The post office of White Bear was established in November, 1859, and J. C. Murray appointed postmaster.
The township of White Bear was organized May 11, 1858, with the following officers: Clerk, G. Schnabel; supervisor, J. F. Murray; assessor, V. B. Barnum; justices of the peace, J. R. Clewett and Alex. Pepin.
The village is easy of access, and abundantly supplied with railroad facilities. The St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Company has built a double track to St. Paul. This company built a road to Stillwater known as the Stillwater & White Bear railroad. There is in addition to this road an extension to Minneapolis known as the Minneapolis & White Bear railroad. The Sault Ste. Marie passes through the north part of the village.
WHITE BEAR LAKE
Is one of the most famous pleasure resorts in the vicinity of St. Paul. Its clear waters, gently sloping wooded shores, and the entire absence of marsh or swamp lands adjoining, render the situation at once pleasant and salubrious. It has an extreme length of 6-1/2 miles, and a width of 2-3/4. It has, according to survey meanders, a shore line of over 20 miles, and its area is 3,940 acres, or 62 square miles.
Beautiful parks surround the lake. Prominent among these are Wildwood Park and Mahtomedi, the latter renowned as a camp ground, and later as the site of a summer school, modeled after that at Chautauqua, and one of a system of schools of which the Chautauqua school is the principal and central institution. Spirit island, connected with the mainland by a bridge, is also a charming resort.
The lake shore is crowded with hotels and cottages for the use of summer visitors. Among these the Leip House is especially worthy of mention, the proprietor having beautified the grounds and built around the hotel a small village of cottages for excursionists. Other houses are the Ramaley, the Williams, the Chateaugay, the Dellwood, etc., with pleasant surroundings. The appearance of this resort during the summer months is one of great animation. Tourists and summer visitors crowd the hotel, or gather in groups along the lake shore, while the lake is dotted with their sailing vessels. A small steamer makes regular trips to points of interest about the lake.
White Bear Lake village was incorporated by the legislature in 1881, the following being chosen as the first officers under their charter: Daniel Getty, chairman of council; James C. Murray, Luke H. Bacon, Abel E. Leaman, and Fred W. Benson, councilmen; B. E. McGurk, recorder; H. K. Getty, treasurer; Wm. Clark, village justice; Reuben Clewett, marshal.
Daniel Getty was born in the north of Ireland in 1826. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish. He came with his parents to Philadelphia in 1832; was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of a cabinet maker. He came to White Bear in 1855, and opened the first store in the place. He has four sons associated with him in business. He has done much to promote the prosperity of White Bear, and by enterprise and close attention to business, both as a merchant and a dealer in real estate, he has been successful.