Catalog
Ramsey County History – Fall 1985: “Farming in the Shadow of the Cities: The Not-So-Rural History of Rose Township Farmers, 1850–1900”
Kendra DillardFarming in the Shadow of the Cities: The Not-So-Rural History of Rose Township Farmers, 1850–1900 Author: Kendra Dillard The story of farming in the shadow of the city of St. Paul focuses on the Gibbs Farm and the Gibbs family history as an example of agriculture’s relation to nearby…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1984: “Horse-and-Wagon Dairyman: Harry Schroeder’s Dairy”
Cathy DalglishHorse-and-Wagon Dairyman: Harry Schroeder’s Dairy Author: Cathy Dalglish Henry Schroeder came to St. Paul as a penniless man in 1875, and, a century later, the business he created had annual sales of $20 million. Along with his brother Herman, they established routes, selling their milk and surplus product bought…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1981: “Beer Capital of the State—St Paul’s Historic Family Breweries”
Gary J. BrueggemannBeer Capital of the State—St Paul’s Historic Family Breweries Author: Gary J. Brueggemann St. Paul had the largest German population in the state and, by 1887, contained twelve operating breweries. St. Paul had barley and hops-growing regions nearby, plenty of good water, and cool caves for aging. The first…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1979: “The Liberated Woman Patrick O’Brien Married”
Michael MaherThe Liberated Woman Patrick O’Brien Married Author: Michael Maher Fannie Higgins worked in her youth as a dressmaker in Hudson, Wisconsin. The same cache of family letters that inspired the previous article about Patrick O’Brien also yields a portrait of Fannie Higgins and her times. She was independent, a…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1979: “A Grandson Describes: The O’Briens’ House on George Street”
George A. ReaA Grandson Describes: The O’Briens’ House on George Street Author: George A. Rea The author remembers his grandparents, Patrick and Fannie O’Brien, and their big house (still standing) at 255 George Street. Initially they lived on Irvine Park, but grandfather “decided to move the day a neighbor’s bantam chickens…
Ramsey County History – Spring/Summer 1975: “James J. Hill: A Search for the Man Behind the Legend”
Virginia Brainard KunzJames J. Hill: A Search for the Man Behind the Legend Author: Virginia Brainard Kunz Late in his life James J. Hill remarked, “I’ve made my mark on the surface of the earth and they [the U.S. Supreme Court] can’t wipe it out.” He knew he’d been a titan.
Ramsey County History – Fall 1973: “Memories of Early St. Paul: Perilous Escape from Fire down Eighty-Foot Bluff”
Mrs. George R. Becker with George A. ReaMemories of Early St. Paul: Perilous Escape from Fire down Eighty-Foot Bluff Authors: Mrs. George R. Becker with George A. Rea The author’s father and uncle, August and Charles Mueller, were working in a downtown tailor shop when fire broke out on May 17, 1870. To save themselves they…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1972: “Introduction: Anna Ramsey’s Letters”
Anna E. RamseyIntroduction: Anna Ramsey’s Letters Author: Anna E. Ramsey Anna Ramsey was the wife of Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota’s first territorial governor. Over 200 of her letters survive. The excerpts published here provide “a survey of various aspects of Mrs. Ramsey’s life.” These include her sense of humor, her relations with…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1971: “Wife, Mother—Doing the Work Of Six: ‘For The Sake Of Being Supported’”
Bonnie EllisWife, Mother—Doing the Work Of Six: ‘For The Sake Of Being Supported’ Author: Bonnie Ellis Women’s work in the late nineteenth century—cleaning, cooking, mending, ironing, slopping, sewing, planning—to say nothing (and nothing is said) of child care. The article describes in some detail the physical work of homemaking in…