Not much is known of White Bear prior to 1851. No human habitations, save those of Indians, were to be seen. There were no roads to this region, and none nearer than Little Canada. The lake itself seems to have been little known to white men.
J. Fletcher Williams, in a sketch contributed to the Pioneer, and to which we are indebted for many of our statements, says that Hugh I. Vance, a typo employed in the Pioneer office at that time, was probably about the first settler of White Bear; that in the spring of 1851 he wended his way to this region in search of a claim, selected a piece of land on Bald Eagle lake, erected a cabin, resided here with his family several years, and was probably the first man to drive a plowshare in this locality. Mr. Vance joined the Union Army in 1861, and with his two sons was killed in Missouri the year following. In the spring of 1851 V. B. Barnum selected a tract on the south shore of White Bear lake, and hired Geo. O. Nichols to run out the lines. Mr. Barnum entered one hundred and seventy-five acres. On this land he built a cabin near the present Leip House, which burned down in 1857. Jas. B. Clewett, one of the pioneers of St. Paul as early as 1840, drove his stakes at White Bear in the spring of 1851. He afterward built a house on the island, where he yet resides, a mile north of the lake. Soon after Wm. Freeborn and B. F. Hoyt entered a tract of land in sections 13 and 14. Isaac Banta built a cabin on it, near the point by the island, resided there three or four years, and moved to Forest Lake. This land was afterward bought by the Murray family. Thomas Milner came in about the same time. Daniel Getty came and located on the east side of the lake at a later day, becoming a resident of the village proper, of which he is now postmaster, superintendent of the Sunday-school, elder in the church, school trustee, etc.
Mr. Barnum opened a hotel, which he kept till 1856, and then sold out to John M. Lamb. In 1855 James F. Murray, his three sons and O. R. Stratton settled at White Bear. W. W. Webber, John Aubery, Joseph Freeman, Ross Wilkinson, Frank Perfect, Fred Whittaker, George Starbuck, Duncan Ross, Charlie A. Morgan, and others came here in 1857. The early settlers were much disturbed by roving bands of Chippewa and Sioux Indians. White Bear being debatable ground, and sometimes a battlefield between hostile parties. The Sioux claimed the right, under the treaty of 1851, to hunt, fish and gather berries and rice in that region. In the fall of 1855 a party of Sioux from Kaposia went by the lake on a hunting expedition. Near Oneka lake, a few miles above, they fell in with some Chippewas, one of whom they killed and scalped, but had two of their own number mortally wounded. Returning, they camped on Goose lake, just about where St. John's church was first built, and had a scalp dance, lasting two days and nights. It was from time immemorial a grand battle field for them. Hardly a foot of the soil around the lake but what has been ensanguined with the blood of the hereditary foes. Many are the tales told of their encounters. "Spirit Island" seems to have been the hardest fought spot, and to this day it is honeycombed with the remains of rifle pits, redoubts and earth works made by the contending parties, while innumerable bodies of the slain have enriched its soil. It is a perfect Golgotha—an island cemetery. If but a fraction of these savage combats and sieges were truly narrated, no romance could equal it in thrilling interest. These fierce combats continued as late as 1855.
Miss Mary Stiles, daughter of William Stiles, was the first white child born at White Bear. Miss Mary E. Barnum was married to Richard McLagan—being the first wedding which occurred at White Bear. 'Squire Jacob J. Noah, justice of the peace of St. Paul, tied the knot.
The first death was that of Clara Murray, aged four years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Murray, in July, 1856. J. G. Riheldaffer preached at the funeral service at Mr. Murray's house the first sermon in the settlement.
A lay Methodist named Hoffman held services on the Sabbath several times at Barnum's hotel.
A Baptist clergyman from Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin, named Messer, also occasionally held services in the early days, at the school house, a log house built in 1857.
The Episcopal church of St. John in the Wilderness was built in 1861 and consecrated in August of the same year. It was located at the lower end of the lake, but in 1874 was moved to its present site on Clarke avenue.
The Presbyterian church was organized May 28, 1864, with eight members, two of whom were elected ruling elders, James F. Murray and Daniel Getty. The corner stone of the present church edifice was laid Nov. 8, 1871, and the foundation laid in the following spring. The church was completed in 1872.
A Catholic church was built in 1879, on a block between First and Second streets and Bald Eagle avenue, in which services are held every two weeks.