USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > A history of the city of Saint Paul, and of the county of Ramsey, Minnesota > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
H. H. SIBLEY received an academical education when young, and subsequently enjoyed two years' private tuition in the classics, from Rev. R. F. CADLE, one of the pioneers of educa- tion in the Northwest. His father had wished him to adopt his own profession, but, after studying law sometime, he be- came convinced that his natural inclination would lead him to more active and stirring life. His father very sensibly told him to pursue his own inclinations in this respect-" a decision,"
Photo. ly JW Camphell. Eng a by J. C. Buttre.
HASibley
BRIG. GEN. HENRY H. SIBLEY.
5I
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
said a writer, referring to the fact, " that gave to Minnesota her honored pioneer-one whose history is so interwoven with her own that to write the one is almost ipso facto to record the other."
About the age of 17, young SIBLEY went to Sault Ste. Marie, and was engaged there in mercantile operations for about a year. In 1829, he went to Mackinac, and entered the service of the American Fur Company as clerk. He remained at that post five years. In 1834, Mr. SIBLEY, then 23 years of age, was admitted as a partner in the American Fur Company, of which RAMSEY CROOKS, father of Col. WILLIAM CROOKS, of this city, was President, and the late H. L. DOUSMAN and Jo- SEPH ROLETTE, Senior, of Prairie du Chien, were also part- ners, and was to have charge of the trade above Lake Pepin, as far as the British line, with headquarters at Mendota, then called "Saint Peter's." Gen. SIBLEY himself says this step was largely owing to H. L. DOUSMAN's solicitation, and to the glowing accounts he gave of Minnesota as a land of game, per- haps knowing Gen. S.'s fondness for field sports.
Mr. SIBLEY arrived at Mendota, November 7, 1834, having rode on horseback from Prairie du Chien, a distance of nearly 300 miles, there being but one human habitation on the way. Then, in all the region now known as Minnesota, there was, excepting the garrison at Fort Snelling, only a handful of white men, mostly fur-traders and Canadian voyageurs. What mighty changes these forty-one years have witnessed. Gen. SIBLEY is now the oldest living settler, save one, in our popu- lation of 600,000 people, and it has been his fortune to take a more active and prominent part in the history of that period, than any other living man.
On May 2, 1843, he was united in marriage to Miss SARAH J: STEELE, at Fort Snelling. He had previously, in 1836, erected, at Mendota, the first private dwelling built of stone, in Minnesota, which is still standing. Mrs. SIBLEY died May 21, 1869-being truly one of the pioneer women of our State, and a lady of rare virtues and accomplishments.
Mr. SIBLEY was probably the first civil officer in what is now Minnesota, having been appointed a Justice of the Peace
K
52
The History of the City of Saint Paul,
in 1838, by Gov. JOHN CHAMBERS, of Iowa, which then em- braced the territory west of the Mississippi. This is more fully spoken of elsewhere.
On October 30, 1848, Mr. SIBLEY was elected a Delegate to Congress from what was then considered as Wisconsin Terri- tory-the residue of the old territory of that name, after carving the State out of it-with the understanding that he would urge · the organization of Minnesota Territory: It was a trust of much delicacy and responsibility, for a failure would have been very discouraging and unfortunate at that juncture, when suc- cess was so vital to the interests of the people. He proceeded to Washington, and, after much effort, was admitted to a seat. During the session, he was enabled, by hard work and personal influence, to procure the passage of a bill to organize the Ter- ritory of Minnesota. In the fall of 1849, he was again elected for two years, and re-elected in 1850, serving over four years in all.
This was a very difficult and trying period for any one to represent a new Territory like Minnesota, whose needs were large, and yet with little population, and believed to be, as one member of Congress declared, " a hyperborean region," unfit for settlement. Mr. SIBLEY soon exploded that prejudice by well-written articles for the press, on the climate, advantages and resources of Minnesota. There were large appropriations needed for various purposes, and these could be secured only by persuasive appeals to the members, by tact and vigilance, and patient urging, so that Mr. SIBLEY was enabled to secure for the Territory more generous appropriations and liberal legislation than could have been obtained by any one possessing less of the esteem and respect of his fellow members, since nearly everything was secured by personal influence.
In 1855, Mr. SIBLEY was elected a member of the Minnesota Legislature from Dakota county, and, in 1857, served as a mem- ber, and President of the "Democratic wing" of the Consti- tutional Convention. In the fall of the same year, he was elected first Governor of the State. Owing to the delay in the admission of Minnesota, he was not inaugurated until May 24, 1858. His term expired January 1, 1860.
53
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
On August 19, 1862, he was appointed by Gov. RAMSEY commander of the military forces sent to quell the Sioux out- break. He at once took active measures to meet and defeat the Indians, and release the captives, 250 in number, which they held, in both of which designs his tact and intimate knowl- edge of Indian character and mode of warfare, enabled him fully to succeed-also taking about 2,000 Indian prisoners. Over 400 of these were tried by court-martial, and 303 con- demned to death, only 38 of whom, unfortunately, were finally executed on September 29, 1862-President LINCOLN having been persuaded by mistaken humanitarians to interfere in their behalf. Col. SIBLEY was commissioned Brigadier General for gallant services, and, during the winter, remained in command of the military forces in this State. Congress, meanwhile, reduced the number of Brigadiers General, but he was reap- pointed by the President in March, 1863, and accepted, at the request of a large number of leading citizens, who addressed to him a petition to that effect. During the summer, he organ- ized and commanded an expedition to Devil's Lake and the Missouri River, for the purpose of routing and driving off the hostile Sioux hovering on the frontier. The expedition was successful, and defeated them in several battles and skirmishes, returning to Fort Snelling in September. The years 1864 and 1865 were employed in securing the defense of the frontier, and, with the single exception of the GARDNER family, no murders or depredations by Indians took place in the State. On No- vember 29, 1865, Gen. SIBLEY was commissioned as Major General, "for efficient and meritorious services." He was relieved from the command of the District of Minnesota in Au- gust, 1866, and was detailed as a member of the commission to negotiate treaties with the hostile Sioux and other bands on the Upper Missouri River, which was successfully carried out. .
In 1871, Gen. SIBLEY served another term in the Legislature, from the 5th Ward, Saint Paul, (of which he became a resi- dent, it might be here noted, in 1862.) He is at present a Regent of the State University, and President of the State Normal Board, and was, for a few months, a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners-which last office he was com-
54
The History of the City of Saint Paul,
pelled to resign on account of pressure of business. He has also been, for several years, President of the Gas Company, a Director of the First National Bank, Director of the Sioux City Railroad, &c., besides filling various trusts, such as Park Commissioner, Member of Board of Education, and other bodies. Indeed, it is difficult to see how, in the pressure of so much business, and the exacting demands of society, Gen. SIBLEY finds time to · write the interesting papers which may be found in the collec- tions of the Historical Society, on the early history of the State, from which many extracts are made in this volume.
The frequent references, necessarily so, on account of Gen. SIBLEY's prominent and active connection with our history for over forty years, and the impossibility of condensing in a few. sentences what would require a chapter, renders any further sketch, in this shape, unnecessary. It might simply be added that no one in our State is more widely known and more highly respected and honored than Gen. SIBLEY. His name has been almost " a household word" for one entire generation ; and, with his fine physique and unimpaired powers, it is not too much to hope that even many years of useful and active life may yet await him.
WILLIAM HENRY FORBES
.
was born on Montreal Island, Canada, November 13, 1815. His father was a Scotchman by birth, and was a member of the Hudson's Bay Company as early as 1785, but, at the time of the birth of the subject of this sketch, he had retired from active business. WM. H. was carefully educated in schools at Montreal, and afterwards apprenticed to the hardware business, ultimately becoming junior partner in the house where he was employed. At that time, Montreal was the chief depot of supplies for the Indian trade of the Northwest, and young FORBES, being constantly placed in contact with the adventurous traders making purchases at his establishment, became interested in their romantic life, and the exciting stories they told about the great Northwest. His love of adventure was finally so aroused, that he resolved to try a career in this region. He consequently withdrew from the hardware busi-
-
55
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
ness, and accepted a clerkship in the American Fur Company, one of the requisites being that the incumbent could speak and write French, which Mr. FORBES did fluently. He, with his party, came to Minnesota via Superior, and arrived at Mendota in the summer of 1837 .. H. H. SIBLEY was at that time in charge of the post. Mr. FORBES clerked for him for ten years, and, in 1847, took charge of an establishment for the Company, (called the "Saint Paul Outfit,") at Saint Paul, becoming a resident here, and continuing so until his death, nearly 28 years. In the early days of our city, Maj. FORBES was one of its most active promoters and public spirited men, and was one of the proprietors of the "Town of Saint Paul" when it was first laid out.
When the Territory was organized, Maj. FORBES was elected a member of the first Council from Saint Paul, and afterwards re-elected, serving four sessions as Councillor, and, during his third session, (1852,) was President of the Council. On March 18, 1853, Maj. FORBES was appointed by President PIERCE postmaster at Saint Paul, and held this office for three years. During this year, (1853,) the American Fur Company closed out their business in Saint Paul, and Maj. FORBES formed a partnership with N. W. KITTSON, for the general supplying of the Indian trade. They transacted a very large business for several years. In 1858, Mr. KITTSON retired from the firm, and it was continued until 1862 by Maj. FORBES. The Indian outbreak of that year put a close to the trade, and Maj. FORBES lost considerable at his trading posts, which were plundered by the savages. During the campaign against the Sioux, that year, he served with ability as a member of Gen. SIBLEY's staff, and acted as Provost Marshal at the military trial or court-martial of the 300 Indians who were condemned to death. At the close of this campaign, he was commissioned by President LIN- COLN as a Commissary of Subsistence in the volunteer service, with rank of captain. He was also nominated and elected Auditor of Ramsey county that fall, and served as such during the years 1863 and 1864. During a considerable portion of this time he was absent on military duty, however. In the spring of 1863, he accompanied Gen. SIBLEY's expedition to
56
The History of the City of Saint Paul,
the Missouri River, as Chief Commissary, and, in the spring of 1864, was ordered to the District of Northern Missouri, as Chief Commissary. He remained there until 1866, and, during the latter part of his term, was engaged, as Chief Quartermas- ter, in closing up the unsettled affairs of Gen. FREMONT's De- partment, which he did very satisfactorily to the Government. He was brevetted Major a short time prior to his being mus- tered out of office in 1866.
He returned to Saint Paul in 1866, quite broken in health, and never recovered his former strength and energy. In 1871, he was appointed Indian Agent at Devil's Lake, a position for which he was admirably fitted, and the duties of which he performed with great success, and with fidelity and honesty. His health continued to decline, however, and, on July 20, 1875, he closed his life, deeply lamented by a large circle of friends. His remains were brought to Saint Paul, and en- tombed in the Catholic cemetery, on July 25, in the presence of a numerous concourse of friends.
Major FORBES was twice married ; first in 1846, to AGNES, daughter of ALEXANDER FARIBAULT, by whom he had one daughter, the wife of Captain J. H. PATTERSON, U. S. A .; and again in 1854, to Miss A. B. CORY, of Cooperstown, New York, by whom he had four children, three of whom are living.
The following very just tribute to Maj. FORBES' character is from the Pioneer-Press, which announced his death :
" During his long residence in Saint Paul, he maintained a high char- acter for integrity and honesty, and was honored with many places of honor and trust, in all of which he acquitted himself with a credit which won for him the respect and admiration of all who knew him. No stronger proof of his probity of character could be given than the fact that for many years he has occupied positions of peculiar trust at the hands of the Government-positions such as purchasing and delivering agent in the army, and among the Indian tribes, in which hundreds of thousands of dollars have passed through his hands-and yet neither himself, nor any convenient friend, has ever touched a dollar not legit- imately earned. The extremely moderate circumstances with which he was surrounded during his official career, and up to the time of his death, are in striking contrast to those of many others who were simi- larly situated during the war and since."
57
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
CHAPTER V.
THE TREATIES OF 1837.
THE TREATIES OF 1837-THE COUNTRY EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI THROWN OPEN TO SETTLEMENT-MEMORIAL OF SETTLERS ON THE RESERVATION-THE RESER- VATION SURVEYED-SETTLERS OBJECT TO BEING DRIVEN OFF-SOME ACCOUNT OF THOSE SETTLERS, &C. .
T HE year 1837 was a memorable one in Minnesota history, for during that year occurred the treaties referred to in the preceding chapter-one of the most important events in the ca- reer of our State-throwing open, as they did, for the first time, the fine agricultural land of the delta between the Saint Croix and Mississippi Rivers, to the plow of the farmer, and the inexhaustible pineries of the Saint Croix Valley to the axe of the lumberman.
The first of these treaties was made by Gov. HENRY DODGE, of Wisconsin, (for whom our Dodge county was appropriately named,) with the Chippewas, at Fort Snelling, July 29, 1837. By this treaty, the Chippewas ceded to the United States all their pine or agricultural lands on the Saint Croix and its tributaries, both in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In September, 1837, a delegation of about twenty chiefs and braves, by direction of Gov. DODGE, proceeded to Washing- ton, to make a treaty ceding their lands east of the Mississippi. They were accompanied by Maj. TALIAFERRO, their agent, and SCOTT CAMPBELL, interpreter. The Fur Company was represented by H. H. SIBLEY ; while ALEXIS BAILLY, JO. LA FRAMBOISE, A. ROCQUE, LABATHE, the FARIBAULTS, and others, fur-traders, &c., were present. JOEL R. POINSETT, a special commissioner, represented the United States. On Sep- tember 29, the terms of the treaty were agreed on, and the articles signed by both the high contracting parties. By this treaty, the Dakotas ceded to the United States all their land
.
5
58
The History of the City of Saint Paul,
east of the Mississippi River, including all the islands in the same. They received therefor $300,000, to be invested in five per cent. stocks, the income of which shall be paid to them annu- ally ; $110,000 to be divided among the mixed bloods ; and $90,000 to payment of debts owed by the tribe, &c.
This treaty-the extinction of whatever "title" the red men had to the region named-was, as observed above, a very im- portant event for Minnesota. It was the key-note for the set- tlement of the State. It opened the way for the hardy fron- tierman with his red shirt, and axe and plow. Hitherto, every foot of what is now Minnesota, except the little reserva- tion around Fort Snelling, had been the property, after a fash- ion, of a few barbarians-but this obstacle was no longer to exist. Once the white man had gained a foothold on the soil, following the precedent of two centuries, he would soon en- large his grant, until he had swept out of his way its original tenants. A breach had been made in the barriers that shut out civilization from this territory, through which the forlorn hope pressed their way, with the great army of occupation following eagerly behind.
This treaty, too, led the way for the first settlement of our city, as we shall presently see.
MEMORIAL OF SETTLERS ON THE RESERVATION.
Prior to the treaty, and before its ratification by the Senate, the summer following, there was much anxiety on the part of the settlers on the Reserve, to ascertain in what condition they would be left, after the territory east of the Mississippi was thrown open to squatters. A few families of Red River refu- gees and others had been allowed by the humane Col. SNEL- LING to settle on the Reserve temporarily, as being the only place that could be offered them, but latterly there had been quite a hostile feeling against them on the part of the officers of the fort. Col. JOHN H. STEVENS, of Minneapolis, in his address on the "Early History of Hennepin County," before the Minneapolis Lyceum, 1856, says : " At that time, and both before and since, the commanding officers at the fort were the lords of the north. They ruled supreme. The citizens in
59
and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
the neighborhood of the fort were liable at any time to be thrust in the guard-house. While the chief of the fort was the king, the subordinate officers were the princes, and persons have been deprived of their liberty and imprisoned by those tyrants for the most trivial wrong, or some imaginary offense." The offense which was charged against ABRAHAM PERRY, LOUIS MASSIE and others, was that their cattle broke into the enclosures of the fort, and committed other depredations. They had repeatedly been requested and cautioned to leave, but they still hoped that they would not be driven away. On August 16, 1837, they sent to the President of the United States, (MARTIN VAN BUREN,) the following memorial :
" The undersigned citizens of the settlement near Fort Snel- ling, beg leave to make known to you the interest they feel in the contemplated purchase of the Sioux lands in this vicinity. In 1804, a treaty was made by General PIKE with the Sioux Indians, under which he purchased a certain portion of their country, extending from the Falls of Saint Anthony to the mouth of Saint Peter's River, and the prevailing opinion has been, until very recently, that this treaty had received the sanction of Government. It was under this impression that the undersigned settled upon the lands they now occupy as part of the public domain. They were permitted to make improve- ments and retain unmolested possession of them for many years by the commanding officer of the post, and the other officers of the Government employed here, who believed the land be- longed to the United States, and that the settlers were only exercising the privileges extended to them by the benign and salutary laws which have peopled the western country with a hardy, industrious and enterprising class of citizens.
" The undersigned will further state that they have erected houses and cultivated fields at their present places of residence, and several of them have large families of children who have no other homes. All the labor of years is invested in their present habitations, and they therefore appeal to the President and Senate of the United States for protection. If a treaty should be made at Washington, as we have heard suggested, and the lands we now occupy be purchased from the Sioux.
60
The History of the City of Saint Paul,
for a military reservation, we ask that a reasonable and just allowance be made us in the treaty for our improvements," &c.
This memorial was signed by LOUIS MASSIE, ABRAHAM PERRY, PETER QUINN, ANTOINE PEPIN, DUNCAN GRAHAM, JACOB FALSTROM, OLIVER CRATTE, JOSEPH BISSON, JOSEPH REASCH, LOUIS DERGULEE, and others. Col. SAMUEL C. STAMBAUGH, sutler at Fort Snelling, was empowered to pre- sent it, and represent the settlers in any negotiations, and refer- ence was made to Gov. HENRY DODGE for the truth and justice of the statements.
SURVEY OF THE RESERVATION.
On October 19, Lieut. E. K. SMITH, First Infantry, made a survey and map of the Reservation, by command of Maj. J. PLYMPTON, Commander of the Post, who had arrived during that summer. He says, in his report to Maj. P. :
" The white inhabitants in the vicinity of the fort, as near as I could ascertain, are : 82 in BAKER's settlement, around old Camp Coldwater, and at MASSIE's landing. On the opposite side, 25 at the Fur Company's establishment, including FAR- IBAULT's and LE CLERE'S, 50. Making a total of 157 souls in no way connected with the military.
" This population possess and keep on the public lands, in the immediate neighborhood, nearly 200 horses and cattle. I am inclined to believe that this estimate will fall short of the actual number."
This map Maj. PLYMPTON returned to the War Department on October 19, accompanied by a letter plainly indicating his intention to eject all settlers on the Reserve. One reason he alleges is the scarcity of timber for fuel on the Reserve: "It now (he says) causes much labor and inconvenience to the garrison to obtain the necessary fuel-and, should this point be required for the next 20 years for military purposes, the diffi- culty will be very great, and very much increased."
In acknowledging receipt of this communication, November 17, the Secretary of War instructed Maj. PLYMPTON as follows :
" If there be no reservation already made for military pur-
61
and of the. County of Ramsey, Minnesota.
poses, at your post, please mark over what in your opinion will be necessary to be reserved."
A memorandum from the War Department says: "March 26, 1838, Major P. transmitted a map of such a tract embracing a considerable quantity of land on the east side of the Mis- sissippi River."
In endorsing this memorial, Mr. STAMBAUGH says :
" The persons who sign the above memorial reside in the Saint Peter's settlement, about half a mile from the fort. They are the only individuals having houses and improvements on the west side of the Mississippi River, with the exception of Mr. BAKER, whose principal trading establishment is in this settle- ment. No others can be affected by a purchase of land neces- sary for a military reserve."
In a subsequent letter to Hon. JOEL R. POINSETT, Secreta- ry of War, dated February 11, 1839, Col. STAMBAUGH says :
" The memorial speaks for itself, and I would not act as the representative of the memorialists if I were not convinced that their claims are founded on justice, and their improvements secured to them by a custom which has grown into common law in all cases of this character. Independently of the legal right, however, I believe that humanity and good policy will secure them a reasonable allowance for the improvements and privileges they are willing to abandon. The memorial is signed by all the settlers on the west side of the Mississippi, with the exception of B. F. BAKER. There are three or four settle- ments on the east side of the Mississippi River, but, as it was not supposed that an attempt would be made to extend the reservation across the river, the settlers did not join in their memorial."
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLERS.
As near as I can ascertain, after extensive inquiry, the three or four settlers on the east side were : JOSEPH TURPIN, FRAN- CIS DESIRE, DONALD McDONALD, "old man" CHORETTE, and, perhaps, SCOTT CAMPBELL, BARTHOLOMEW BALDWIN, and ABNER POWEL.
JOSEPH TURPIN is said to be the first man who built a house
62
The History of the City of Saint Paul,
east of the Mississippi. Mr. TURPIN was born at Montreal, Canada, about 1775. He came, sometime about the beginning of the present century, to Prairie du Chien, with his brother AMABLE, of whom a sketch is given elsewhere, and subse- quently emigrated to Selkirk's Settlement, where he remained some years. In 1831, as near as I can ascertain, he left Red River with a company of refugees, some of whom settled near Fort Snelling, and, not long after that date, built a house on the east side of the Mississippi. This house he subsequently sold to JOSEPH RONDO, another refugee. He afterwards lived many years at Mendota, where he died in 1865-aged over 90 years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.