USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 12
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HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
was stationed at that place, and had the officer been a zealous or capable one might easily have overtaken and punished them. As stated the " annuity Sioux " disclaimed the acts of this outlaw ; but for a time the gov- ernment refused to pay the annuities until they should deliver up the murderers. In a short time, however, the government let the matter drop, and continued to pay the an- nuities as before. Some thought that this was a great error, and that the Indians mis- took it for a sign of weakness.
However that may be, as time went on the Indians became more and more insolent, and Little Crow, together with a few leaders among the annuity Sioux, from the time the government ceased its efforts to punish Ink- padutah, began to agitate and plan the great conspiracy to drive the whites from the State of Minnesota. Little Crow was one of the " farmer Indians," whose headquarters was a short distance above the Lower Agency. who is credited with being the leader in the outbreak against the whites.
The antecedent exciting causes of this massacre are numerous. The displaced agents and traders find the cause in the er- roneons action of the government, resulting in their removal from office. The statesman and the philosopher may unite in tracing the cause to improper theories as to the mode of acquiring the right to Indian lands. The former may locate the evil in our system of treaties, and the latter in our theories of gov- ernment. The philanthropist may find the cause in the absence of justice which we ex- hibit in all our intercourse with the Indian races. The poet and the lovers of romance in human character find the true canse, as they believe, in the total absence of all ap- preciation of the noble, generous, confiding traits peculiar to the native Indian. The Christian teacher finds apologies for acts of Indian atrocities in the deficient systems of mental and moral culture. Each of these
different classes are satisfied that the great massacre of August, 1862, had its origin in some way intimately connected with his favorite theory.
Maj. Thomas Galbraith, Sioux agent. says, in writing of the causes which led to the massacre : " The radical, moving cause of the outbreak is, I am satisfied, the in- grained and fixed hostility of the savage bar- barian to reform and civilization. As in all barbarous communities in the history of the world the same people have, for the most part, resisted the encroachments of civiliza- tion upon their ancient customs, so it is in the case before us. Nor does it matter ma- terially in what shape civilization makes its attack. Hostile, opposing forces meet in conflict, and a war of social elements is the result - civilization is aggressive, and bar- barism stubbornly resistant. Sometimes, indeed, civilization has achieved a bloodless victory, but generally it has been otherwise. Christianity, itself, the true basis of civiliza- tion, has, in most instances, waded to success through seas of blood. Having stated thus much, I state, as a settled fact in my mind, that the encroachments of Christianity, and its handmaid, civilization, upon the habits and customs of the Sionx Indians, is the cause of the late terrible Sioux outbreak. There were, it is true, many im- mediate inciting causes, which will be allud- ed to and stated hereafter, but they are sub- sidiary to, and developments of, or incident to, the great cause set forth. . But that the recent Sioux outbreak would have happened at any rate, as a result, a fair con- sequence of the canse here stated, I have no doubt.
"Now as to the existing or immediate causes of the outbreak : By my predecessor a new and radical system was inaugurated ; practically, and in its inauguration, he was aided by the Christian missionaries and by the government. The treaties of 1858 were
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ostensibly made to carry this new system into effect. The theory, in substance, was to break up the community system which obtained among the Sioux, weaken and de- stroy their tribal relations, and individualize them, by giving them each a separate home. On the 1st day of June, A. D. 1861, when I entered upon the duties of my office, I found that the system had just been inaugurated. Some hundred families of the annuity Sioux had become novitiates, and their relatives and friends seemed to be favorably disposed to the new order of things. But I also found that, against these were arrayed over five thousand .annuity Sioux,' besides at least three thousand Yank- tonais, all inflamed by the most bitter, re- lentless and devilish hostility.
"I saw, to some extent, the difficulty of the situation, but I determined to continue, if in my power, the civilization system. To favor it, to aid and build it up by every fair means, I advised, encouraged, and assisted the farmer novitiates ; in short I sustained the policy inaugurated by my predecessor, and sustained and recommended by the gov- ernment. I soon discovered that the system could not be successful without a sufficient force to protect the 'farmer' from the hos- tility of the ' blanket ' Indians.
" During my term, and up to the time of the outbreak, about 175 had their hair cut and had adopted the habits and customs of the white men.
"For a time, indeed, my hopes were strong that civilization would soon be in the as- cendant. But the increase in the civilization party and their evident prosperity, only tended to exasperate the Indians of the ‘an- cient customs,' and to widen the breach. But while these are to be enumerated, it may be permitted me to hope that the radical cause will not be forgotten or overlooked ; and I am bold to express this desire, because, ever since the outbreak, the publie journals of the
country, religious and secular, have teemed with editorials by and communications from 'reliable individuals,' politicians, philanthro- pists. philosophers and hired . penny a-liners,' mostly mistaken and sometimes willfully and grossly false, giving the cause of the Indian raid."
Maj. Galbraith enumerates a variety of other exciting causes of the massacre, which our limit will not allow us to insert in this volume. Among other causes, . . that the United States was itself at war, and that Washington was taken by the negroes. . But none of these were, in his opinion. the cause of the outbreak.
The Major then adds :
"Grievances such as have been related, and numberless others akin to them, were spoken of, recited, and chanted at their councils, dances and feasts, to such an extent that, in their excitement, in June, 1862, a secret organization known as the .Soldiers' Lodge' was founded by the young men and soldiers of the lower Sioux, with the object, as far as I was able to learn through spies and informers, of preventing the 'traders' from going to the pay-tables, as had been their custom. Since the outbreak I have become satisfied that the real object of this 'Lodge' was to adopt measures to 'clean out' all the white people at the end of the payment."
Whatever may have been the cause of the fearful and bloody tragedy, it is certain that the manner of the execution of the infernal deed was a deep-laid conspiracy, long cher- ished by Little Crow, taking form under the guise of the " Soldiers' Lodge," and matured in secret Indian councils. In all these secret movements Little Crow was the moving spirit.
Now the opportune moment seemed to have come. Only thirty soldiers were sta- tioned at Fort Ridgely. Some thirty were all that Fort Ripley could muster, and at
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Fort Abercrombie, one company under Capt. Van Der Hork was all the whites could depend upon to repel any attack in that quarter. The whole effective force for the defense of the entire frontier, from Pembina to the Iowa line, did not exceed 200 men. The annuity money was daily expected, and no troops except about one hundred men at Yellow Medicine, had been detailed, as usual, to attend the anticipated payment. Here was a glittering prize to be paraded before the minds of the excited savages. The whites were weak ; they were engaged in a terrible war among themselves; their atten- tion was now directed toward the great struggle in the South. At such a time, offer- ing so many chances for rapine and plunder, it would be easy to unite at least all the annuity Indians in one common movement. Little Crow knew full well that the Indians could easily be made to believe that now was a favorable time to make a grand attack upon the border settlements.
A memorable couneil convened at Little Crow's village, near the lower agency, on Sunday night, August 3, previous to the attack on Fort Ridgely, and precisely two weeks before the massacres at Acton. Little Crow was at this council, and he was not wanting in ability to meet the greatness of the occasion. The proceedings of this council, of course, were secret. The council matured the details of the conspiracy. It appears that the next day, August 4, a party of ninety-six Indians in war paint and fully armed, rode up to Fort Ridgely and re- quested permission to hold a dance and feast in the fort. They were allowed to hold the dance outside the fort, but Sergeant Jones, with singular foresight, mounted a howitzer charged with shell and canister-shot and guarded the entrance, having it pointed toward the Indians. After finishing the dance the red-skins left without making the attack, which had undoubtedly been medi-
tated. Only thirty soldiers occupied the post at Fort Ridgely, and this was deemed amply sufficient for times of peace.
On the same day a great many Indians were encamped about the Upper Ageney. They were afraid they would not get their annuity money, which had not arrived as yet. They had been complaining bitterly of starvation, and on this day made an attack on the warehouse, carrying off a great deal of flour and other provisions. The matter, however, was finally adjusted, and the agent issued rations, promising to distribute their money as soon as it should arrive. None of the Indians, however, were punished for their attack on the supply house.
We now come to the massacre itself, the first blow of which fell upon the town of Acton, in Meeker County, about thirty-five miles northeast of the Lower Sioux Agency. On Sunday, August 17, 1862, six Sioux In dians brutally murdered a man named Jones, with his wife and a daughter, and a man named Webster and Howard Baker.
On the next day, Monday, the massacre at the Lower Ageney occurred, where many were killed and fearfully mutilated. A few escaped and made their way to the eastern settlements. The Indians declared it to be their intention to kill or drive off all the whites to the east of the Mississippi River, and to spare none. All that day the work of plunder went on at the lower agency, and when the stores and dwellings had been emptied, they were fired. So complete was the surprise and so sudden and unexpected the terrible blow that not a single one of the host of savages was slain. In thirty min- utes from the time the first gun was fired not a white person was left alive. All were either weltering in their gore or had fled in fear and terror from that place of death. It seems that hundreds of the In- dians had gathered here and then dispersed
HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
through the seattered settlements for their murderous work.
On the same morning-of Angust 18- the massacre began on the north side of the Minnesota River, from Birch Coolie to Beaver Creek and beyond, and the region was strewn with the mutilated bodies of the dead and dying men, women and children. So the terrible warfare continued, murder- ing and burning ; none were allowed to es- cape who could possibly be discovered. The outbreak extended over a vast scope of eoun- try, and the Indians numbered well up into the thousands. The entire length of the Minnesota and its tributaries, and out into Dakota, together with all the western part of this State was the scene everywhere of a carnival of blood. The counties affeeted have already been named.
On the 18th of August the Indians at- taeked New Ulm, and after several battles and skirmishes were defeated. A few days later the whites evacuated the town and moved toward Mankato.
On the 1Sthi of August the battle at Lower Ageney Ferry was fought.
On the 20th, seeing they were foiled in their attack on New Ulm, they made a furious assault on Fort Ridgely. A number of whites were killed and wounded, but the Indians were defeated. The attack was re- newed on the 22d and another severe battle occurred, which was ended by night coming on.
Numerous engagements were also fought in the northern part of the State.
Throughout all the Minnesota River coun- try many women and children were taken prisoners. In the meantime companies had been raised and were everywhere following up the Indians and guarding the various posts at which the settlers had gathered. These various companies had also picked up a great many wounded found on the prairies, and also buried the dead. On the 1st of September,
Company A, Sixth Regiment Minnesota Vol- unteers, under Capt. II. P. Grant, fought the battle of Bireh Coolie, a most terrible and bloody engagement. The noble little band of soldiers were relieved on September 3, by an advance movement of Col. Sibley's forces at Fort Ridgely. The signal defeat of Little Crow at this battle, in effect, ended the efforts of the Indians in subdning the whites on the border. After this battle all of the Indian forees under Little Crow be- gan a retreat up the valley of the Minnesota toward Yellow Medicine; and on Septem- ber 16, Col. Sibley, with his whole column, moved in pursuit of the fleeing foe, and on the 23d they came up with the Indians and defeated them in the battle of Wood Lake. This put an end to the hopes of Little Crow. On the same day as the battle of Wood Lake, the Wapeton band of Indians surrendered later and turned over to Col. Sibley all the captives- 107 whites and 162 half-breeds. This place has sinee been known as "Camp Release."
After the disaster at Wood Lake, Little Crow retreated in the direction of Big Stone Lake, with those who remained with him. The chief was never captured, but is said to have been killed at Scattered Lake in 1863. Col. Sibley continued to pursue the deserting Indians, and demanded the surrender of all bands. By the Sth of October, 1862, prison- ers had come in and surrendered to the num- ber of 2,000. Scouting parties were sent over various parts of the West, and, until all danger of further depredations was past, soldiers were stationed at all of the frontier posts and settlements.
A military commission was soon after inaugurated to try the parties charged with murder of white persons. On the 5th of November, 1862, 321 Indians and their allies were found guilty, and 303 were recom- mended for capital punishment, and the others for imprisonment. They were im-
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mediately removed under a gnard of 1,500 men to South Bend, on the Minnesota River, to await further orders from the govern- ment. The final decision of the President was rendered on the 17th of December, 1862, ordering that forty of these be hung on Fri- day, December 26. One of these died a short time before the day set, and one other, a half breed, had his sentence cominnted to imprisonment for life just before the fatal
day. As to the other thirty-eight the sen- tenee was executed at Mankato on the day set.
On the 16th of February, 1863, the trea- ties before that time existing between the United States and these " annuity Indians" were abrogated and annulled, and all lands and rights of occupaney, and all annuities and claims then existing in favor of said Indians, were declared forfeited. Thus ended the saddest chapter of Minnesota's history.
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CHAPTER IV.
TERRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
IFE first governor of the Terri- .... tory of Minnesota was Alexander Ramsey, who served from June 1. 1849, to May 15, 1853. Willis A. Gorman succeeded him, and held the office until April 23, 1857. Samuel Medary was the next territorial governor, and held the office until the State officers were sworn in, May 24, 1858.
The first secretary of the Territory was Charles K. Smith, who served from June 1, 1849, until October 23, 1851, when Alexander Wilkin qualified and held the office until May 15, 1853. Joseph Travis Rosser was the next, and served until April 23, 1857. Charles L. Chase, the last territorial sec- retary, qualified on the date last named and served until succeeded by the newly chosen secretary of state, May 24. 1858.
The office of territorial treasurer was first filled by Calvin A. Tuttle, who served from November 3, 1849. to July 2, 1853. George W. Prescott came next and retained the position until February 24, 1854. Succeed- ing him Charles E. Leonard served until May 7, 1857. when George W. Armstrong was appointed and served until the State officers qualified, May 24, 1858.
J. E. MeKusick was the first territorial auditor, qualifying November 3, 1849, and serving until November 30, 1852. A. Van Vorhees succeeded him and held the office until the 15th of May, 1853, when Socrates Nelson qualified. January 17, 1854, Julius Georgii took charge of the office and served until succeeded by the State auditor, May 24, 1858.
During the existence of the Territory of Minnesota. Lorenzo A. Babcock and then Lafayette Emmett were the only ones to hold the office of attorney general. The first named served from June 1, 1849, until May 15, 1853, and the latter from 1853 until May 24, 1858.
In territorial times there were no district judges, but the justices of the supreme court attended to all judicial matters now within the jurisdiction of the district bench. The first chief justice of the territorial supreme court was Aaron Goodrich, who served from June 1, 1849, to November 13, 1851, when Jerome Fuller was appointed and presided until December 16, 1852. Henry Z. Hayner was next appointed, but never presided at a term of court. William II. Welch was ap- pointed April 7, 1853, and served until May 24, 1858.
David Cooper and Bradley B. Meeker were the first associate justices, and served from June 1, 1849, until April 7, 1853. Their successors were Andrew G. Chatfield and Moses G. Sherburne, who retained the positions until April, 1857, and were fol- lowed by R. R. Nelson and Charles E. Flandrau, who served until the State officers qualified.
The clerks of the territorial supreme court were : James K. Humphrey. Andrew J. Whit- ney and George W. Prescott, in the order named. The reporters were: William Hol- linshead, Isaac Atwater, John B. Brisbin, M. E. Ames and Harvey Officer.
Ilenry H. Sibley was the first delegate from the Territory to Congress, serving from January 15, 1849, to March 4, 1853. Henry
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HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
M. Rice was the second, serving from De- cember 5, 1853, to March 4, 1857, when he was succeeded by W. W. Kingsbury, who qualified December 7, 1857, and whose term expired May 11, 1858.
STATE OFFICERS.
The governors of the State of Minnesota, in their order have been as follows : Henry HI. Sibley, from May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860 ; Alexander Ramsey, to July 10, 1863 ; Henry A. Swift, to January 11, 1864; Stephen Miller, during 1864-5; William R. Marshall, during 1866-7-8-9 ; Horace Aus- tin, during 1870-1-2-3; Cushman K. Davis, during 1874-5; John S. Pillsbury, during 1876-7-8-9-80-81; Lucius F. Hubbard, dur- ing 1882-3-4-5-6, and A. R. McGill, the present governor, who assumed the duties of the office January 5, 1887.
The lieutenant governors since the organ- ization of the State have been as follows : William Holcomb, from May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860; Ignatius Donnelly, to March 3, 1863; Henry A. Swift, to July 10, 1863 ; Charles D. Sherwood, during 1864-5; Thomas H. Armstrong, during 1866-7-8-9 ; William H. Yale, during 1870-1-2-3; Al- phonzo Barto, during 1874-5; James B. Wakefield, during 1876-7-8-9; C. A. Gill- man, during 1880-1-2-3-4-5-6, and A. E. Rice, who qualified January 4, 1887.
The office of secretary of State has been filled successively by the following gen- tlemen : Francis Baasen, from May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860; James II. Baker, to November 17, 1862 ; David Blakely, to Janu- ary 8, 1866; Henry C. Rogers, during the years 1866-7-8-9; Hans Mattson, during 1870-1; S. P. Jennison, during 1872-3-4-5 ; Jolin S. Irgens, during 1876-7-8-9; Fred. Von Baumbach, during 1880-1-2-3-4-5-6, and Hans Mattson, during 1887-8.
The State treasurers have been as follows: George W. Armstrong, from May 24, 1858,
to January 2, 1860 ; Charles Scheffer, during 1860-1-2-3-4-5-6-7; Emil Munch, during 1868-9-70-1 ; William Seeger, from January 5, 1872, to February 7, 1873 ; Edwin W. Dyke, to January 7, 1876 ; William Pfaender, dur- ing 1876-7-8-9 ; Charles Kittelson, during 1880-1-2-3-4-5-6, and Joseph Bobleter, the present treasurer, who was elected for 1887-S.
The auditors of State have been as fol- lows : W. F. Dunbar, from May 24, 1858, to January 1, 1861 ; Charles McIlrath to January 13, 1873; O. P. Whitcomb, to Jan- uary 10, 1882, and W. W. Braden, who is the present incumbent of the oflice.
The office of attorney general has been filled as follows : Charles H. Berry, served from May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1560 ; Gor- don E. Cole, served during 1860-1-2-3-4-5 ; William Colville, during 1866-7; F. R. E. Cornell, during 1868-9-70-1-2-3 ; George P. Wilson, during 1874-5-6-7-8-9 ; Charles M. Start, from January 10, 1880, to March 11, 1881 ; W. J. Hahn, to January 5, 1887, and Moses E. Clapp, the present attorney general.
The present board of railroad commission- ers is made up of Horace Austin, John L. Gibbs and George L. Becker. Those who have composed the board in the past were : A. J. Edgerton, W. R. Marshall, J. J. Ran- dall, J. II. Baker and S. S. Murdock.
Edward D. Neill was the first superintend- ent of public instruction for Minnesota. Ile was appointed in March, 1860, and on the 1st of July, 1861, was succeeded by B. F. Crary. From 1862 to 1867 the secretary of State was ex-officio superintendent, but on April 1, 1867, M. HI. Dunnell was appointed superintendent, and served until August. 1870, when he was succeeded by H. B. Wil- son. April 3, 1875, David Burt was ap- pointed superintendent, and retained the office until succeeded by the present incun ... bent, D. L. Kiehl, who was appointed Sep- tember 1, 1881.
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HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
The office of insurance commissioner has been held in turn by Pennock Pusey, A. R. McGill and Charles Shandrew; the last named gentleman having been appointed Jannary 6, 1887, is the present commissioner.
The commissioners of statistics have been as follows : J. A. Wheelock, Pennock Pusey, C. F. Solberg, J. B. Phillips, T. M. Metcalf, J. P. Jacobson, F. Sneedorff, Oscar Malmros, A. F. Nordin, Victor Hjortsberg and Her- man Stockenstrom.
The following is a list of the gentlemen who have filled the office of adjutant-gen- eral: Alex. C. Jones, W. HI. Acker, John B. Sanborn, Oscar Malmros, John P'eller, HI. P. Van Cleve, M. D. Flower, ,II. A. Castle, HI. P. Van Cleve, A. C. Hawley, C. M. MeCar- thy and F. W. Seeley.
JUDICIARY.
The first chief justice of the supreme court of the State was Lafayette Emmett, who was sworn in May 24, 1858, and served until January 10, 1865. Thomas Wilson suc- ceeded him and served until July 14, 1869, when he was succeeded by James Gilfillan.
Christopher G. Ripley was the next, holding the position from January 7, 1870, until April 7, 1874, when he was followed by S. J. R. McMillan, who served until March 10, 1875. At that time James Gilfillan became chief justice, and is the present incumbent.
The following statements will show the associate justices, together with the date of qualification of each : Charles E. Flandrau and Isaac Atwater served from May 24, 1858, to July 6, 1864; S. J. R. McMillan from July 6, 1864, to April 7, 1874; Thomas Wilson from July 6, 1864, to January 10, 1865; George B. Young from April 16, 1874, to January 11, 1875 ; F. R. E. Cornell from January 11, 1875, to May 23, 1881, and Greenleaf Clark from March 14, 1881, to January 12, 1882. The present associate justices are John M. Berry, who first quali- fied January 10, 1865 ; D. A. Dickinson, since June 27, 1881; William Mitchell, since March 14, 1881, and C. E. Vanderburgh, since January 12, 1882.
As to district conrts, the State is now divided into thirteen districts.
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CHAPTER V.
REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, AND THE CREATION OF COUNTIES.
ENATORS. The first United States Senators from Minnesota were James Shields and Henry M. Rice, who took the oath of office May . 11, 1858. The former was suc- ceeded on March 4th, 1860, by Morton S. Wilkinson, who served the full term. Daniel S. Norton was sworn in to succeed Wilkin- son, March 4, 1867, and died while in office, July 14, 1870. O. P. Stearns was appointed, and served out the few weeks left of the term. William Win- dom came next, and retained the office until March 12, 1881, when he was succeeded by A. J. Edgerton, who resigned, however, in October of the same year, and William Win- dom was again chosen, serving until suc- ceeded by one of the present Senators, D. M. Sabin, March 4, 1883.
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