one, and per¬ haps both of these missionaries, preached several times at the above named place prior to any move in the way of a settlement at the site of Still¬ water. After the opening of business operations at Stillwater, Rev. W. T. Boutwell at that time superintending the mission at Leech Lake, passed through Stillwater and preached a sermon in the boarding-house of John McKusick during the erection of the first mill. This service was in all probability in the early summer of 1844. Rev. Boutwell says speaking of the service: "It was the first Sabbath service ever held in what is now Stillwater." Time passed away; the pineries in upper portions of the St. Croix valley attracted the attention of lumbermen to Stillwater, which began to be regarded as the center of lumbering interests; new interests develoi>ed, and men be¬ gan to seek the town for a home. About this time Rev. Mr. Boutwell, feeling that he could do more good here than among the Ojibways, took iip his residence in the summer of 1847, and im¬ mediately began to hold services in Stillwater.

At first these services were held in the dining hall of the Northrup House. The pioneer preacher was in the habit of passing up and down the street, shaking the dinner bell to call his congregation together. In a few weeks the place of holding services was fixed at the room over John McKusick's store, on the corner of Main and Myrtle streets. After this change, the pioneer preacher procured a bell of his own, sending to St. Louis for it, which he used as be¬ fore in calling his people together. This bell is still in Rev. Mr. Boutwell's possession. Among the early men, who were willing to sacrifice for the gospel's sake, we find the names of Revs. E. A. Greenleaf, James Harrington, L. Nobles, Whitney, Brown, etc.

In connection with the early work of mission¬ aries an account is here given as furnished by Rev. W. T. Boutwell, expressly for this history, relating to the traffic in liquor by Indian traders.

Mr. Boutwell frequently visited the logging camps and preached to the workmen after their days' work was over; and when these visits oc¬ curred on the Sabbath, preaching services were held during the day. On one of these tours, he visited the camps on Snake river. Starting from home on Saturday, he reached the first camp about dark, twelve miles from Pokegama, the mission station. Here was a trading post kept by Jack Drake and Henry Rust. These men had been in the employ of the lumber companies and had gained a limited knowledge of the Indian language, sufficient to conduct a trading post.

Mr. Boutwell preached at ten o'clock the fol¬ lowing morning at this camp and proceeded to another six miles further on for an afternoon ser¬ vice, where he preached at three in the afternoon. In the evening, he preached at a third camp six miles from the last, and remained over night with Elam Greeley.

At three o'clock next morning they were aroused by a man calling at the door: "Greeley." Mr. Greeley arose from the humble bed on the floor, shared with Mr. Boutwell, and enquired what was wanting. The messenger informed them that Rust had been shot by the In¬ dians, and was bleeding profusely. He entreated Mr. Greeley to come and stop the blood or the man would die. Mr. Greeley, Mr. Russell and Mr. Boutwell started at once and reached the second camp a little after daylight. Here they got a cup of coffee, and had proceeded about three miles when they were met by a messenger who informed them that Rust was dead. After this their rapid pace was moderated. On arrival at the camp about seventy-five lumbermen were found collected, with all the muskets obtainable, determined to follow the Indians and retaliate with wholesale slaughter. The Indians were, however, not to be found, and the party reluc¬ tantly returned to take measures for the burial of the dead.

The company requested Mr. Boutwell to carry the body on his conveyance down to the mission, have a coffin prepared and grave dug, and all would come down the following day to attend the funeral services. After the body had been brought out and placed on his conveyance, and the house cleared of goods and furs, a couple of barrels of whiskey were rolled into position, the heads knocked out, a bunch of hay placed be¬ tween them, a shovel of coals thrown upon it, and the door closed. This proceeding was in accordance with the unanimous verdict that rum was the cause of the murder, and too dangerous an element to be tolerated.

Mr. Boutwell viewed with satisfaction the curling of the dense black smoke as it destroyed a little of what had undermined his missionary work. After seeing the fire well under way, and the thatched roof of the cabin in full blaze, he proceeded with his charge to the mission station.

The next day the lumbermen came down in mass to attend the funeral services. As it was late in the afternoon before the ceremonies ter¬ minated, Mr. Boutwell urged them to accept his hospitality for the night, as he had often shared theirs. The company was so large that they were accommodated, as well as possible, at the house of Mr. Boutwell, and Mr. Russell, the In¬ dian farmer.

At a meeting in Mr. Boutwell's house after tea, the temperance movement, which it is the especial purpose of this narrative to set forth, was planned. The murder, and the burning of the whisky to¬ gether with the solemn services just witnessed, had prepared the minds of all for a determined stand against the whisky dealers. A pen and ink was called for and resolutions drafted, in sub- stance as follows: That they would visit every trading post in the region and destroy all the whisky that could be found. Resolutions to this effect were signed with enthusiasm by every man. Next morning, after breakfast, they carried out their resolutions by visiting a post in sight of Mr. Routwell's door, just across the lake. As they were about starting Mr. Boutwell said: "Gentle¬ men, wait a moment; permit me to accompany you and see that everything is done with due pro¬ priety." Accompanied by Mr. Boutwell, the company proceeded to the post. Mr. Greeley, acting as spokesman, said to the proprietor: "We have come to destroy your whisky." He protest¬ ed, saying it was not paid for. The answer was: "We will pay you for it at our lumber camp in Hour and pork, but we are determined to have the whisky, and will have it." Seeing the wisdom of a prompt acquiescence, the proprietor opened a trap door and a couple of stout men hoisted a barrel from the cellar, rolled it out on the ground and knocked in the head, when the whisky rip¬ pled away among the chips.

The success here inspired them with fresh courage, and they went from post to post until they had destroyed the whisky at all the trading posts in their vicinity. As often happens after the excitement of a radical reform, a reaction took place in the spring, although the remainder of the winter was unusually free from disturb¬ ance. With the opening of navigation, kegs and barrels of a suspicious nature came up, addressed to some of these same men who had signed the resolutions for reform, and they were seen with kegs of whisky going to trade with the Indians who committed the murder, exhibiting as much eagerness for the prospective profits as they had in the reformatory movement.

The first white woman in Stillwater was Mrs. Paul Carli, now Mrs. Christopher Carli, whose ar¬ rival with Joseph R. Brown has already been chronicled. Mrs. Allen came next. In 1845, what is now Stillwater, rejoiced in eight women; Mrs. Carli, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Andrew Mackey, Mrs. Anson Northrop and her two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Taylor and Mrs. William Cove, Mrs. S. Nelson and Miss Sarah L. Judd.

First carpenters. Jacob Fisher, who came in the winter of 1842-3, has been already mentioned as a mill-wright. He built the Minnesota house, the only one of the early hotels now standing. Nelson Goodenough and Edwin Phillips came with the mill company in the fall of 1843. G. W. Battles landed here in the fall of 184G, and built the old St. Croix house in the summer of 1847. William M. May is said to have followed the trade longer than any one now a carpenter in Stillwater.

Early painters. Miller and Cogswell opened a paint-shop about 1840, on Main street, and Cogs¬ well painted about thirty-live years ago, the old sign on the Minnesota, spelled M-i-n-e-s-o-t-a. Some may be ignorant of the original spoiling of the name of the state. It was spelled as on this old sign, with one "n," until changed by act of congress in ac¬ cordance with a resolution offered by Joseph R. Brown and adopted by the convention held at Stillwater, August 14th, 1848, preceding the or¬ ganization of the territory of Minnesota.

II. Kattenberg opened the first clothing store in 1847, followed by Gerhart, J. E. Schlenk and others. F. C. Cutler is the oldest in the trade at present, in our city.

II. K. McKinstry opened the first meat-market in the rear of the building which stood where Keru's shoe shop now stands, followed by Wells, Louis Bogan, Dick Sinclair and others.

William Holcombe and R. B. Johnson opened the first livery stable about 1850. They sold, in 1855, to C. A. Bromley, who in a few years took in S. S. Denton as partner. The latter sold after a time and started a stable on Second street, joined by A. J. Orff. Orff still continues, like¬ wise Bromley, who is the oldest livery man now engaged in the business.

The first grist-mill was a small affair, about where the engine house now stands and obtained its power from the old saw-mill. It was built in 1850 by Samuel Bolles, but was swept away in 1852 by the land slide.

City Of Stillwater -Stores

Mrs. A. Eldridge made daguerreotypes first in the spring of 1848, and continued in Stillwater two years; succeeded by Truax, Everett and others.

Robert Putz opened the first tinshop in this city in the spring of 1854, on Main street. He was succeeded by Capron and Morris, and this firm by Edward Capron, who has continued al¬ most constantly from that date to the present.

Martin Johnson and R. C. Johnson came to Stillwater in 1854, and opened a jewelry store. They have been succeeded by Pierson, B. Illing¬ worth, W. J. Stein and Joseph Taenhauser. Mr. Stein has outlived his fellow craftsmen and is still engaged in the business.

A bakery was opened by R. Ilussey in 1850. His shop was on a cross street, running from Third to Chesnut, near the present site of the post-office; he only remained two years, and was succeeded by Jacob Seibert in 1856, who con¬ tinued till the war in 1861, enlisted in the Second Minnesota, and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga.

William Armstrong, colored, opened a barber shop in the summer of 1866. Charles Sandretzky came to Stillwater one year later and engaged in this business for about twelve years then moved to Minneapolis. Joseph A. Tanner opened a shop about 1865, in the basement of the Minnesota house; he is the oldest barber in the city.

Henry McKenty, R. F. Slaughter and F. O. J. Smith, were among the first real estate men in this growing and active city. Thompson, Parker and Mower began in this special line in 1855 and were the prime movers in the boom of 1856-'o7.

Norbert Kimmick commenced the brewery business in 1850, on the corner of Chestnut and Third streets, now occupied by W. Zuerclier. His apparatus for brewing was in the kitchen where the family lived. Ilis successors in business have been Frank Aiple, G. Knipps, J. Wolf and II. Tepass.

Bell and Carter opened a book-store as early as 1855; F. G. Brown in 1856; the first was located where Selleck now is; the second where Rolirbach's clothing store now stands. A. Eldridge is the oldest now in this business in Stillwater.

Lake House in 1855. Darling, Carswell and Scheffer started a bank in 1856, in a little wood building located where the First National bank now stands. This firm, after a few years changed, and was known as Scheffer and Thompson's bank, and subsequently merged into the present First National bank.

Thomas Lowery started the first furniture store in the city, located where Wolf's liquor store now stands. He commenced in 1854, and sold out to M. 8. Willard in 1856, who continued the business till the fall of 1880, when it passed into the hands of J. Fowler, Jr. Philip Muller has been in this business for the last twenty years and Simonet for about fifteen years.

Cutler and Cogswell started the first foundry, located at what is now South Stillwater, about 1 855, the business did not prove a success, and soon closed up. This line of mechanical enter¬ prise under the management of Isaac Staples, D. M. Swain and Seymour, Sabin and Company is doing a prosperous business.

The Peckham brothers, opened a boot and shoe store in 1855; their place of business was on Main street between Chestnut and Myrtle; fol¬ lowed in a few years by Wilson and Larson, and J. Kaiser. The first shoe-maker was Conrad Brown, father of Jacob Brown, a resident of this city. Mr. Brown commenced business in 1852, and having occasion to go to St. Louis, was drowned on the way.

The first circus spread its tent in Stillwater in the summer of 1850, under the name of Antonio Brothers. Adeline Patti, when but twelve years of age, sang in Pugsley's hall, in the summer of 1854. Ole Bull accompanied her. Mr. Bull re¬ mained in the city a fortnight, went a fishing, and invested in town lots.

The first steamboat that attempted to land at the point where Stillwater is located, was the Otter, under Captain Harris, which brought up the company's outfit in the fall of 1843. The next spring a regular line was established, and during the summer, boats visited the place once every two weeks, running regularly between Still¬ water and Galena. The first boat of this line was the Lynx, undir Captain Hooper.

Before 1848, the settlement had made a de¬ cided advance, and the first measures were taken in the summer of 1848 looking toward a town. The government survey had been made and soon after Ilarvey Wilson surveyed and platted the village of Stillwater. Previously and at this time no title to land had been given legally, nor could such title be secured until the original claims were proved up and the entries made. In the meantime claims had been divided and subdi¬ vided by various transfers and transactions in an¬ ticipation of the land sale. The sale came in 1848, and in view of the circumstances it was deemed necessary that some one be selected to bid off the tract embracing the town-site as agent for all the parties interested. The title would then rest in him, to be subsequently deeded to the vari¬ ous individuals interested. John McKusick was selected to perform this responsible duty, since by purchase of the interests of some of the origi¬ nal owners he had become the largest owner. A bond was requested of him for the faithful per¬ formance of the trust. This he cheerfully gave and honorably performed the duty imposed. Af¬ ter returning from the sale he deeded lots already sold, to citizens.

In 1852 occurred the great "landslide" which was of so important a character, both in the dis¬ aster it wrought at the time, and the change it produced in the topography of the town, us to entitle it to a place in the integral part of this history and dignify it above a simple incident.

This was the scene of the disaster. After years of peaceful submission on the part of the lake and little stream to the dictation of its new lords, in the direction of its discharge, a rebellion took place in the spring of 1852.

was soaked to about the consistency of children's mud-pies, and would almost flow of itself. The lake above the bluffs was very full, and the little creek had become a boisterous stream.

This condition continued until May. On the 12th and 13tli a heavy fall of rain occurred, but May 14th a terrible thunder-storm burst over the lake and bluffs in such volumes that the stream washed out the base of the high banks on each side, and the soft mass above slid down into the stream to be carried along by its violent current. One slide followed another, forming occasional dams by collections of debris, until an accumu¬ lated force would sweep away the barrier and carry increased power of destruction in its course.

The extent of the disaster and the changes in surface wrought may be conjectured from the summary. The banks of the stream on both sides, one hundred feet wide by fifty in height, for a distance of two hundred rods, was swept out and deposited where a portion of the business part of Stillwater now stands. The extent of ground covered was about six acres to an average depth of ten feet.

Before daylight of the memorable 14th of May, some of the citizens heard "the voice of many waters," and looking out of their windows saw rushing down the ravine, trees, gravel and mud. Nothing impeded its course as it rushed on, cover¬ ing barns, small tenements, shops and three small rafts of lumber, moored in the neck of the lake which bends up toward the bluffs. William Willim had the day previous brought the rafts for buildings about to bo constructed.

The lower story of the mill was completely filled with dirt and the machinery buried. It was thought to be mined, but after the flood had subsided the water from the canal was turned into the mill, and the entire deposit removed; even the large wheel entirely covered was re¬ lieved and made ready to run again by the wash¬ ing from the canal. Indeed the condition of the mill was found to be greatly improved by the banks of sand that braced up its sides, and, fur¬ ther, the quagmire on the low-lands was fitted for building sites, now occupied by many of the business houses of the city. The improvement extended to the shore of the lake, where the land¬ ing was made much more convenient by raising the banks.

City Of Stillwater -Early Floods

It is not to be wondered at that when John McKusick surveyed the prospect o'er on the mo¬ mentous morning, that his heart sank, and lie imagined himself a ruined man, for mill, store and land appeared a complete wreck, and he would not at first listen to an encouraging view, which some of his neighbors attempted to point out. When the clearing up began from the cellar of the store, various articles were dug out, but three barrels of pork, not found at that time, were exhumed three years later, when further explorations were made, and were found in a per¬ fect state of preservation. A few years proved, what threatened financial ruin to Mr. McKusick, to be really almost a bonanza. Land rated at $1 .26 per acre, soon advanced to $50 and $600. One of the editors of the day facetiously re¬ marked that it was a very extraordinary move¬ ment of real estate. The development of years has robbed the sentence of its wit and converted it into a prophecy.

A peculiar relic. In the winter of 1857-8, the workmen, engaged in excavation on Third street, near Myrtle, exhumed what is supposed to be the tusk of a mastodon. It was six feet long, curv¬ ing slightly and pointed. Its grayish color and brittle texture bear witness to its long burial un¬ der the bluff. It was found in a horizontal po¬ sition thirty-six feet below the surface. A sec¬ tion of this curiosity is on exhibition at the his¬ torical society in St. Paul.

In the early days, before Stillwater became a place of importance and before railroads brought daily freight and mail, the arrival of a steamboat was an important event. From a clipping we learn that the levee, during the summer of 1856, was the scene of excitement on the arrival of each boat. Hundreds thronged the wharf, business men in expectation of freight, politicians in quest of election news, some to see the boat and others to be in the excitement.

This continued until the close of navigation. During the summer, the steamer Banjo made fre¬ quent excursions with a theatrical troupe, who had a stage on board and performed their plays. On a certain evening the troupe arrived and announced a performance on board the boat in the evening. Many of the young men were anxious to attend who had not received payment for services from the mills for some time, and were out of money.

Some brought bunches of shingles from the yards of their respective employers, which were ac¬ cepted instead of money as admission fee. Others, for the want of money or shingles, were excluded and determined to vent their spite on the boat. At at the close of the performance, after the citizens had all left the boat, the mal¬ contents showered it with a volley of stones, which attack the men on board returned with powder and shot, and a lively scene ensued. Both parties beat a retreat, the boys in some confusion to a safe distance and the boat in as good order as the darkness of the night would permit. The Banjo never returned and the extent of her dam¬ age was not known. "No one was hurt on our side."

The river and lake St. Croix is subject to floods during the months of May and June. The banks are high and usually hold the spring freshets. In the spring nnd early summer of 1860 a general freshet occurred, caused by heavy snows on the upper St. Croix and the long continued warm rains. The streets in the lower parts of the city were not as high then ns now by some feet. The whole lower part of the town was inundated. Several small buildings along the lake were re¬ moved from their foundations and two of them floated down the lake. In the month of June the boat " Argo?' moored in front of the Minneso¬ ta house in Main street, and let her passengers off on the steps of the hotel. The -water was about four or five feet deep in the street, so that the boat found no difficulty. Again in June, 1859, another freshet occurred, fully equal to that of 1850. The water rose some three inches higher than in 1850, but owing to the fillings caused by the land slide and the hand of man, the water did not reach Main street, though the cellars and warehouses bordering the lake were filled. No serious damage was done. The office of the Boom corporation, at the foot of Chesnut street, was raised from its foundation, but being secured by cables, was saved. The contents of cellars, stores and some warehouses along the lake were re¬ moved, causing some loss and inconvenience. A number of these freshets have occurred from time, but since the extensive filling no damage or se¬ rious inconvenience has been sustained.

storm, which passed over the city on the even¬ ing of May 12th. 1879, Julius Duel, one of the proprietors of the St. Croix Post, a German paper of this city, published by Schermuly and Duel, stalled to go with Miss Enuna Schermuly, a young lady about eighteen, daughter of the sen¬ ior proprietor, to their house in Schulenburg's addition. Going up Main street to a point op¬ posite the Novelty carriage works, they found the street submerged and almost impassible. They, therefore, turned and went on the railroad supposing it to be dryer and the safest way home. The track is upon a trestle work, but tightly boarded, until the span is reached through which logs are run into Staples' mill-pond. From this point a double row of plank, one upon each side, below the level of the track, extends to the eud of the trestle. Pedestrians are compelled to walk on these narrow plank or on the bare ties. They chose the plank and would have passed safely, but suddenly two dazzling flashes of lightning completely blinded both. When Duel recovered, an instant after, the girl was gone, and a scream from the dark water twenty feet lielow, told that she had fallen into the deep water of the lake. He immediately leaped after her, and coming to the surface he saw, by another flash of lightning, the girl just sinking, probably the second time. Duel swam and seized her, and after considerable persuasion, calmed her excitement so that she released the convulsive hold with which she had nearly drowned them both. By the light of successive flashes, he swam with his burden to a log, and from that to another directly under a rope attached at one end to the spiling, and at the other to a trail of logs.

With considerable difficulty the girl was raised on the log, with a hold on the rope, where they rested for a time, as Duel was nearly exhausted with the efforts already made. He soon at¬ tempted a reconnoitre by swimming away from the log, but, as often as he swam away the ex¬ hausted girl would be tumbled into the water by the waves. Finding these attempts futile, he resumed his position and commenced to halloa for help. Fortunately it was near at hand in the pei sons of Joseph Carli and another gentleman who were taking the same route our unfortunates were following on their way home.

position wsis ascertained. A boat was sought at Staples' mill, but none was found, and afterward at Nelson and Company's mill, where the watch¬ man, misunderstanding the pressing demand, re¬ fused the boat. A rope and lantern was Anally secured at Staples' mill, and with some difficulty, owing to the continuing storm, first the girl and afterward Duel were hauled up on the trestle, completely exhausted by their exertions, and be¬ numbed by the cold water in which they had been for half an hour. During all this time the rain was pouring in torrents and the wind blowing al¬ most a hurricane. Taken as a whole, it was one of the most remarkable escapes from drowning that has ever occurred in this vicinity, and too much praise cannot be accorded to Mr. Duel for his fearless risk of life, and to the rescuers of both who by prompt action saved both.