USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > A history of the city of Saint Paul, and of the county of Ramsey, Minnesota > Part 4
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THE RED RIVER SETTLEMENT.
In the year 1812, the Earl of SELKIRK, having obtained a grant of land from the Hudson Bay Company, near the conflu- ence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, established a colony of Scotch settlers upon it, and subsequently a colony of Swiss were induced to settle there. The colony suffered various hardships for many years, from floods, frosts, grasshoppers, &c., and were at times almost on the verge of starvation. In 1827, a party of the Swiss who had immigrated to Red River,
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota. 39
abandoned the colony, and established themselves near Fort Snelling, as will be noticed more fully a little further on.
The cession of land procured by Lieut. PIKE at the conflu- ence of the Saint Peter's and Mississippi Rivers, in 1805, had been for the purpose of erecting a United States Fort. The matter was allowed to rest, however, for some years. The planting of SELKIRK's Colony on the borders of the United States, called attention to it again, and resulted, in 1819, in the establishment of a military post at the point named.
TROOPS ORDERED TO MINNESOTA.
On February 10, 1819, an order was issued by the War Department, concentrating the Fifth Regiment of Infantry at Detroit, under Lieut. Col. LEAVENWORTH, with a view of pro- ceeding west. Portions were detailed to garrison Prairie du Chien and Rock Island, and the remainder were to proceed to establish a post at the point called "Saint Peter's," (since known as Mendota,) which was to be the headquarters of the regiment, and of Lieut. Col. LEAVENWORTH, its commander. He remained some time at Prairie du Chien, to organize " Crawford County," which had been created by the Legisla- ture of Michigan Territory, on October 16, 1818. Its bounda- ries were as follows : On the east by a line running north and south from the portage of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and extending to Lake Superior, thence westward to the Mississippi River.
He found great difficulty in securing enough persons quali- fied to fill the county offices.
The expedition up the Mississippi was made in keel-boats, and so low was the water that the party did not reach Mendota until September 24th. · Rude huts for barracks were at once erected, in which the first winter was passed amid much dis- comfort. Many of the soldiers died from scurvy. The follow- ing August, Col. SNELLING took command of the post, and the erection of "Fort Saint Anthony" was commenced. On September 10th, 1820, the corner stone was laid with appro- priate ceremonies, but the next winter had to be passed in their cantonments at Mendota again. The lumber for the buildings
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The History of the City of Saint Paul,
was cut on Rum River by the soldiers. The fort was not so far completed as to be occupied until the fall of 1822. It was, by recommendation of Gen. SCOTT, subsequently called " Fort Snelling," in honor of its builder.
MAJ. LAWRENCE TALIAFERRO.
In order to properly conduct relations with the Indians of this region, President MONROE also resolved to send hither an Indian Agent, to permanently reside at or near the new military post. Lieut. LAWRENCE TALIAFERRO,* an officer of the regu- lar army, was selected for this duty, and commissioned on March 27, 1819. He proceeded at once to his post, and con- tinued to fill that office for twenty years, resigning it in 1840.
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY IN 1820.
The establishment of Fort Snelling (as it was afterwards known) attracted considerable attention to this region, and was an important event for the Northwest. Up to that time this region was almost unknown. A few traders had penetrated here and there through what is now Minnesota, but its geogra- phy was to the country at large a sealed book. Its great lumbering resources were almost unknown. It was not until 1822 that the Government saw mill was built at Saint Anthony Falls. The same year a permit was granted by Maj. TALIA- FERRO to a man named PERKINS, from Kentucky, to erect a saw mill on one of the branches of the Menominee River; Wisconsin-the first mill erected by private parties in the Northwest. Indeed, only in 1822 was Minnehaha Creek-now in one of the most thickly settled parts of the State-explored by JOSEPH R. BROWN, then a soldier at Fort Snelling, and was long afterwards called by his name.
* LAWRENCE TALIAFERRO was born in Virginia, February 24, 1794. His ancestors were Italians, who settled in Virginia in 1637. TALIAFERRO enlisted in the war of 1812, when only 18 years of age, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. When the army was reduced to a peace footing at the close of the war, he was retained as a First Lieu- tenant. On retiring from the Indian Agency, in 1840, he returned to his home at Bedford, Pennsylvania, where, in 1857, he was appointed Military Storekeeper, and filled that post until 1863. He died January 22, 1871, in his Sist year. While at Fort . Snelling he kept a minute diary of events, now in possession of the Historical Society, and from which the writer has drawn valuable facts.
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E. CO. JYS
PHOTO-EN
JOSEPH R. BROWN.
1
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and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
JOSEPH RENSHAW BROWN
was one of the most remarkable men connected with the his- tory of Minnesota. He was born January 5, 1805, in Harford county, Maryland. His father removed soon after to Lancas- ter, Pennsylvania, where JOSEPH R. was apprenticed to the printing business when about 14 years of age ; but, being treated harshly by his employer, he ran away, joined the army and came to Minnesota with the detachment of troops which built the can- tonment at Mendota, in 1819. He left the army about 1825, and took up his residence in what is now Minnesota, engaging in the Indian trade, lumbering and other occupations. He became allied to the Sioux Nation by marriage, spoke their language, and soon acquired a great influence over them. He held, at various times, a number of important offices. "In 1838, he was appointed by Gov. DODGE, of Wisconsin Territory, a Justice of the Peace, and for several years performed the duties of that office at his trading post, on Grey Cloud Island, 12 miles below Saint Paul. He was elected a member of the Wisconsin Legislature from "Saint Croix County," in 1840, 1841 and 1842, taking a prominent part in those sessions. He was also a leading member of the famous "Stillwater Convention" of 1848. He was Secretary of the Territorial Councils of 1849 and 1851, and Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1853 ; a member of the Council in 1854 and 1855, and House in 1857 ; and was, besides, Territorial Printer in 1853 and 1854. He was appointed agent for the Sioux Indians in 1857. He was also a member (from Sibley county) in the Constitutional Convention, and was one of the commissioners to canvass the first State vote. He had large influence in the early Legisla- tures, and in his party conventions. In 1852, he became editor and publisher of the " Minnesota Pioneer," which he carried on for two years with much ability, and established a reputation as an able political writer. In 1857, he started, at Henderson, a town laid out by him, the "Henderson Democrat," which was published until 1861.
Maj. BROWN was a pioneer in every sense. He laid out the first town site in Minnesota ; was the first lumberman to raft logs down the Saint Croix. He aided in the erection of the 4
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The History of the City of Saint Paul,
first frame, and first stone building in Minnesota. He assisted in staking out the first road from Fort Snelling to Prairie du Chien ; driving the first wagon over it, and the first from Men- dota to Lac qui Parle. He built the first house in the present limits of Stillwater and Hastings, &c., &c. During his long and eventful life he suffered many reverses of fortune, but was always cheerful and full of energy. He died in New York City, whither he had gone on business, on November 9, 1870. Brown county was appropriately named in honor of him.
IMMIGRATION FROM RED RIVER.
Prior to the year 1827, there was no agriculture carried on in the entire State, except small gardens and limited fields attached to the trading posts here and there. 'In the year named, a number of Swiss families-who had been, several years previous, misled by the lying emigration agents of Lord SELKIRK into settling on the Red River-after suffering great hardships, were finally compelled, to avoid actual starvation, to leave the colony and come to Fort Snelling, where, it had been stated to them, they would be allowed to settle. They were kindly received by Col. SNELLING, the commander of the post, and permission given them to settle on the Reserva- tion, near what was afterwards known as the ""Saint Louis House," on the west side of the Mississippi, a little above the fort. Here they opened farms, erected dwellings, and, having brought cattle with them, soon became prosperous and comfort- able farmers. In this colony were ABRAHAM PERRY, LOUIS MASSIE, and other patriarchs, some of whom, as will be seen a little further on, were among the earliest settlers of Saint Paul, Pig's Eye, Little Canada, Mendota, Saint Anthony, Still- water, and other of the oldest towns in this region. Up to 1836, nearly 500 persons had left the Red River Colony and came to Fort Snelling, in search of new homes, and several large parties came subsequently. A few of them went on to Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, and some to Vevay, Indiana, (a Swiss settlement,) but most of the refugees settled in this region, and their descendants hereabouts are a numerous class. Most of the early residents of Saint Paul were Red River refugees, as we shall show a few pages further on.
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and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
Thus the first agricultural immigrants into Minnesota-the vanguard of that vast army that in later years poured over it- came from the "frozen north"-a sort of Nor' man invasion of a peaceful kind.
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.
During the year 1823, another event occurred of great im- portance to the Northwest. It was the arrival of the first steamboat, the "Virginia," from Saint Louis, loaded with stores for the fort. Her dimensions were : length, 118 feet ; width, 24 feet ; and draught, six feet. She was four days in getting over the Rock Island Rapids, an obstacle which it had been supposed would always prevent steamers from navigating the Upper Mississippi. As this was the first steamboat ever seen by the Dakotas in this neighborhood, their fright was extreme. They mistook it for some supernatural monster, and fled to the woods and hills, with their hair and blankets stream- ing in the breeze. -
The success of the " Virginia" in reaching the mouth of the Saint Peter's, opened the Upper Mississippi to steam navigation, the mightiest agent in making the then wilderness blossom as the rose. Up to May 26, 1826, fifteen steamers had arrived at Fort Snelling, and they became more frequent after that.
SIOUX AND OJIBWA WARFARE.
The ancient feud of the Dakota and Ojibwa Nations, led to frequent encounters, some of them in this neighborhood. In 1826, a party of 200 or 300 Ojibwas, from the Upper Missis- sippi, came to Fort Snelling on a visit, and encamped near Pickerel Lake, across the river from this city. The Dakotas, learning of their presence, soon rallied and attacked them, killing in cold blood a number of women and children, who could not escape. The same autumn, at Fort Snelling, a party of Dakotas, after being hospitably entertained by some Ojib- was encamped there, and promising peace and good will, treacherously fired into the wigwams of the latter at night, killing several. Col. SNELLING, the commandant, compelled the Dakotas to surrender the guilty men, and they were handed
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The History of the City of Saint Paul,
over to the relations of the murdered Ojibwas for punishment. Four of them were compelled to "run the gauntlet," i. e., allowed a few feet start, and, at a given signal, the Ojibwas were to fire on them. They were in this manner shot down, and their bodies mutilated.
These barbaric orgies were repeated from year to year, for some time. The liquor sold to the Indians by traders was mostly the cause of this, and every effort was made by the authorities to break up the traffic, without success.
MAIL SERVICE-1820-49.
During the first three years, the mails for the garrison were carried by soldiers, from Prairie du Chien. In the summer they made the trips two or three times during the season, with keel- boats or canoes, also bringing supplies for the garrison. In the winter the trip was one of hardship and danger, occupying many days. The whole distance to Prairie du Chien was generally traversed on the ice, in a sort of sledge drawn by dogs or a Canadian pony, and called a train du glace. Ex- cepting probably an encampment or two of Indians, there was no sign of a human habitation from Fort Snelling to Fort Crawford, (Prairie du Chien;) and during the trip the mail carriers and their animals must subsist as best they could. This sort of winter transportation was kept up until stage service was established in 1849. In May, 1823, the first steamboat arrived at Fort Snelling, and thenceforward steamboats carried the mails generally to that post, until a regular packet line was established to Saint Paul, in 1847.
Of course, winter service in those days was irregular. For instance, in one of TALIAFERRO's journals, kept at Fort Snelling, now in the archives of the Historical Society, we find it noted that on January 26th, 1826, there was much rejoicing over the arrival of two officers " from below," who had returned from a furlough, bringing the first mail received for five months ! In May, 1832, a soldier at Fort Crawford, named JAMES HALPIN, was detailed by Col. ZACHARY TAYLOR, then com- mander of that post, to carry the mail from Fort Crawford to Fort Snelling. A small pouch of mail was all there was to
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and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
carry, and he made the journey on foot, the round trip occu- pying generally two weeks. He carried the mail a whole year. There was not a human habitation on his whole route, unless he fell in with a teepee of Indians.
GOVERNMENTAL CHANGES.
In 1836, the Territory of Wisconsin was organized, com- prising all of Michigan Territory west of the Lake. This, of course, included what is now Minnesota east of the Mississippi. Saint Paul, or what is now Saint Paul, thus fell in the jurisdic- tion of Crawford county, Wisconsin-an extended existence of Crawford county, Michigan. For several years it was repre- sented in the Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin as follows :
Council.
I836 No member.
1837-8 No member.
1838 George Wilson.
1839 · George Wilson.
1839-40 . Joseph Brisbois.
1840 (extra) ... Chas. J. Learned.
House. James H. Lockwood, James B. Dallam. Ira B. Brunson,
Jean Brunet. Alex. McGregor.
Alex. McGregor,
Ira B. Brunson.
Alex. McGregor,
Ira B. Brunson.
Alex. McGregor,
Ira B. Brunson.
In January, 1840, " Saint Croix County," as will be noticed a little further on, was created by the Legislature, out of Crawford county. It comprised all that territory west of a line running northward from the mouth of Porcupine River, on Lake Pepin, to Lake Superior. Most of the representatives subsequently lived in what is now Minnesota :
Council.
1840-I ... Charles J. Learned.
1841-2 ... Charles J. Learned.
1842-3 . . . Theophilus La Chapelle.
1843-4 . . Theophilus La Chapelle. I845 Wiram Knowlton.
1846 . . Wiram Knowlton.
1847 . . . . B. F. Manahan.
1847 (ext.) B. F. Manahan. 1848 . ... B. F. Manahan.
House. Theophilus La Chapelle, Joseph R. Brown. Theophilus La Chapelle, .Joseph R. Brown. John H. Manahan.
John H. Manahan. James Fisher. James Fisher. Joseph W. Furber. Henry Jackson. Henry Jackson.
.
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The History of the City of Saint Paul,
ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSIONS.
The various missions among the Chippewas and Sioux of Minnesota, were established during the period from 1830 to 1840. EDMUND F. ELY, (now of Santa Barbara, California,) and Rev. WM. R. BOUTWELL came in 1833 ; Revs. S. W. and G. H. POND in 1834; Revs. THOS. S. WILLIAMSON and J. D. STEVENS in 1835 ; Revs. S. R. RIGGS, ALFRED BRUNSON and DAVID KING in 1837 ; and Rev. S. SPATES in 1839, &c. More than half of the above band of self-sacrificing men are still res- idents of our State. .
THE "PECULIAR INSTITUTION" IN MINNESOTA.
Connected with the operations of the missions in this locality, is a fact so curious that it deserves insertion here. During the early days of Fort Snelling, some of the officers were owners of slaves, whom they kept as their body or household servants. "'DRED SCOTT," who afterwards became historical, owing to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States-gen- erally known as " the Dred Scott Decision "-was a slave of Surgeon EMERSON, at Fort Snelling, about this date, and mar- ried a negro woman belonging to Maj. TALIAFERRO, while at the fort. When Rev. Mr. BRUNSON established his mission at Kaposia, in 1837, he found himself unable to do much owing to his entire ignorance of the Indian tongue, and at once set about finding an interpreter. The only one he could secure was a young negro named JAMES THOMPSON, owned by an officer at Fort Snelling, and who was willing to sell him for $1,200. "JIM" talked Sioux first rate, and was religiously inclined, so that Father BRUNSON concluded to buy him if he could be secured. He accordingly wrote to some friends at Cincinnati the circumstances, and the amount necessary was soon raised and forwarded to him. "JIM" was purchased, his " free papers" secured, and he was soon interpreting the gos- pel to the pagans at Kaposia. Mr. THOMPSON now lives in St. Paul. This is, so far as has been recorded, the only sale · of a slave which ever took place in what is now Minnesota.
Father BRUNSON yet resides in Prairie du Chien-a hale,
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and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
active pioneer of 83, and preached in Saint Paul during the past autumn.
THE PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.
During the period-or decade-from 1830 to 1840, there set- tled in what is now Minnesota, some of our oldest pioneers- names now honored and widely known. NORMAN W. KITT- SON came in 1832 ; HENRY H. SIBLEY in 1834; WILLIAM H. FORBES, MARTIN MCLEOD and FRANKLIN STEELE in 1837 ; HENRY M. RICE and WILLIAM HOLCOMBE in 1839, &c. The Lake Superior region was early settled by WILLIAM A. AIT- KIN, the MORRISONS, and others. CHARLES H. OAKES lo- cated there in 1825, and Dr. CHARLES W. BORUP in 1831, both these gentlemen becoming residents of our city in a sub- sequent year.
During these years, this region was likewise visited by sev- eral distinguished savans and travelers-FEATHERSTONHAUGH, SCHOOLCRAFT, MATHER, NICOLLET, FREMONT, CASS, CAT- LIN, and others: Their published accounts aided in making the Upper Mississippi region better known, and undoubtedly tended to hasten the treaties which extinguished the Indian title to portions of the present State.
Sketches of three of the pioneers of this period are appended to this chapter, and another (Hon. H. M. RICE) will be found in Chapter XV.
NORMAN WOLFRED KITTSON
was born at Sorel, Lower Canada, March 5, 1814. He is a grandson of ALEXANDER HENRY, the celebrated explorer and traveler, who journeyed through the Lake Superior, Manitoba and Saskatchewan districts as early as 1776, and whose pub- lished travels are very scarce and valuable. In May, 1830, being then only 16 years of age, Mr. KITTSON engaged as an employee of the American Fur Company, and in that capacity came to the Northwest. From the summer of 1830 to 1832, he was stationed at the trading post between the Fox and Wis- consin Rivers. During the latter year, he was sent to the
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The History of the City of Saint Paul,
headwaters of the Minnesota, and from thence went to the Red Cedar River, in Iowa.
In 1834, he came to Fort Snelling, where he was engaged in the sutler department until 1838, in the fall of which year he returned to Canada, and remained until spring. On his return, (1839,) he began business on his own account, as a fur- trader, near what was then called "Cold Spring," just above Fort Snelling. He continued here until 1843, when he entered the American Fur Company, as special partner, having charge of all the business on the headwaters of the Minnesota, and along the British line. During that year he fixed his headquar- ters at Pembina, and commenced collecting furs there and shipping them in Red River carts to Mendota. This was the origin of a very large trade between Saint Paul and the Red River settlement, a few years later, which will be found more fully dwelt on in a subsequent chapter.
In 1854, Mr. KITTSON entered into partnership with the late WILLIAM H. FORBES, in St. Paul, in the general Indian trade supply business. Their establishment, called "The Saint Paul Outfit," was widely known at that time. This year, Mr. KITTSON came to reside at Saint Paul permanently, although it might almost be said that his residence dates back to 1843, as he had owned property here since that day, and was here a considerable share of his time. In 1843, as will be found more fully narrated under that year, Mr. KITTSON, purchased a claim which eventually proved very valuable, and was, in 1851, laid out as " Kittson's Addition," now one of the hand- somest portions of our city.
In 1851, Mr. KITTSON was elected a member of the Council of the Minnesota Legislature from the Pembina District, and re-elected in 1853, serving four sessions in all, viz. : 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, in which he took a prominent and useful part. In order to attend these sessions, in mid-winter, Mr. KITTSON was compelled to walk on snow-shoes the whole dis- tance, or ride in a dog-sledge-a trip of great hardship, exposure and danger. Two of these trips, at least, he made on snow- shoes. Some account of these winter journeys will be found in the proper place.
PHOTO.ENG. CO.NY.
NORMAN W. KITTSON.
49
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
In 1858, Mr. KITTSON was elected Mayor of Saint Paul, since which time he has not been in public life.
During that year, the firm of FORBES & KITTSON was dis- solved. Mr. KITTSON continued his Red River trade until . 1860. He soon after accepted the position of Agent of the Hudson's Bay Company, and established a line of steamers and barges on the Red River, which has grown into quite a corpo- ration, now called the "Red River Transportation Compa- ny," with headquarters in Saint Paul, and operating several steamers and barges.
Mr. KITTSON is the oldest living pioneer of our State, with but one exception. In his 43 years' residence he has witnessed and taken part in changes which fall to the lot of but few men during an ordinary lifetime. Although over 60 years of age, Mr. KITTSON is as active, strong, and elastic in body as most young men of our day, and is constantly absorbed in an exact- ing and harassing business. He enjoys the esteem of a wide multitude of friends, who hope that far distant may be the day when, at one of our " Old Settler" reunions, the name of NOR- MAN W. KITTSON will be added to the list of those who have left us.
HENRY HASTINGS SIBLEY.
Every new community, and, to a great extent, every new State, receives from its first pioneers and prominent organizers, the impress which decides much of its future tone and spirit. Hence, the value of having society in every new State started in the right direction by men who can mold the " plastic elements" for good. Minnesota was peculiarly fortunate in having for its leading pioneers men of broad views, liberal culture and elevated character, and the effect of their influence is plainly traceable in the future successful course of our State, and the good name it bears abroad as a commonwealth, where educa- tion and religion are universal, and law and order are respected. How much of this we owe to the men who, with no selfish ends, but, actuated only by devotion to principle and the public welfare, and an unfaltering trust in the triumph of right, laid the foundations of our State, created its institutions, framed
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The History of the City of Saint Paul,
TXX
its first laws, executed its first offices, and gave the first bent to its usages-we can now scarcely estimate. Posterity must indeed point to their names with gratitude and honor, far ex- · ceeding even that evinced by those of the present generation, because to these the events (in some of which they may have participated) are too recent and perhaps too much colored with the passions or prejudices that are inseparable from our human organization, to place an impartial estimate on motives, and actions, and results. By such a rule as the above, the name which heads this sketch, is one that must always occupy a foremost place in the history of our State.
HENRY H. SIBLEY was born at Detroit, Michigan, February 20, 1811. His father, Judge SOLOMON SIBLEY, a native of Massachusetts, was one of the most prominent pioneers of the Northwest, settling in Ohio in 1795, and in Michigan in 1797, from which he was a member of the first Legislature of the "Northwest Territory" in 1799 ; a delegate to Congress in 1820 ; Judge of the Supreme Court from 1824 to 1836; United States District Attorney, &c. He died in 1846, universally lamented. Judge SIBLEY married at Marietta, Ohio, in 1802, Miss SARAH W. SPROAT, daughter of Col. EBENEZER SPROAT, a distin- guished officer of the Revolution, and grand-daughter of Com- modore ABRAHAM WHIPPLE, of the Revolutionary Navy. Her parents and grand-parents were all pioneers of Ohio, so that the subject of this sketch was, by ancestral influence, predisposed to such a life of pioneer adventure as he was destined to lead. Mrs. SIBLEY died at Detroit, January 22, 1851. Mrs. ELLET, in her work, " Pioneer Women of the West," remarks that she was a woman of unusual personal beauty, and rare mental accomplishments.
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