Mankato's Historic Firsts

The First Settlers
Henry Jackson, St. Paul's former postmaster, and Parsons King Johnson, a member of the territorial legislature, who arrived on Feb. 6, 1852

The First Store
D.A. Robertson, who's log cabin store was built at the corners of what are now Front and Main Streets

The First White Woman
Mrs. James Rablin, who arrived in the early summer of 1853

The First Hotel
Opened by Edwin Howe in May of 1853, it was called "Mankato City Hotel".

The First Marriage
Solemnized on June 11, 1853 before Squire Mills uniting Jacob Guenther and Christiana Wischmeir

The First Political Caucus
Called on Aug. 27, 1853

The First Election
Held on October 11, 1853

The First Post Master
P.K. Johnson, named Post Master when the post office of Mankato was created on Dec. 15, 1853

The First Railroad Train
Arrived in October of 1868

The First School
Opened in the summer of 1853 and taught by Sarah J. Hanna. Operated mostly in the winter when the children were not needed for planting and harvesting. Reading and writing were the only subjects taught.

The First Graduating Class
Class of 1876

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