Fifty Years In The Northwest

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. The Stillwater Water Company was organized April 15, 1880, with a capital stock of $100,000, and commenced at once the work of improvement. This company has never yet declared a dividend, having applied all its surplus earnings upon improvements. They have now 8 1/2 miles of water mains, 88 hydrants and about 260 taps. The water supply is obtained from Lake McKusick, which is supplied from Brown's creek. The lake is 155 feet above the business portion of the city and is about a mile distant from the same. The water is pumped into a reservoir on the highest spot of ground in the city, which is 110 feet above the lake. The system is similar to that of St. Paul, the city being supplied in part by gravitation, and in part by direct pressure. The elevation of the reservoir results in a saving to the city in the matter of fire engines, etc. Any fire in the business part of the city can be extinguished with the use of hose alone. One fire engine answers the purposes of the city. The first board of officers were: President, Edward Durant; vice president, R. F. Hersey; secretary and treasurer, H. W. Cannon. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Futile efforts had been made as early as 1859 for the organization of a fire department. In 1872 a fire company of sixty was organized and an engine worth $7,500 was purchased. The first officers of the company were: Chief engineer, David Bronson; first assistant, B. G. Merry; second assistant, H. P. West; engineer, C. C. Johnson; secretary; N. T. Lee; treasurer, Fayette Marsh. THE ST. CROIX HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY Was organized in 1872, by the election of the following officers: Foreman, Charles McMillan; assistant, D. B. Loomis; secretary and treasurer, A. K. Doe. The company has received awards of honor for meritorious performance of duty. STILLWATER GASLIGHT COMPANY. This company was organized May 12, 1874, with a capital stock of $25,000 and the exclusive right to the sale and manufacture of gas for a period of forty years. Their buildings are located on Third street. The first officers were: President, Isaac Staples; manager, H. W. Cannon; board of directors, John McKusick, D. M. Sabin, Isaac Staples, David Bronson, L. E. Torinus, H. W. Cannon, C. H. Nash. TELEGRAPH OFFICE. In 1863 a telegraph office was located in Stillwater by a A. C. Lull, and a line extended to St. Paul. The office is on Main street between Chestnut and Myrtle. THE NATIONAL BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY Established a line from Stillwater to St. Paul in January, 1880. It has a branch to Marine. UNION ELEVATOR COMPANY Built an elevator near the Stillwater & White Bear depot in 1870-71. It has a capacity of 300,000 bushels. The officers are: President, Louis Huspes; secretary and treasurer, H. W. Cannon. EXPRESS COMPANIES. The first office was established by the Northwestern Express Company, in 1855; Short, Proctor & Co. were agents. This company was succeeded in 1858 by the American, and in 1869 the United States also established an office here. THE STILLWATER BRIDGE. A charter was obtained from the legislature in 1875 to build a bridge across Lake St. Croix, from Stillwater to Houlton. The bridge was completed the ensuing year at a cost of $24,000. It is 1,500 feet long, and is furnished with a pontoon draw 300 feet in length, operated by an engine. LUMBERING INTERESTS. Stillwater is the metropolis of the lumbering interests of the St. Croix valley, and is indebted to them chiefly for its welfare. These are considered separately in other parts of this history. The local interests are centred chiefly in mills and manufactories, of themselves an important element in the prosperity of the city. The principal proprietors of the saw mills since the first settlement of Stillwater have been McKusick & Co., Sawyer & Heaton, McHale. & Co., Schulenberg & Co., Hersey, Staples & Co., Hersey, Bean & Brown, Isaac Staples, Seymour, Sabin & Co., Herschey Lumbering Company and Turnbull Lumbering Company. FLOURING MILLS. In 1872 J. H. Townshend and W. F. Cahill erected a flouring mill on Third street. It was run by water brought from McKusick creek, the motive power being an overshot wheel forty-five feet in diameter. In 1880 D. M. Sabin became interested in the firm. The capacity of the mill was increased from fifty to three hundred barrels per day. A Corliss engine and other improvements were added, and the mill was run on the Hungarian roller system. The firm name was changed to Townshend & Co. The St. Croix flouring mill was built in 1877, on Upper Main street, near the lake, by Isaac Staples. Its dimensions were 40 × 50 feet. Its capacity was two hundred and fifty barrels per day. It was removed to make way for the buildings of the Car Company. The Stillwater Flour Mill Company was organized under state laws in 1878, and mills were erected on the lower levee, 50 × 70 feet, ground plan, and five stories high. These mills were run on the Hungarian roller system. The cost was $100,000. Their capacity is four hundred