This document contains the text of a bill that was passed by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1857 to transfer the capital of Minnesota from St. Paul to St. Peter. This document has been determined to have been written at that time, but it is most likely a working copy of the document that was passed by the legislature. Joseph Rolette, a member of the legislature who was opposed to the transfer of the capitol, disappeared with the original bill and failed to return it in time for it to be properly signed by Territorial Governor Willis Gorman, who had, in the meantime, signed a copy of the document that Rolette had taken. Governor Gorman's action was declared to be illegal by a Judge R. R. Nelson, thus ending the attempt to move the capitol.
This photograph shows the Land Office building in St. Peter. The Land Office was located in St. Peter from 1858 until 1870 in several locations. The building shown in this photograph appears to be on the east side of Minnesota Avenue.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran James Magner. He served as a captain in Company I of the 28th Massachusetts Regiment. On May 18, 1864 Magner was killed during the battle of Spotsylvania.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran James Magner. He served as a captain in Company I of the 28th Massachusetts Regiment. On May 18, 1864 Magner was killed during the battle of Spotsylvania.
Portrait of Lt. Matthew F. Magner, a member of Company F of the 43rd Battalion of the Virginia Cavalry. This unit served with Mosby's Rangers in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The Magner family settled in Nicollet County prior to the war.
Portrait of St. Peter resident Lt. John Kinsman Hezlep, a member of the West Point Class of 1865 (where he graduated #14 in a class of 68). He was the son of George Hezlep, one of the members of the St. Peter Company, the group of men who founded the community of St. Peter. Hezlep served in the U.S. Infantry and Engineers and died in service of Yellow Fever on August 13, 1867 at Fort Morgan, Alabama.
Members of Captain Eugene St. Julien Cox's Company E of the First Mounted Rangers signed this document stating that they had received blankets and that they were responsible for their care and safe keeping. The document is dated November 22nd, 1862.
This muster roll of Company E of the First Mounted Rangers dated December 10th, 1862, lists Captain Eugene St. Julien Cox of St. Peter as its commander. The roll also contains the names of additional officers and the names of non-commissioned officers. 75 men are sequentially numbered as privates, and two additional names, without numbers, were apparently added later to the list.
On December 27th, 1862, Phiney Wells signed this document in St. Peter to enlist in the First Mounted Rangers. Wells stated that he was born in New York and that he was 25 years and eight months old. He listed his occupation as a farmer. Wells had blue eyes, dark hair, a light complexion, and was 5 feet 10 inches tall. The document was signed by D.R. Kennedy, who was the quartermaster of the regiment. Wells was obligated to serve for up to 12 months.
The Commissary Officer of the First Regiment of the Minnesota Mounted Rangers, First Lieutenant Edward D. Cobb, wrote this note to Captain Eugene St. Julien Cox, Captain of Company E of the Rangers, from Fort Snelling on March 21, 1863, in response to a request for supplies from Cox. Captain Cox had requested a number of items, including horses, tents, jackets, socks, boots, haversacks, canteens, axes, kettles, spades, mess pans, hatchets, and picks. Cobb informed Cox that some of the items were available, but that some items could not be supplied at once. He also said that Cox was to take the lame horses from his company to Fort Ridgely, where they would be inspected and certified as lame. Cox could then submit a requistion for additional horses.
This document, dated May 11th, was sent to Eugene St. Julien Cox of St. Peter, who was the Captain of Company E of the First Mounted Rangers. The document addressed Cox as a major, but various records indicate that his highest rank was that of captain. Cox was ordered to include Sibley County in the sub-district for which he was responsible. He was also informed that a new squad had been organized in New Ulm, and that ""trappers report Indians plenty west of here."" The letter was sent from Mankato by Second Lieutenant and Adjutant George A. Clarke. The document appears to have an 1865 date, but Cox served from December 10, 1862, until November 11, 1863, and Clarke served from December 20, 1861, until December 20, 1864. It therefore appears that the document was sent in 1863.
This photograph shows the construction of the Nicollet County Courthouse in St. Peter, which is located on the east side of the 500 block of South Minnesota Avenue. Construction began in 1880 and was completed in July of 1881.
This photograph shows the Nicollet County Poor Farm in Granby Township, which was located on the north side of Swan Lake, south of the Fort Road, which is today's County Road 5. It was on the west side of County Road 4.
This photograph shows soldiers from St. Peter's Company I of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at their mess tent at an encampment in Winona.
Members of Company I of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at their camp in Winona in 1883. The company was based in St. Peter. Names of the soldiers appear on the reverse side of the photograph.
Members of St. Peter's Company I of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard in front of the home of Gideon S. Ives in St. Peter. The names of most of the soldiers are on the reverse. The company existed from 1883 to 1893.
This photograph shows Jared W. Daniels in his uniform as a member of St. Peter's Company I of the Second Minnesota Infantry Regiment. This National Guard unit was based in St. Peter from 1883 to 1893.
This photograph shows Paul Haesecke in his uniform as a member of St. Peter's Company I of the Second Minnesota Infantry Regiment. This National Guard unit was based in St. Peter from 1883 until 1893.
This photograph shows a group of soldiers from St. Peter's Company I of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at an encampment in Winona.
This photograph shows the members of Company I of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard from St. Peter at an encampment at Waseca in 1884. Company I was formed in 1883, and was disbanded in 1893.
This photo shows members of St. Peter's Company I of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at their camp in Winona on July 7, 1884.
This photograph shows several named members of Company I of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at a camp in Faribault in 1885. The company was based in St. Peter.
This photograph shows the Nicollet County Courthouse in St. Peter. To its north (at far left) is the Gorman Building, which was demolished in order to construct the Carnegie Library. Two ladies can be seen walking on the boardwalks.
Members of Company I of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at their camp in New Ulm in 1886. The company was based in St. Peter. J. C. Donahower and A. R. Davis are identified on the photo.
This photograph shows some of the soldiers of St. Peter's Company I at an encampment in the vicinity of Red Wing in 1888. They were part of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. Company I was formed in 1883, and was disbanded in 1893.
This 1890 photograph shows the exterior of the Nicollet County Courthouse in St. Peter. To its left is the Gorman building, which was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Mulberry street.
Members of St. Peter's Company I of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard at an encampment at Lake City. Five soldiers are named on the reverse side of the photograph.
Civil War veterans of St. Peter's A. K. Skaro Post 37 of the Grand Army of the Republic with their banner. Gideon S. Ives, the post commander, is in front.
Members of the Ladies' Circle of the A. K. Skaro Post of the Grand Army of the Republic in St. Peter. Surnames include: Clark, Evenson, Gresham, Hoefer, Ives, and several others.
Three veterans of the Spanish-American War from St. Peter and local businessmen pose informally. In the front row, from left to right, they are: Frank Magner, Oliver Quane, and Charlie Key. St. Peter Herald owner Henry Essler is the man in the middle of the back row.
This photograph shows William Jennings Bryan speaking from a stage in St. Peter. The stage faced east and was located on Park Row, at its intersection with Minnesota Avenue, along the south side of the Nicollet Hotel. The photo is dated Oct. 2, 1900.
This photo shows William Jennings Bryan speaking in St. Peter. The City Bakery and Restaurant in the background was located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Park Row.
This photograph shows William Jennings Bryan speaking in St. Peter in 1900. Bryan is standing on a platform on Park Row, at its intersection with Minnesota Avenue. A flag is visible on top of the Nicollet Hotel.
This postcard shows the I. O. O. F. building in St. Peter on the southeast corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Grace street, facing Minnesota Avenue. St. Peter's Post Office was located in the building.
This postcard shows the St. Peter Public Library, which was located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Mulberry street.
View of cavalry soldiers galloping south on Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter, between Nassau and Grace Streets. This image was made from a glass plate negative.
This image was made from a glass plate negative. It shows cavalry soldiers galloping south on Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter, between Nassau and Grace Streets. The building with the meat market later became the site of the offices of the St. Peter Herald newspaper.
A column of soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard moving along a road between the Mississippi River and a railroad embankment near Camp Lakeview at Lake City.
This postcard shows the targets and the pit at the rifle range at Camp Lakeview at Lake City. Soldiers belonging to the Minnesota National Guard practiced there.
Members of Company K of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. The men are facing north at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Grace street in St. Peter. The unit was created in 1908. Several business buildings along Minnesota Avenue are visible.
This 1908 postcard shows the members of Company K of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard in formation across Minnesota Avenue at Grace street in St. Peter. They are facing north. The courthouse is at far left. At right is the Ribble photograph gallery.
This postcard shows members of St. Peter's Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. John Ryan is the fourth man from the left.
This postcard shows August LaCroix, at left, and Frank Key, at right, at their tent with their equipment. These St. Peter men belonged to Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard.
This postcard shows Herman Turner, a member of St. Peter's Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard, in his uniform. The company was formed in 1908.
St. Peter members of the Ladies' Circle of the A. K. Skaro Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Surnames include: Burg, Hoefer, Laumann, McCabe, Volk, and several others.
Members of St. Peter's Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. Herbert Simmons, Herbert Schade, Louis Vandiver, and Maurice Peterson are listed on the reverse of the postcard.
This postcard shows several members of St. Peter's Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. From the left, numbers 5, 6, and 7 are: John Ryan, Maurice Peterson, and Herbert Simmons.
Portrait of cook J. A. Johnson, musician R. Erickson, and private H. Hanson, who were members of Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard training at Sparta, Wisconsin.
This postcard shows the soldiers of St. Peter's Company K of the Second Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. Lt. E. E. Miller is seated at left in the front row. Capt. Frank Magner is seated in the middle of the front row.