This is taken from Souvenir Book, St. Paul Police Benevolent Association, 1919, a 1919 publication.

Henry McColl
Commissioner of Public Safety

Henry McColl, Commissioner of Public Safety of the City of St. Paul was born in Chicago, Illinois, March 2nd, 1866, and with his parents came to this City in 1873. He was educated in the parochial schools, and at the age of fourteen, obtained a position in the retail drug store of George C. Davenport, located on Wabasha Street, where he remained for nearly four years. In 1884, he was employed in the retail crockery establishment of H. L. Wheat & Co., in which business he remained for about five years, when he returned to the drug business, entering same as a partner in the firm of Horrigan and McColl, located on Mississippi and Williams. After a few years he purchased his partner’s interest in the drug store and remained at that location until 1896. On May 1st, in the last mentioned year, he moved his business to the Portland Building at the corner of 9th and Broadway. Subsequently, and in 1909, he opened a second drug store in St. Paul at the Seven Corners, which he operated until 1915.

In 1902, Mr. McColl was elected as a member of the Legislature, and served as a Representative during the sessions of 1903 and 1905. In 1906 he was elected State Senator, and served as State Senator during the sessions of 1907 and 1909. In 1912, he was elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and was honored by being elected President of the Board of Aldermen. In 1914, the year of the installation of the Commission Form of Government in the City of St. Paul, Mr. McColl was elected Councilman and was assigned Commissioner of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety is composed of the Bureau of Police, Bureau of Health, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph, and is admitted to be one of the most important as well as the most difficult Departments in the City’s Government. Mr. McColl was re-elected as a Councilman in 1916 and 1918 and after each election was assigned to the Commissionership of Public Safety.