James J. Hill and His Oriental Rugs: A Practical Millionaire Page 15

Winter, 2001 V olum e 35, N um ber 4

Attacked by a Starving Wolf Four Sisters of St. Joseph and Their Mission to St. Paul —Page 4

u .s j Fr .r .exp a s u í l w y s -4 7 &49 PARALLEL'S. g en e ra l r e p ORT — PLATE I.

SAINT . PAUL M. T.

St. Paul as it looked in 1853, two years after four Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in St. Paul. This colored lithograph was produced as part of a United States government survey of Minnesota Territory. Ramsey County Historical Society collections. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Executive Director Priscilla Famham Editor Virginia Brainard Kunz

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Volume 35, Number 4 Winter, 2001 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Howard M. Guthmann Chair CONTENTS James Russell 3 Letters President Marlene Marschall 4 Attacked by a Starving Wolf First Vice President Four Sisters of St. Joseph and Their Mission to St. Paul Ronald J. Zweber Second Vice President Sister Ann Thomasine Sampson, CSJ Richard A. Wilhoit Secretary 15 The Practical Millionaire: Peter K. Butler James J. Hill and His Oriental Rugs Treasurer Lou A nn M atossian W. Andrew Boss, Peter K. Butler, Norbert Conze- mius, Anne Cowie, Charlotte H. Drake, Joanne A. 19 Growing Up in St. Paul Englund, Robert F. Garland, John M. Harens, Rod Hill, Judith Frost Lewis, John M. Lindley, A Child With an ‘Eye Problem’ and Those George A. Mairs, Marlene Marschall, Richard T. Vision Classes in the St. Paul Schools Murphy, Sr., Richard Nicholson, Linda Owen, Marvin J. Pertzik, Glenn Wiessner, Laurie Zenner. John Larson

EDITORIAL BOARD 2 6 Book Reviews John M. Lindley, chair; James B. Bell, Thomas H. Boyd, Thomas C. Buckley, Pat Hart, Thomas J. Kelley, Tom Mega, Laurie Murphy, Vicenta Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from Scarlett, G. Richard Slade. Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H. Cowie, Jr. and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Elmer L. Andersen, Olivia I. Dodge, Charlton Dietz, William Finney, William Fallon, Otis A Message from the Editorial Board Godfrey, Jr., Robert S. Hess, D. W. “Don” Larson, George Latimer, Joseph S. Micallef, ur Winter issue presents three diverse articles ranging in time from Minnesota’s Robert Mirick, Marvin J. Pertzik, J. Jerome Territorial period to the tum-of-the-century and on to the 1930s. In our lead article, Plunkett, James Reagan, Rosalie E. Wahl, O Donald D. Wozniak. Sister Ann Thomasine Sampson recounts the story of how four Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet came to St. Paul in 1851 and began their missionary work at this lonely out­ RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISIONERS post high on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi. Through her access to the details Commissioner Rafael Ortega, chairman found in the records of the Order and other sources, Sister Ann provides a compelling Commissioner Susan Haigh Commissioner Tony Bennett portrait of these four female pioneers, their religious loyalty and faith, and their persis­ Commissioner James McDonough tence in the face of great hardships. This is the story of the enduring influence of these Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt devoted missionaries on St. Paul in its earliest years. Commissioner Janice Rettman Commissioner Jan Wiessner From the poverty and hardships of the four Sisters of St. Joseph, the issue moves on to the opulence and splendor of the mansion that James J. Hill built on Summit Avenue Paul Kirkwold, manager, Ramsey County between 1887 and 1891. Writer and historian Lou Ann Matossian focuses on the Ori­ Ramsey County History is published quar­ ental mgs that Hill purchased to furnish his splendid home. By examining the available terly by the Ramsey County Historical records, Matossian shows that Hill, who could easily have afforded Oriental mgs of any Society, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minn. 55102 (651-222- cost, bought many medium-quality mgs that impressed visitors but showed that Hill 0701). Printed in U.S.A. Copyright, 2001, was what she calls “the practical millionaire.” The James J. Hill that emerges from her Ramsey County Historical Society. ISSN research is a man who spent only what he needed to on his mgs and avoided any that Number 0485-9758. All rights reserved. No might have qualified as works of art. part of this publication m ay be reprinted In our third article, John Larson’s “Growing Up in St. Paul” tells how he and his or otherwise reproduced without w ritten perm ission from the publisher. The Soci­ family dealt with the serious eye ailment he had in the 1920s and ’30s. He also recalls ety assumes no responsibility for statements with detail and good humor his experiences as a member of the Vision Class at Webster made by contributors. Fax 651-223-8539; School. Within the St. Paul Public Schools of that time, the Vision Class consisted of e-mail address [email protected].; web site all the students at a particular school who were blind or had other serious vision prob­ address www.rchs.com lems. Although Larson tells his story matter-of-factly, his account is an understated tribute to the caring and well-qualified teachers who helped him (and by inference other students) succeed in their studies in spite of their medical problems. John M. Lindley, Chair, Editorial Board

2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Books, Etc

A Man’s Reach accept. I did not dwell on problems. Elmer L. Andersen Somehow, I believed there would al­ : University of Minnesota Elmer L. ways be solutions.” This optimism per­ Press meates his autobiography. He writes with tenderness and inti­ 434 pages, index, $32.05 (cloth) ANTOERSTN macy about his marriage. “Eleanor and Reviewed by Charlton Dietz I developed a way of relating to each other that has suited us well for nearly Man’s Reach is more than an auto­ seventy years. We do not talk about biography of Elmer L. Andersen. It A everything. There ought to be a certain is an American primer on how a boy can mistique about love and marriage. Talk­ rise from humble circumstances to be­ ing about everything in great detail di­ come a successful businessman and a minishes mystery. Not all of life, of art, revered public servant. The book title of music, of anything should be thrown comes from the Robert Browning line, A MAN'SJ out on the table and tom apart and dis­ “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed membered. It is too precious. You sense his grasp, or what’s heaven for.” Indeed, music. You sense art. Some parts of life this is the story of a man who has REACH are better just experienced.” stretched his reach long and wide. E D ITED B Y L 0 'K I S T U R D £ V A N T Part n, ‘Taking Charge,” recounts how • Elmer L. Andersen, with editor Lori Elmer, as a thirty-two-year-old salesman, Sturdevant, has produced an exceptional "... a book on love, public service, respon­ became president of the H. B. Fuller volume which illuminates the philo­ sibility, accountability, ethical values and Company and embarked upon a business sophy and deeds of the man who was optimism for the future.” career that made Fuller an internationally salesman, industrialist, legislator, gov­ recognized industrial enterprise and ernor, farmer, publisher, collector, and brought him control of the company. philanthropist. It is about a man who music and books and marriage to When Fuller was going public in 1968, believes that nothing done to advance a Eleanor Anne Johnson. Elmer spoke with pride to a group of good cause can ever be counted as a The book is organized into four potential investors; one of them spoke loss, no matter the outcome; if a goal parts: (1) The Early Years, (2) Taking up: “That’s enough! You have so many has merit, an effort to pursue it is worth­ Charge, (3) Governor, and (4) Citizen [employee] benefits people won’t want while, if only to show those who come Andersen. These parts are subdivided to buy your stock. They’ll want a job.” later how not to proceed. Equally im­ into some thirty-seven topics, which The material on his tenure in the portant, it gives an insider’s view of sig­ makes it easy for the reader to identify will enthrall students nificant historical events. It is crisply with the subject matter. of Minnesota politics. He writes of his written in the first person and in a style “The Early Years” covers growing up legislative priorities in education, men­ that makes the author real to the reader. in Muskegon, Michigan, in a family tal health, welfare, and parks. He de­ This autobiography contains intimate consisting of his mother, two aunts, two scribes in fascinating detail his experi­ revelations. Elmer (the text refers to older brothers, and a younger sister. It is ences in practicing the art of politics, him as “Elmer”) tells us about his early a Horatio Alger story of hard work, ex­ the horse-trading, the strategy, personal family life, how his parents separated, cellence in school, religious upbringing, relationships, the patience and compro­ his early bout with polio, his quest for and overcoming adversity. His mother mise that it takes to advance a legisla­ education, his acquisition and control died when Elmer was fifteen. He ex­ tive agenda. Along the way, he became and management of the H. B. Fuller presses his feelings: “Somehow, I ac­ a maverick conservative (there was no Company, his experiences in politics cepted everything that came our way, party designation at that time), a status and travails as governor, his service as a without anger or depression. It was that caused him to end his legislative University of Minnesota regent, love of something that happened that I had to career. “I felt restive,” he said, “being

26 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY regarded as a leading member of the ma­ Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and Voyageurs National Park; how he con­ jority group while disagreeing with them Sugarloaf. vinced Arne Carlson to change his party so often.” This book is rich with personal anec­ affiliation to become a Republican; his But this respite from political office dotes about familiar events. He identifies summons to Washington during the Cuban was not to last, for in Part III, “Gover­ individuals with every event and gives his missile crisis. And there is so much more. nor,” Elmer takes us through his first two- personal views on the situation. With There is a strong family vein that runs year term as governor, intd> the 1962 re- only two or three exceptions, Elmer’s throughout the book. Elmer refers often election campaign, and through the personal assessments are genuinely posi­ and with reverence to his mother, and recount of 1963, which lasted four tive. One exception is Richard Nixon. In deference to his brothers, Arnold, Mar­ months until Karl Rolvaag was declared 1960 Elmer was seated next to Nixon at a vin, and sister Caroline. Wife Eleanor’s governor by ninety-one votes. Under­ campaign affair when Nixon commanded parents, Gustav and Elizabeth Johnson, standably, he extensively examines the the attention of the group, except for his are an integral part of the family in the charges of faulty highway construction wife, Pat, who had not caught her hus­ early years when Elmer was building the on 1-35. It was one of the rare times he band’s signal. Elmer writes, “Rather Fuller company. The Johnsons’ farm on lost his cool. At the highway dedication sharply he [Nixon] said, ‘Pat!’ The way Deer Lake in Wisconsin became the fam­ ceremony, he addressed the crowd: “I he called her to attention bothered me___ ily retreat and site of many family activi­ deeply resent the cheap, dirty politicians I thought, I am not going to like this ties, including Elmer’s serious dairy who, to get a few votes, have besmirched man—and I never did.” Of Hubert farming. Elmer writes with parental pride Minnesota’s good name.. . . The reason Humphrey, Elmer states that later en­ of son Tony’s rise to take the reins as Congressman Blatnik is not here is be­ counters with Hubert were “friendly,” but CEO of Fuller. One senses the satisfac­ cause he knows I would be shaking my “I, of course, had reason not to like him tion, perhaps relief, when he writes of finger high in his face and asking ques­ very much. He was the architect of my son Julian’s return from academia to tions he does not want to answer.” Elmer [1962] defeat.” The text contains addi­ manage the family ECM publishing com­ admits that it was the wrong approach. tional assessments of Humphrey. plex. And there is parental pride when He was too defensive. Later, Elmer From cover to cover, the narration is daughter Emily takes up the mantra of showed his usual gentleness in comment­ laced with names familiar to those who the Sugarloaf Interpretive Center on Lake ing on the victor, Karl Rolvaag: “I had know Minnesota politics and history— Superior. known Karl since my state senate days, Youngdahl, Stassen, Burger, Rosenmeir, Of course, A Man’s Reach will appeal and had always appreciated him as a Cowles, Dunn, Donovan, Devitt, Duren- to the historian. It is also a textbook for thoughtful, decent, well-meaning human berger, Dayton, Whitney, Hasselmo, Grun- the political scientist. Perhaps more im­ being.” seth, Freeman, Heller, Johnson, Lind­ portant, it is a book on love, public serv­ Part IV, “Citizen Andersen,” is a series berg, Mondale, Mooty, Naftalin, Pillsbury, ice, responsibility, accountability, ethical of vignettes about projects and causes Pease, Popovich, Sheran, Thye, Wright, values, and optimism for the future. that have occupied Elmer’s time and at­ McCarthy, Gainey, Fraser, Levander, Today Elmer contends with the in­ tention. He writes with passion about his Kunz, Quie, etc. firmities of age, failing eye sight and service on the University’s board of re­ He reveals publicly some facts for the physical debilitation from post-polio syn­ gents. “Making university governance as first time, such as how, at the urging of drome, yet he writes in his epilogue with strong as it can be is well worth whatever Chief Justice , he facili­ clarity and insight on current political effort and sacrifice it takes, because no tated the retirement of ailing Justice and social issues. He continues to exude institution is more important to Min­ Frank Gallagher from the state Supreme optimism, and concludes: “I foresee a nesota’s future than the University of Court by suggesting his replacement in wonderful century. It is certain to be Minnesota.” the person of . Historic marred by individual failures and terri­ With the purchase of the newspapers events take on new meaning with Elmer’s ble examples of inhumanity. But I am that formed ECM Publishers, Elmer em­ first person commentary: the appoint­ confident that the century will bring glo­ barked on a career that gave him “more ment of Edward Devitt to the federal rious examples of triumph of the human personal satisfaction . . . than in almost bench; his friendship with Nelson Rocke­ spirit___If we aim to release and encour­ anything else I have done.” With the feller and participation in the 1964 con­ age the creative powers of the people, Minnesota Historical Society, where he vention that nominated Goldwater; the great things are possible. I hope I will be served four years as president, he re­ resignation of University of Minnesota around to see some of them.” This is the counts with nostalgia his many endeavors president Malcolm Moos and the subse­ man’s reach. to enhance the preservation of the state’s quent appointment of Peter Magrath and history. The Ramsey County Historical later Ken Keller; how he manipulated the Charlton Dietz is the retired general Society receives mention, on page 343, in 1957 passage of the daylight savings bill; counsel for 3M, a former member o f the the effort to . preserve the Gibbs farm. how he accommodated the eccentricities board of directors o f the Ramsey County Other vignettes include Voyageurs Park, of Charles Lindberg to gain a personal Historical Society, and frequent reviewer Charles A. Lindberg, the University of friend and ally in the establishment of for this publication.

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 27 A sketch based on one of the oldest photographs of pioneer St. Paul as it looked in 1851 when the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived there. The log house on the right stands at Third and Robert Streets. Minnesota Historical Society collections. See article beginning on page 4.

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