HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 445 



COL. DANIEL A. EOBERTSON 



"Was the first president and one of the principal founders of the 

 Minnesota State Horticultural Society, a very good likeness of 

 whom appears in frontispiece (furnished at the special instance of 

 the committee on publication), has led a useful and eventful life. 

 Born in Philadelphia, Penn., May 15, 1813, at the age of eighteen 

 years he went to New York, in which city he pursued various 

 studies including the law. From New York he removed to Ohio, 

 where he was admitted to the bar in 1839. He became interested 

 in journalism and at one time was the editor of the Cincinnati 

 Miquirer, associated with Chas. Brough; subsequently he edited 

 the Mount Vernon Banner. In the meantime he gave much at- 

 tention to pomology and horticulture; becoming familiar with the 

 habits, proxDagation and growth of fruit, as well as forest, shade and 

 ornamental trees and shrubbery at his farm adjoining the city of 

 Lancaster. In 1845 he was appointed United States marshal 

 for Ohio, holding the office for four years. In 1850 he repre- 

 sented Fairfield county in that state in the constitutional con- 

 vention, but resigned after the summer term and came to Minne- 

 sota in the autumn of that year. Soon after his arrival in St. 

 Paul he established the Minnesota Democrat. Under his able 

 management it became one of the leading journals in the North- 

 west. In 1856 he visited Europe; during his absence abroad he 

 studied various scientific subjects connected with horticulture. 

 After his return to St. Paul he was elected a member of the 

 house of representatives of the state legislature. He was in- 

 strumental in organizing the "Legislative Farmers' Club" dur- 

 ing the session of 1859-60, which was fraught with much moment 

 to the state. In 1860 he was elected mayor of St. Paul; sheriff 

 of Eamsey county 1863; re-elected in 1865 and 1867. He organ- 

 ized the first working Grange of Patrons of Husbandry in the 

 United States at St. Paul. He was the first piwfessor of agricul- 

 ture in the state university. His lectures were useful and in- 

 structive. He introduced the Eussian apple into the Northwest. 

 For the past few years he has spent much time in Europe, be- 

 stowing attention to climatology and various scientific subjects 

 that are of interest to agriculturists and others in this country. 

 Several years since he established the Minnesota Monthly in St. 

 Paul, in the interest of the horticulturists and farmers of the 

 state. He has lent a helping hand in almost everything that 

 would benefit the people of the Northwest. The ''fruit" of his 

 labor in Europe will be published in the near future. 



