part in political affairs. He was secretary of the first editorial

association in Connecticut, and started and conducted for a year the

first daily penny paper in the State. He was one of the originators of

the reform school and an efficient promoter of its interests.

He came to St. Paul in 1853, where he was first associated with Joseph

R. Brown in the editorial department of the _Pioneer_, but the

following spring, in company with others, started the _Daily Times_,

which he edited until 1860, when he leased the material to W. R.

Marshall. The _Press_ was the outgrowth of this movement. He was one

of the founders of the Republican party in the State and was sole

delegate of his party in Minnesota to the Pittsburgh national

convention.

At the outbreak of the Rebellion he entered the service of his

country, was commissioned commissary of subsistence and subsequently

appointed acting assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain. At

one time he was chief commissary at St. Cloud. He left the army with a

splendid record for honesty and capacity, with the brevet rank of

major, conferred for meritorious service, and the offer of a position

in the regular army, which he declined. In 1866 he was commander and

president of a company which explored the Vermillion Lake region

prospecting for precious metals. He was the first to assay the iron

ores, now so famous, in that region. In later years we find him

prospecting amongst the Black Hills, enjoying the wild life of the

frontier and devoting some attention to literature. While there he

wrote a drama of "Life in the Hills" and delivered lectures at various

times and places, achieving in this line an enviable success. Since

this period he has written and published an interesting work, entitled

"Thrilling Scenes Among the Indians," drawn from his own observation

and experience; also "Pen Pictures and Biographical Sketches of Old

Settlers of St. Paul, from 1838 to 1857," a rich and racy book of

seven hundred and thirty-two pages, in which the driest biographical

details are enlivened with amusing anecdotes and witty comments, in

which naught is set down in malice, but every line glows with the

genial spirit of the author. He has in contemplation another volume on

the same subject. He has also published "Heleopa," "Indian Legends"

and "Recollections of Eminent Men." Maj. Newson is a man of varied and

miscellaneous gifts. He is a ready writer, a fluent and eloquent

speaker, a journalist, a historian and the oldest editor in Minnesota.

He is corresponding secretary of the National Editorial Association,

and the first and only honorary member of the State Fire Association;

he is a geologist, mineralogist and assayer, a member of the G. A. R.,

of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, and of the Junior Pioneers. He

is broad-gauged and popular in his views and positive in the

expression of his opinions. He was married to Miss Harriet D. Brower,

in Albany, New York, in 1857, and has a family of five girls and one

boy, May, Hattie, Nellie, Jessie, Grace, and T. M. Newson, Jr.

[Illustration: MAJ. T. M. NEWSON, THE OLDEST EDITOR IN THE STATE.]

[Illustration: CAPT. HENRY A. CASTLE, ONE OF MINNESOTA'S PIONEER

EDITORS.]

COL. ALVAREN ALLEN was born in New York in 1822; came to Wisconsin in

1837, and to St. Anthony Falls in 1857, where he engaged in the

livery, staging and express business. In 1859 he followed railroading;

in 1873 he bought Col. Shaw's interest in the Merchants Hotel of St.

Paul, for $40,000, and Col. Potter's interest for $275,000, property

now held at $500,000. In 1887 he rented the property to Mr. Welz. Col.

Allen is a genial man, and has friends all over the continent. He was

the second mayor of St. Anthony Falls, and has held various public

positions in St. Paul.

[Illustration: H. P. HALL.]

HARLAN P. HALL.--The writer has been unable to obtain any sketch of

the history of Mr. Hall. We have to say that he has been an

enterprising journalist in St. Paul. He was the founder of the _Daily_

and _Weekly_ St. Paul _Dispatch_; also of the St. Paul _Daily_ and

_Weekly Globe_. He is a fluent, versatile writer, and a genial

associate.

STEPHEN MILLER, a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, was born Jan.

7, 1816. Being in straitened circumstances he early commenced a life

of toil, supported himself and to a great extent educated himself. In

1858 he removed to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and engaged in mercantile

pursuits. In 1860 he served as delegate to the Republican convention

at Chicago that nominated Lincoln for the presidency. In 1861 he

enlisted as a private soldier, but rose rapidly from the ranks, being

commissioned as a lieutenant colonel of the First Minnesota Infantry,

then as colonel of the Seventh Minnesota Infantry. He was in command

of this regiment at the execution of the thirty-eight condemned Indian

murderers at Mankato. In 1863 he was commissioned as brigadier general

but resigned to accept the position of governor of Minnesota. In 1871

he removed from St. Paul to Windom. In 1873 he was in the Minnesota

house of representatives. In 1876 he was presidential elector. In 1839

he was married to Margaret Funk, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. They

have had three sons. One son was killed at the battle of Gettysburg.

Gov. Miller died in 1878, at Windom, Minnesota.