Fifty Years In The Northwest - Part 46
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Part 46

Gorgas, 1858; T. M. Fullerton, 1859; Mahlon Black, 1860-61; F. R.

Delano, 1862; David Bronson, 1863-64; Wm. Grover, 1865; C. J. Butler, 1868; Wm. Holcombe, 1869-70; Wm. McKusick, 1871-72; A. K. Doe, 1873; Wm. G. Bronson, 1874-75-76; E. W. Durant, 1877; John S. Proctor, 1878-79-80; Samuel Mathews, 1881-82-83-84; Hollis R. Murdock, 1885; Isaac Staples, 1886; George M. Seymour, 1887-88.

CITY MARSHALS.

The following is a complete list of city marshals since 1854: Jonathan E. McKusick, 1854; John Parker, 1855; John Cilly, 1856; Dennis Sullivan, 1557; Robert Hasty, 1858; Thomas Sinclair, 1859; Duncan Chisholm, 1860-61-62-63; John Shortall, 1864-65; John May, 1866, six months; P. E. Keefe, 1867; John May, 1868, six months; John Shortall, 1869; H. McIntyre, 1870; Duncan Chisholm, 1871; John Lyons, 1872-3, eighteen months; Mathew Shortall, 1873, and continuously to the present time. Mr. Shortall's long term of office proves him an effective and popular officer. F. L. McKusick is police court officer.

He is a veteran of the police force and has acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the people of Stillwater.

THE POST OFFICE,

Established in 1845, was located first at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets. The first postmaster was Elam Greely. His successors were John McKusick, John S. Proctor, Harley D. Curtis, Mahlon Black, Abraham Van Voorhes, H. D. Cutler, E. J. b.u.t.ts, and ---- McCarthy.

During 1845 a citizens' mail was brought from Point Douglas. Its regularity depended somewhat on the season. During the winter it was brought some times as infrequently as once a month. In 1846 a government line was established from Point Douglas, and the mail was brought with greater regularity. In 1848 a mail coach line was established between Stillwater and St. Paul. The year following a weekly mail was established. The rapid increase of settlements on the Upper Mississippi created a demand for more frequent mails; consequently from 1850 to the completion of the railroad leading into Stillwater, a daily mail was brought into Stillwater during the summer by steamboats, and by the Wisconsin overland route during the winter.

RAPID GROWTH.

As an evidence of the growth of the city we append post office statistics of salaries, expenses and income for the year 1885:

RECEIPTS.

Sales of postage stamps, envelopes, newspaper wrappers, postal cards, etc. $12,693 34 Box rent received 2,166 25 ----------- Total $14,859 59

EXPENSES.

Postmaster's salary $2,400 00 Expenses for rent, fuel, lights, clerk hire, etc. 3,300 00 $5,700 00 ---------- Net income $9,159 59

MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.

Received for domestic orders $30,305 62 Received for fees on same 131 50 Received for international orders 1,518 81 Received for fees on same 24 95 ---------- $31,980 88 Money orders paid $24,140 88 Certificates of deposit 7,840 00 $31,980 88

REGISTRY BUSINESS.

Domestic and foreign letters and packages registered 1,621 Registered matter in transit 2,327 ----- Total pieces handled 3,948

Number of pouches dispatched daily 24 Number of pouches dispatched semi-weekly 2 Number of pouches received daily 24 Number of pouches received semi-weekly 2

HOTELS.

The following hotels were built in Stillwater prior to 1850:

Northrup House, built by Anson Northrup, northwest corner Main street and Nelson alley, 1844.

Stillwater House, built by Anson Northrup, lot 2, Main street, 1845.

Minnesota House, built by Elam Greeley, southwest corner Main and Myrtle, 1846.

Lake House, built by John W. Brewster, east side of Main street between Nelson and Chestnut, 1849.

Of the hotels built subsequently to 1850, the most popular and well known is the Sawyer House, on the northwest corner of Chestnut and Third streets. It was built in 1857, by Henry Sawyer, opened by G. E.

B. Whitcher, and kept in succession by J. and A. Lowell, Isaac Staples, A. Lowell and A. K. Doe. The other hotels built during this period were the Liberty House, by John N. Ahl, 1856; Farmers Home, 1867; Williams House, 1870; Wexio Hotel, 1870; the Keystone House, 1872; the Mansion House, 1872; Central House, 1879; Elliott's Hotel, 1883.

CITY BANKS.

To Christopher Carli is due the honor of conducting the first banking operations in Stillwater. In 1855 he issued and redeemed fractional currency. Darling, Caswell & Scheffer, Jan. 27, 1857, opened a private banking house, and from 1859 to 1865 operated it as a state bank, when it was changed into the

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

of Stillwater. The capital stock was $50,000. The first officers were: Charles Scheffer, president; O. R. Ellis, cashier. The officers in 1886 were: Louis Hospes, president; C. N. Nelson, vice president; F.

M. Prince, cashier. The capital stock is $250,000. The gross amount of debits and credits during the year closing June 3, 1886, were $20,000,000. We append the annual report of 1886:

RESOURCES.

Loans and discounts $727,286 70 Overdrafts 1,745 82 United States bonds to secure circulation 50,000 00 Due from approved reserve agents $30,999 72 Due from other national banks 4,266 85 Due from state banks and bankers 3,491 48 38,758 05 Real estate, furniture and fixtures 12,000 00 Current expenses and taxes paid 11,108 56 Premiums paid 9,000 00 Checks and other cash items 1,662 91 Bills of other banks 1,295 00 Fractional paper currency, nickels and pennies 77 07 Specie 33,392 00 Legal tender notes 17,440 00 53,866 98 Redemption fund with United States treasurer (five per cent of circulation) 2,250 00 ----------- Total $906,016 11

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock paid in $250,000 00 Surplus fund 60,000 00 Undivided profits 25,617 60 National bank notes outstanding 45,000 00 Dividends unpaid 20 00 Individual deposits subject to check $236,095 72 Demand certificates of deposit 6,305 93 Time certificates of deposit 224,223 41 Cashier's checks outstanding 679 95 Due to other national banks 3,507 67 Due to state banks and bankers 5,266 78 476,079 46 Notes and bills rediscounted 49,299 05 ---------- Total $906,016 11

LUMBERMAN'S NATIONAL BANK,

Organized Jan. 10, 1871. Capital stock, $150,000. First officers: Isaac Staples, president; H. W. Cannon, cashier. In 1886 the bank had in capital stock $250,000 and a surplus of $50,000. The present officers are: President, Isaac Staples; vice president, R. F. Hersey; board of directors, Isaac Staples, R. F. Hersey, E. S. Edgerton, David Tozer, E. W. Durant, David Bronson, J. McKusick, Matt Clark, Wm. G.

Bronson, E. L. Hersey, R. S. Davis.

STILLWATER SAVINGS BANK,

Organized Jan. 10, 1873, under an act of the legislature of 1867, with the following board of trustees: Isaac Staples, president; David Bronson, Dwight M. Sabin, Lewis E. Torinus, Wm. Willim, I. E. Staples, and H. W. Cannon.

ST. CROIX LUMBERMEN'S BOARD OF TRADE

Was incorporated March 8, 1867. The first officers were: President, David Cover; vice president, Louis Hospes; secretary, E. W. Durant; treasurer, David Bronson, Jr.; surveyor, Ivory E. McKusick.

STILLWATER BOARD OF TRADE.

The board was organized in January, 1871. The first officers were: President, David Bronson; vice president, C. J. Butler; secretary, D.

W. Armstrong; treasurer, C. N. Nelson; board of directors, John McKusick, Isaac Staples, J. E. Schlenk, J. O'Shaughnessy, M. Moffatt, E. W. Durant, J. N. Castle, B. G. Merry, G. M. Seymour, L. E. Torinus.

STILLWATER WATER COMPANY.

The site of the city abounds in beautiful springs. Charles Hathaway, while excavating on his lot near Third street, struck a large vein capable of supplying 1,000 barrels per day. He constructed a reservoir with an elevation of about fifty feet above the street, and from this source supplies the city with water for sprinkling streets and other purposes.