• Clear Filters

Ramsey County History – Fall 1969: “The Letters of Samuel Pond, Jr.: Students Cooked Their Food, Built Their Fires”

Samuel W. Pond Jr.

The Letters of Samuel Pond, Jr.: Students Cooked Their Food, Built Their Fires Author: Samuel W. Pond Jr. Samuel Pond was a student at the University of Minnesota in the late 1860s and early 1870s. Many letters he wrote to his brother Judson, back home in Shakopee,…

Ramsey County History – Spring 1969: “Orders, Letters, Lists of Possessions: Colonel Snelling’s Journals”

Virginia Brainard Kunz

Orders, Letters, Lists of Possessions: Colonel Snelling’s Journals Author: Virginia Brainard Kunz A recounting of life and the historical significance of Fort Snelling. The excerpts, joined by explanatory text, touch on death by disease, military discipline, relations with Native Americans, planned participation in a duel, Snelling’s transfer…

Ramsey County History – Spring 1969: “Summer Evenings, a Smudge Kettle, Tallow Candles—And Farm Life Recalled”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

Summer Evenings, a Smudge Kettle, Tallow Candles—And Farm Life Recalled Author: Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte A short memoir written by the youngest daughter of Jane and Heman Gibbs about her years in the 1870s during summer evenings after all the chores were done and family members gathered in…

Ramsey County History – Fall 1968: “Silver Lake Childhood – Revisited”

William F. Morgan

Silver Lake Childhood – Revisited Author: William F. Morgan A very brief memoir of the author’s childhood spent at Silver Lake in North St. Paul. PDF of Morgan article…

Ramsey County History – Fall 1968: “Spring Wagons and No Roads: A Pioneer Family’s Sunday”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

Spring Wagons and No Roads: A Pioneer Family’s Sunday Author: Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte A short reminiscence left by the youngest child (born 1865) of Jane and Heman Gibbs about Sundays in the 1870s in St. Anthony Park and the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota.

Ramsey County History – Spring 1968: “From A Pioneer Farmer: Memories of Those Early Years Make ‘A Chill Run Up My Back’”

John D. Schofield

From A Pioneer Farmer: Memories of Those Early Years Make ‘A Chill Run Up My Back’ Author: John D. Schofield “The days were too short for the work that must be done, the nights too short for the needed rest.” John Schofield came to St. Paul in…

Ramsey County History – Fall 1967: “Memories of The University—1870s”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

Memories of The University—1870s Author: Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte Lillie Gibbs grew up on what became Ramsey County Historical Society’s Gibbs Farm at Larpenteur and Cleveland Avenues in Falcon Heights. At age seventy-nine, she wrote her memories of the University of Minnesota in the 1870s.

Ramsey County History – Spring 1967: “Early Explorers’ Trails Criss-Crossed Today’s’ Ramsey County”

Ramsey County Historical Society

Early Explorers’ Trails Criss-Crossed Today’s’ Ramsey County Author: Alan R. Woolworth A summary of the deeds of explorers who passed through or near Ramsey County (the piece in fact covers Minnesota generally) before 1840, including LeSueur, Carver, Hennepin, Pike, Long, Cass, Schoolcraft, and Nicollet. PDF…

Ramsey County History – Spring 1967: “The Saga of Charley Pitts’ Body”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

The Saga of Charley Pitts’ Body Charley Pitts was part of the James-Younger gang that robbed the First National Bank in Northfield in September 1876. He was killed by a posse two weeks later. His body was exhibited at the Minnesota Capitol. What became of it after that? In…