Mr. Neill has been a busy worker in literary, chiefly historical, fields. Editions of his "History of Minnesota" were published in 1858, 1873 and 1878. He has published many other valuable historical works. He is a ready and versatile writer, and is an authority on the subjects concerning which he treats. Mr. Neill was married to Nancy Hill, at Snow Hill, Maryland. Their children are Samuel Henry, Edward Duffield and John Selby Martin.
John Wensignor, a native of Switzerland, was born May 22, 1825; came to America in 1833, to St. Anthony Falls in 1849, and engaged successfully in mercantile pursuits. Mr. Wensignor has been a generous man to the poor, and although public spirited, has persistently declined office. Mr. Wensignor died in 1886.
Robert H. Hasty was born in York county, Maine, Dec. 12, 1823. He came to Stillwater in 1849, and engaged in lumbering. He was surveyor general of the First district two years. He enlisted in Company I, Sixth Minnesota, at the organization of the regiment in 1862, was commissioned second lieutenant, promoted to first lieutenant, and resigned Jan. 15, 1865. In 1881 he removed to Crystal Lake, Minnesota.
Stephen Pratt, a native of Penobscot county, Maine, was born, in 1828; came to St. Anthony Falls in October, 1849, where he followed lumbering until 1858. He was a member of the First Minnesota Cavalry during the Rebellion. In 1864 he removed to a farm. He died in 1887.
Capt. John Tapper was born in Dorsetshire, England, March 25, 1820; came to America in 1840, and to Prairie du Chien and Fort Snelling in 1844. He served as a soldier during the Mexican War. He was the first toll collector on the St. Anthony Falls wire suspension bridge. He finally located on Steele's farm near Minnehaha falls, and is now living in Clayton county, Iowa.
R. W. Cummings was born in Lycoming, Pennsylvania, June, 1825. He settled at Cottage Grove, Minnesota, in 1845, and in 1848 made a claim in St. Anthony, and improved it as a farm until the city required it for lots, since which time he has been engaged in the real estate business.
Elias H. Conner was born in New Sharon, Maine, in 1824. In 1848 he came to Lakeland, Minnesota, and in 1849 to St. Anthony Falls, where he had charge of the work on the first suspension thrown across the Mississippi at that point. He also built the first bridge that spanned the St. Croix at Taylor's Falls. In 1855 he was married to Hannah Rollins.
C. F. Stimson was born in Maine, April 19, 1822. He came to Stillwater in June, 1848, and thence to St. Anthony Falls, where he followed lumbering. He was treasurer of Ramsey county for one year. In 1879 he moved to his farm near Elk River. He has a wife and two children.
William Dugas was born in Three Rivers, Canada East, May 17, 1809. He came to New York in 1831. He spent some time traveling, visiting Africa, New Orleans, Indian Territory, Iowa, and Illinois, and other places more or less remote. He came to Minnesota in 1844, and was a representative in the first territorial legislature. Later he removed to St. Anthony Falls. He afterward removed to Dayton, Minnesota. He was married at Prairie du Chien in 1844.
Davis Gorham was born in Quebec; came to Virginia, where he spent two years, and thence to Maine, where he lived twelve years. In April, 1849, he came to St. Anthony Falls, and made valuable land claims near Lake Calhoun. He followed lumbering for about twelve years. In 1864 he started for California, but was driven back by the Sioux Indians. In 1867 he settled in Plymouth, where he has been supervisor for ten years.