OBJECTS AND ORGANIZATION
The society was organized in 1849 by a few of the pioneers of the Territory, and incorporated by an act of the first territorial legislature, approved Oct. 20, 1849, this being the first literary institution organized in the Territory; and its "library," then only a few volumes, was the first ever established in Minnesota. The original charter of the society stated its objects to be: "The collection and preservation of a library, mineralogical and geological specimens, Indian curiosities, and other matters and things connected with, and calculated to illustrate and perpetuate the history and settlement of said Territory." The amended charter of 1856 enacted: "The objects of said society, with the enlarged powers and duties herein provided, shall be in addition to the collection and preservation of publications, manuscripts, antiquities, curiosities, and other things pertaining to the social, political and natural history of Minnesota, to cultivate among the citizens thereof a knowledge of the useful and liberal arts, science and literature."
The work of this society may therefore be formulated thus:
I. (1) The collection, (2) the preservation, (3) the publication of materials for the history of Minnesota and its people.
II. The collection and management of a library containing useful works of reference on the most valuable departments of knowledge.
III. The diffusion among citizens of the State of useful knowledge.
ITS PROGRESS
In the early days of the Territory, owing to its want of means, the sparse population and its poverty, and the infancy of the commonwealth generally, the society accomplished but little beyond collecting some information regarding the early history of this region, and printing the same in several pamphlet volumes. In 1864 it had only eight hundred and forty volumes in its library. It was then reorganized, and with the aid of a small annual appropriation from the State, since enlarged, has been able to make very gratifying progress.
ITS PRESENT CONDITION
It has now comfortable apartments in the state capitol, a building believed to be fireproof; a sufficient income to pay its current expenses, granted partly by the State and partly contributed by its members; one of the largest and most valuable libraries in the State, containing 22,000 volumes of choice works, together with a cabinet or museum of historical and archælogical curiosities, and a number of historical pictures, engravings, manuscripts, etc. An endowment fund of several thousand dollars, accumulated by gifts and membership fees; two lots, eligibly situated, on which at no distant day, will be erected a fireproof building.
PROPOSED BUILDING FOR THE SOCIETY
Reference was made before to the building lots of the society. These were purchased by a subscription of the members in 1855, for the sum of $1,500, in hopes that the society would be enabled to erect thereon a fireproof building for its use, but up to this time it has not been able to do so. The lots are now valued at $20,000 or more. Several months ago an effort was made by the president of the society to raise enough by subscription to insure the commencement of a building to cost, completed, $50,000; of this amount $14,500 was subscribed, and it is believed that there are liberal and public spirited citizens of our State who will contribute the balance when called on, or provide, by will, for bequests in its aid. Such an edifice would be a perpetual monument to their generosity and public spirit, and would be an inestimable boon to succeeding generations, who will frequent our library in pursuit of knowledge.
PRESIDENTS OF THE OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION
1858. Henry H. Sibley.
1859. Socrates Nelson.
1860. J. E. McKusick.
1861. Wm. H. Nobles.
1862. Dr. T. R. Potts.
1863. Frank Steele.
1864. R. M. Richardson.
1865. John D. Ludden.
1866. Socrates Nelson.
1867. Abram Van Voorhes.
1868. Henry H. Sibley.
1869. Nathaniel McLean.
1870. Bartlett Presley.
1871. John H. Stevens.
1872. George L. Becker.
1873. David B. Loomis.
1874. Henry M. Rice.
1875. Alex. Ramsey.
1876. Norman W. Kittson.
1877. Charles H. Oakes.
1878. Mahlon Black.
1879. Charles E. Leonard.
1880. Benj. H. Randall.
1881. S. P. Folsom.
1882. Jacob W. Bass.
1883. Benj. W. Brunson.
1884. Clement H. Beaulieu.
1885. Henry L. Moss.
1886. R. W. Johnson.
1887. Anson Northrup.
1888. David Day.
Judge Goodrich was secretary of the Old Settlers Association from 1859 until his death, in 1887.
THE ST. CROIX VALLEY OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION
This association was organized Nov. 5, 1875, at the office of Durant & Wheeler, in the city of Stillwater. Charles E. Leonard was elected president, and David B. Loomis, secretary. The latter has been re-elected and served continuously to the present time. It is a requisite that members shall have been residents in the Northwest prior to 1850.
The following have been presidents of the association, the term of service being limited to one year:
1875. D. B. Loomis.
1876. Christopher Carli.
1877. W. T. Boutwell.
1878. John D. Ludden.
1879. Henry L. Moss.
1880. Wm. R. Marshall.
1881. Daniel Mears.
1882. Henry A. Jackman.
1883. W. H. C. Folsom.
1884. Edward W. Durant.
1885. Albert Stimson.
1886. Henry N. Setzer.
1887. Morton S. Wilkinson.
The annual meetings are held on or about the middle of September, at Stillwater.
NEWSPAPER HISTORY IN RAMSEY COUNTY
The St. Paul Weekly Pioneer, established by James M. Goodhue as the Minnesota Pioneer, issued its first number April 28, 1849, one day later than the St. Paul Register, but, unlike that paper, it was printed in the place of publication. In March, 1854, Earl S. Goodrich purchased the Pioneer, and on May 1st issued the first number of the Daily Pioneer. On Oct. 31, 1855, the Democrat was merged in the Pioneer, which became the Pioneer and Democrat, which name it continued to bear for six years, when it resumed its former name, the Pioneer. Nov. 8, 1865, the Pioneer was sold to H. P. Hall and John X. Davidson. July 29, 1866, the Pioneer was sold to Capt. H. L. Carver, C. W. Nash and others. April 22, 1874, the Pioneer became the property of David Blakely. April 11, 1875, the Pioneer and Press consolidated, and the name was changed to St. Paul Pioneer Press, under the management of the Pioneer Press Company, with J. A. Wheelock editor-in-chief. The Pioneer Press now embodies, by consolidation, twenty-five distinct newspapers. Its daily issue is about 18,000 copies. The stock company is now officered by J. A. Wheelock, president; F. Driscoll, Sr., vice president and treasurer; F. Driscoll, Jr., secretary. The management is in the hands of J. A. Wheelock, editor-in-chief; F. A. Carle, managing editor; F. Driscoll, business manager; A. W. Dunn, city editor.
The St. Paul Globe was established Jan. 15, 1878, by H. P. Hall, and conducted as an individual enterprise until July 1, 1881, when it was made into a stock company with a capital of $150,000. Its first officers were: President, H. H. Sibley; vice president, P. H. Kelly; treasurer, Albert Scheffer; secretary, Ansel Oppenheim; general manager, H. P. Hall. This company, which was called the St. Paul Globe Printing Company, was sold to a new company, styled the St. Paul Globe Publishing Company, Feb. 1, 1885. The first officers of that company were: President, N. W. Kittson; vice president, P. H. Kelly; treasurer, Albert Scheffer; secretary and general manager, Lewis Baker. All the officers of each company were resident in St. Paul. The Globe publishes daily and weekly editions.
The St. Paul Dispatch was founded by H. P. Hall and David Ramaley, Feb. 29, 1868. It has passed through many ownerships. The company publish a weekly and evening daily paper.
The St. Paul Daily Times was established in 1854, by T. M. Newson, M. J. Clum and J. B. H. Mitchell. In 1869 it was merged into the St. Paul Press.
The Register, Chronicle and Democrat were published in territorial days, and have been discontinued.
Die Volkszeitung, the first German paper of St. Paul, was established in 1857. Another German paper was subsequently established, and the two were consolidated, Sept. 6, 1877, as Die Volkszeitung. It issues daily and weekly editions. Chas. H. Lineau is general manager, A. Wolff, editor-in-chief; C. Newhausen, city editor, and Louis Hern, literary editor.
The Northwest Magazine is a monthly journal, devoted to the interests of the Northwest. It was established in 1883. E. V. Smalley is the editor.
OTHER ST. PAUL PUBLICATIONS
A. O. U. W. Guide, weekly Guide Publishing Company, established 1883.
Pythian Advocate, monthly, Pythian Company, established 1884.
Northwestern Chronicle, weekly (Catholic), Northwestern Publishing Company, established 1866.
Herald, weekly, Chantler & Nichols, established 1883.
Der Wanderer (German), weekly, Wanderer Publishing Company, established 1867.
Familien Zeitung (German), weekly, Engel-Dreis Company, established 1885.
Le Canadien (French), weekly, E. R. Dufresne, L. N. Dixon, established 1877.
Nordvesten (Scandinavian), weekly, C. H. Brandt, established 1880.
Skaffaren (Swedish Lutheran), weekly, J. E. Osborn, established 1877.
Northwestern Lancet, semi-monthly, C. B. Witherle, established 1882.
Northwest Reporter (legal), weekly, West Publishing Company, established 1881.
Saturday Evening News, weekly, Lewis & Bole, established 1883.
Western Appeal, weekly, F. D. Parker, established 1885.
Home Gazette, monthly, S. Sherin, established 1883.
St. Paul Daily Evening News, established 1888.
St. Paul Labor Echo, Eric Olson, established 1884.
White Bear Lake Breeze, A. H. S. Perkins, established 1879.
HENNEPIN COUNTY
The first paper established in Hennepin county as now bounded was the St. Anthony Express, E. Tyler, publisher, Isaac Atwater, editor. The first number was issued May 31, 1857. The Minneapolis Democrat was established in 1854. Neither of these papers is to be found in the directory.
PAPERS OF MINNEAPOLIS
Evening Journal, daily, D. B. Blakely, established 1887.
Evening Mercury, daily, E. Ferwald, established 1885.
Minneapolis Gazette, daily, W. Bickley, established 1870.
Minneapolis Tribune, daily, Will E. Haskell, Tribune Publishing Company, established 1867.
Commercial Bulletin, weekly, Commercial Publishing Company, established 1883.
Minneapolis Life, weekly, W. E. Atkins, established in 1885.
Saturday Evening Spectator, weekly, C. H. Dubois, established 1879.
Temperance Review, weekly, L. Bixby, established 1865.
Budstikken (Norwegian), Johann E. Gidde, established 1873.
Folkebladt (Norwegian), weekly, Folkebladt Publishing Company, established 1878.
Svenska Posten (Swedish), weekly, Svenska-American Publishing Company, established 1885.
Svenska Tidning (Swedish), weekly, Svenska Publishing Company, established 1883.
Svenska Kistna Herolden, weekly, Svenska Herolden Publishing Company, established 1885.
Herold (German), weekly, German Press Association, established 1884.
Freie Presse (German), weekly, F. Doerr, established 1869.
Le Progres (French), weekly, J. B. A. Paradis, established 1884.
Echo De L'Ouest (French), weekly, A. F. Carrier, established 1883.
Free Baptist, weekly, A. A. Smith, established 1882.
Northwestern Standard, weekly, Ed. O'Brien, established 1885.
Northwestern Presbyterian, weekly, Edgar A. Gay, established 1884.
Our Church (Unitarian), semi-monthly, Rev. L. D. Boynton, established 1885.
Farm, Stock and Home Journal, monthly, Farm, Stock and Home Company, established 1884.
Mississippi Valley Lumberman, weekly, Platt B. Walker, established 1876.
Northwestern Miller, weekly, C. M. Palmer, established 1873.
Northwestern Trade, bi-weekly, E. E. Haynes, established 1883.
Homestead, monthly, Homestead Publishing Company, established 1885.
Housekeeper, monthly, Buckeye Publishing Company, established 1878.
Medical Mirror, monthly, N. M. Cook, M.D., established 1881.
Northwestern Architect, monthly, Bruce & Brundage, established 1884.
Pilgrim (Congregational), monthly, Pilgrim Publishing Company, established 1881.
Poultry and Farm Journal, monthly, I. I. Bachellor, established 1877.
Real Estate Review, monthly, C. H. Dubois & Co., established 1883.
Temperance Educator, monthly, L. Bigby, established 1882.
To-Day (Evangelical), Geo. F. Wells, A. S. Edwards, established 1880.
Wood and Iron, monthly, Wood and Iron Publishing Company, established 1880.
Methodist Herald, weekly, R. H. Young, established 1887.
EXCELSIOR
Minnetonka Mirror, weekly, W. H. Mitchell, established 1885.
Northwestern Tourist, weekly, A. S. Dimond & Son, established 1876.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
The first newspaper published in Washington county was the St. Croix Union, established Oct. 8, 1854, in Stillwater. It was continued under the management of Cable & Easton one year, when F. S. Cable sold out to Milton H. Abbott. Soon after Mr. Abbott bought out the interest of M. S. Easton. The paper went down in the crash of 1857.
The Stillwater Messenger made its appearance under the management of A. T. Van Voorhes, Sept. 11, 1856. It changed ownership several times, and in 1871 Seward & Taylor, the present owners, came into possession.
The Stillwater Democrat succeeded the defunct Union in 1858. L. F. Spaulding and C. P. Lane became the editors and proprietors. It was discontinued in 1861.
A. B. Easton and J. N. Castle established the Stillwater Gazette, the first number appearing Aug. 6, 1870. This paper was successful from the first, and with but few changes in proprietorship is published at the present day as a daily and weekly by Clewell & Easton.
The Stillwater Lumberman was established April 9, 1875, by Ed. H. Folsom. It afterward passed into the hands of a stock company, and was discontinued in 1884.
The Stillwater Post, a German paper, was established by W. P. Shilling & Co. Aug. 26, 1876. Two years later it passed into the hands of Wm. Schermuly, and in 1880 it was taken charge of by Julius Duel, who is succeeded by F. C. Neumeier.
CHISAGO COUNTY
Taylor's Falls Reporter, F. H. Pratt, established February, 1860; in 1862 the name was changed to Taylor's Falls Monitor; in 1883 the name was again changed to Taylor's Falls Journal; present editor, Ed. H. Folsom.
Rush City Pos., Hial P. Robie, established in 1875.
Chisago County Times, Taylor's Falls, Rowe & Walker, established April 19, 1888.
PINE COUNTY – PINE CITY
Pine County Pioneer, weekly, Ed. C. Gottry, established 1885.
CARLTON COUNTY – CLOQUET
Pine Knot, weekly, Dr. H. B. Allen, established 1884.
Industrial Vidette, established 1887.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – DULUTH
Tribune, weekly and daily, R. C. Mitchell, established 1881.
Lake Superior News, weekly, Wm. S. Woodbridge, established 1878.
Duluth Daily News, established 1885.
Duluth Skandinav, Wesenbergad Hurst, established 1887.
Paragrapher, established 1887.
Volksfreund, Dworsehak & Son, established 1886.
Evening Journal, established 1887.
TOWER
Tower Press, C. T. Bingham, established 1885.
TWO HARBORS
Iron Post, A. De Lacy Wood, established 1887.
AITKIN COUNTY – AITKIN
Aitkin Age, weekly, E. F. Barrett, established 1883.
CROW WING COUNTY – BRAINERD
Brainerd Dispatch, weekly, Ingersoll & Willard, established 1881.
Brainerd Journal, weekly, H. C. Stivers, established 1882.
Northwestern Tribune, weekly, Halsted & Pennell, 1872.
The News, daily, established 1887.
KANABEC COUNTY – MORA
Mora Times, weekly, R. W. Safford, established 1882.
MILLE LACS COUNTY – PRINCETON
Princeton Union, weekly, R. C. Dunn, established 1876.
MORRISON COUNTY – LITTLE FALLS
Little Falls Sun, weekly, Little Falls Publishing Company, Cyrus D. Auyer, editor, established 1882.
Little Falls Transcript, weekly, W. M. Fuller, established 1877.
Morrison County Democrat, weekly, Cyrus D. Auyer, established 1886.
ROYALTON
Royalton Record, weekly, changed name to Royalton Banner, A. W. Swanson, editor, established 1884.
The first newspaper in Morrison county was the Northern Herald, established in Little Falls, 1856, suspended in 1858. The Little Falls Courier was established later, but discontinued and the Transcript took its place.
STEARNS COUNTY – MELROSE AND SAUK CENTRE
Herald and Record, weekly, C. F. Hendryx, established 1867.
SAUK CENTRE
Democrat, weekly, Barnum and Henshaw, established 1885.
Tribune, weekly, W. C. Brower, established 1873.
ST. CLOUD
Der Nordstern (German), weekly, Rosenberger & Remer, established 1874.
Journal-Press, weekly; W. Mitchell, established 1857.
Times, weekly, C. F. MeDonald, established 1861.
The first paper in St. Cloud, and in Stearns county, was styled the Minnesota Advertiser. The first number appeared Jan. 1, 1857, H. Cowles, editor, and James Mowatt, publisher. Mrs. Jane G. Swisshelm succeeded to the proprietorship in December, 1857, and changed the name to the St. Cloud Visitor, and edited it till the destruction of her press and material by a mob, March 24, 1858. The paper reappeared under new auspices and with the name changed to the Democrat. In 1866 W. B. Mitchell changed the name to the Journal. In 1876 he purchased the Press and consolidated it under the name of Journal-Press.
The St. Cloud Union was established in 1861, by C. C. Andrews, afterward a general in the Union Army and minister to Sweden and Norway. In 1862 Mr. Wood purchased the paper, but sold it in 1863 to Spafford & Simonton, who sold it in 1864 to R. C. Moore, who published it as the St. Cloud Times. In 1875 it was purchased by the present owner, C. F. McDonald.
The Nordstern was originally established by Peter E. Kaiser and Peter Brieke and has now a circulation of 25,000 copies.
SHERBURNE COUNTY – ELK RIVER
Sherburne County Star News, weekly, A. N. Dare, established 1875.
A. J. Clark started the Sherburne Weekly in 1867, and published it one year, when John W. Thompson started the Elk River News. The Sherburne County Star was established in 1875, and consolidated with the News in 1861.
ISANTI COUNTY – CAMBRIDGE
Isanti County Press, weekly, C. W. Van Wormer, established 1874.
BENTON COUNTY
Watab Reveille, weekly, J. W. Chasanack, editor, established 1850.
Free Press, weekly, A. De Lacy Wood, established 1885.
In 1854 Jeremiah Russell and George W. Benedict started the Sauk Rapids Frontiersman, and continued the publication three years, when the New Era made its appearance, published by W. H. Wood assisted by G. W. Benedict. The Era was afterward merged in the St. Cloud Times. In 1868 G. W. Benedict established the Sauk River Sentinel which, with a few changes, has continued to the present time.
ANOKA COUNTY – ANOKA
Anoka County Union, weekly, Granville S. Pease, established 1865.
Anoka County Herald, weekly, Alvah Eastman, established. 1865.
DAKOTA COUNTY – FARMINGTON
Dakota County Tribune, weekly, C. P. Carpenter, established 1884.
Hastings News, daily, D. F. Chamberlain, established 1881.
Hastings Banner, weekly, E. D. Barker, established 1865.
Hastings Gazette, weekly, Irving Todd, established 1857.
Hastings Bugle Call, monthly, Chamberlain & Smith, established 1886.
GOODHUE COUNTY – CANNON RIVER FALLS
Beacon, weekly, S. S. Lewis, established 1876.
KENYON
Leader, weekly, U. Curtis, established 1885.
PINE ISLAND
Journal, weekly, Holmes & Ingalls, established 1882.
RED WING
Red Wing Republican, daily, Red Wing Publishing Company, established 1885.
Red Wing Advance Sun, weekly, Red Wing Publishing Company, established 1884.
Red Wing Argus, weekly, C. L. Davis, established 1864.
ZUMBROTA
Independent, weekly, E. A. Mitchell, established 1875.
News, weekly, Thompson & Bradford, established 1877.
WABASHA COUNTY – MAZEPPA
Tribune, weekly, M. Schrane, established 1877.
PLAINVIEW
News, weekly, Ed. A. Paradis, established 1874.
Wabasha County Herald, weekly, O. F. Collier &.Co., established 1857.
Wabasha County Post, weekly, John P. W. Weller, established 1885.
WINONA COUNTY – ST. CHARLES
St. Charles Union, weekly, J. S. Whitten, established 1877.
Winona Republican, daily and weekly, Sinclair Publishing Company, established 1855.
Adler, weekly, Adler Publishing Company, established 1873.
Herald, weekly, Boynton & Metcalf, established 1869.
Westlicher Herald, weekly, Joseph Leicht, established 1881.
Wiarus (Polish), weekly, Wiarus Publishing Company, established 1885.