USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 2
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.361
Anderson, John MI
474
Brown. Oliver W.
451
Anderson, Olo
337
Buchmann, William (
5229
Anderson, Peter O.
528
Burnham. Harry M
453
Appel, Frank J
412
Burreson, Peter
Arndt, Martin
538
Burrill. Dr. C. L.
.528
Arnold, Anthony
405
Bushnell. Sherrill .413
.441
Arntson, Olof
568
Arp, .J. B.
436
Cabot, John L 417
Arzt, Dr. Herbert L.
542
Caldwell, James ( .440
Ashley, Benjamin W
351
Callison. W. L
Ashley, Jesse F
382
Capelle. Walter
Ashley, Leonard F
3558
C'arlestrom, William .38S
Ashley. Louis W 460
C'arl-on, Andrew .470
Carr, William E. 576
C'ass, Stephen G. .
554
Ashley, Otis M
500
Chamberlin, George C.
340
Ashley, Weleh
312
Chalupnik, Jobn A
.577
Cheadle. Alton
.484
Christiansen, George
566
Christle. Gustave J.
550
Christoffers, Seibert
.562
Baker. William H
.527
Cedarberg. Elias
.456
Baldwin, John .375
Bargfrede, John Diedrich. . .584
fook, Alfred II. . 569
Barnett, John 453
475
Cordes. Anton 512
Bauchle. Adam 429
Cowing. John W 404
Bauer, Christ
450
Crawford. David
414
Anten. William F.
564
Chalupnik, Joseph J. .
Avery. Virgil W
427
Bailey, Frank E. 349
Bailey, Major Hiram 339
Conner, Thomas .J 575
Conley, Frederick A .513
Bartosch, Raymond
370
Ashley. Menzo L
345
Borsgard. Peter
Anderson, Adolph
470
Anderson, Gustav A
469
Britsch, Louis
Arnold, Herman J
Butler. Vernon
Ashley. Mark D.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Page.
Page.
Crawley, John S.
585
Hiissel. Charles .572
V'ulherison, H. S
.462
Gerlach. A. Frank
400
Immingham, George B
.546
Gerlach, Michael J .397
Gilbert. Albert II. .
397
Gilbert. Gilbert 11
.371
Gilbert, Hogan 338
455
Day, Frank E ..
.511
Gillie. Han- O
.372
Diesen, Obert Elmer
430
Gogolinski, Joe
.551
Dilley. Peter
459
nohr. Albert
48.4
Dostal. Leo J
Koliko, Joseph F
525
Drews, William F
.539
Goodwin. Thomas
340
Dunker, John
480
Grady. John t
138
Dunlop. William C ..
.168
Grave. Barney
583
Dunn. Marshal B
.360
Graves. Joseph II.
541
Greenwood, Clarence W
30S
Eastwood, Carl .421
57]
Crinager, Thomas II.
.449
Edel, Thomas .582
Gruhlke, Albert .\ 383
Edlin, John C.
.521
Gruhlke. Robert A 363
Egge, John J., Jr.
.502
Grulilke. William H 363
Egge. John P.
511
Crunst. John
542
Egge. Tollet .I.
.49:)
Curitz. Herman
518
Eggestein, William
.142
Guritz, John
579
Ellofson, John E
551
Elness, Aleck F.
569
Haberman, Ferdinand K
Haberman, John B
Hafer. Peter
142
Engel, John
415
Hlamlon. William
153
Hansen. Peter (Jackson)
437
Erpestad. Michael 11
398
Hansen. Peter ( Wisconsin) 185
.505
Hanson. Nels
469
Faber. Frederick B. . 532
llanson. Otto
371
Fader. Edson
361
Fest. Mathias
529
Darmı. John
444
Fiala. Frank
425
Harstad. Ole Severson
373
Findes. Alexander
386
Harstad. S. O
393
Fiddes. Alexander T ..
458
Hartman, Fred W. G
553
Flatgard, O. T.
509
Hartneck. Max
55.8
Forman. John R
560
Hasbargen, Charles
568
Fosness, A. A
401
Hasbargen. Daniel R
521
Foss, Martin A
5-18
lassing. Henry
530
Frandrup, Henry
514
llerhi. Augu-1
473
Frant-en. Carl
383
Hecht. Charles
561
Frederickson, Bendick
467
lieidlehangh, S. E.
519
Frederickson, Fred O
553
Ilelvig. Lars
.571
Frederickson. John
430
Hewitt. Edward F
464
Freemire. William E.
393
Holland, John L
540
Freer. Newton
550
Hofland, JJohn O
510
Freer, Peter E.
196
Ilafstad, Martin 13
538
Freer. Walter S
402
llokauson. F. G
425
Freking, August
431
Holden, Peter P'
314
Fritscher, Joseph E ..
500
Frodermann. Herman
154
Holsten. Martin
39€
Frost. Moses L ...
.33€
Iloovel. Henry J
.553
Hughes. 11. Henry
409
Cage, Charles M
.450
Humphrey, Charles M.
-172
Gage, Ernest
106
Hunt. William
.559
Hunter, James W
379
Uage. Theodore E.
458
Ilusby, Gunder
Fugle teen. Theodore
.550
Hovelsrud. John
.503
Frost, Nathaniel
Holsten. Nels
489
380
Hassing. Frank . .
504
Foss, Oscar
440
Havostck, Joseph
Homming, Chri- L .570
Frederickson, Samuel
520
Elness. Edward
EIness. O. E 530
Elverumı, Peter P 390
lagerson, John
Engen. Ole 0.
487
Esser. Ferdinand
Hanson. Jonas
Hanson. Peter T
500
Edel. Joseph
Dall, Chris 472
Dall. Samuel .448
Dalziel,
.414
Gillespie. H. B
Grein, John 530
559
533
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
xix
Page.
Page.
HIusby, Mark
.460
Larson, Angust .573
Hussong, Conrad
577
Larson, John 582
Larson, John S 408
Iverson, Ole
476
Larson, Ole L. 40S
Larson, Oscar A
503
Jackman, Merton F 518
Lee, Brownell II.
.348
Jackson, Henry Walter 472
Lee, Francis O.
.460
Jackson, Jacob C. 392
Lee, llenry Il.
375
Jacobsen, Peter .576
.567
Lev, Frank M .. .559
Jacobson, John
James, Dr. Meredith J .565
.427
Liepold, Jolm G.
531
Jarmuth, Wilham 1I.
Liepold, Julius F 374
470
Jensen, Christen
.515
Livengood, Rollen W.
.536
Jensen, Jens
.572
Loken, Andrew
.431
Johnson. Abraham .369
.398
Johnson, Albert J .565
.344
Johnson, H. O.
.482
Johnson, J. C .. .356
Madden, Maurice 578
Madden, Thomas 501
Madsen, Peter 407
Magyar, John 561
Makovika, Joseph V 453
Malehow, Charles 347
Malchow, F. E. 535
Malehow, William 499
497
Marey, Osro C.
578
Kellam, Dr. Charles R. J. 378
.570
Matteson, Benjamin
450
Kidney, Fred W.
.530
Matuska, Frank
544
Kielblock, August .540
Mayer, Charles .432
470
Kilen, Anders R 394
MeGlin, Michael
512
Kilen, Erick 361
MeKellar, Peter D.
443
Kimball, Wilbur S. 341
MeMartin, John
.465
King, Jolm L.
.528
MeNab. Duncan
352
King, William V
.339
McQuillin. William A
.537
King, Willie P. 400
Melville, Andrew H .552
Meyer, Charles H. 449
Meyer, Fred II .. ,581
Knox, John Cowing.
431
Milbrath, Edward 532
491
Knudson, Henry
365
Kunth, Claus
541
Miller, Henry M
440
Knutson, Albert S
399
Miller, John W.
391
Koehn, Ferdinand
459
Miller, Michael
377
Koep, llerman Il
549
Niller, Mike J .. 523
Mittelstadt, Robert 303
471
Koster, John P.
473
Kral, John V ..
481
Krumwiede, Louis
543
Molkenthin, Gustav II 515
Montee, M. P. 580
Kuhnan, Gerhard
.545
Moore, George R.
376
Kuhnau, Rudolph 517
Morrison, George E 526
Moses, James B 388
Kulseth, Thomas 533
Kummeth, L. 412
Motl, Frank 418
Muir, Robert C .. 404
Lammers, Louis F 395
Mnir, William T. 394
Jens J 493
Johnson, Louis L.
535
Johnson, Nels A.
485
Johnson, William
429
Juvland, Gjermund T
501
Kable, Henry 585
Kable, Thomas 545
Katus, John 452
476
Jensen, Christ
469
Lindberg, Christian E.
Jepson, Peter .552
Ludvigsen, Christ
.518
Johnson, A. E.
Ludvigsen, Eric 519
Ineneburg, John C. 399
Lueneburg, Robert H 381
Luft, Conrad W. 565
Johnson, James C. 580
Matousek, Father Rudolph
.568
Kephart, Bert
Kiesel, Louis 466
MeGlin, John
Klein, Peter 573
Klindt, Ferdinand 528
Knox, Thomas J 354
Milbrath. Ferdinand
Miller, Charles 444
Koep, P. F.
517
Kopeste, Frank
582
Moe, Dr. Anton J.
Moe, S. .373
Molden, Paul 531
Kuhlman, Martin 508
Lee, Martin 500
Lev, Albert A .451
Jacobsen, Peter C.
492
Lewis, Edward J. .569
Libra, Leonard A. .459
Jarmuth, Henry
Jackman, Charles 463
Johnson, Ben H
Johnson,
Mansfield, John A.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Page.
Page.
Muzikar. Frank .\
.415 Prokis, Joseph S .... 486
Muzikar, Joseph T
.456 Pulver. D. A .
. . . .355
Myrvoll. Lars ..
.526
Putman, J. M .
Navara, Jolin .. .
539
Qualey, John .537
Nejedly, Karl
481
Quall, Martin .5$1
Nelson, George F ..
.3.52
Quinby, Jens
.501
Nakon. Hugbert ,
.182
Nelson, .I. P.
549
Raasch. John F 427
Rank. Samuel L. .450
VI an, l'eter
131
Readle. Barbara
Vestril Adelph
Hoe. John 11
Austrnd, JJohn
138
503
Niemann, Carl
525
Rohmelt. Stephen
.516
Nordberg. Ole M.
.575
Source, Joseph 11.
365
Rice. E. .522
Dommel, John G .4.37
Olsen. Jeinek
170
Oben, Tarje K.
.190
Robert -. Dr. Oscar E
5.18
uh-en. Thomas
409
Robertson. R. S
415
DI-mmm, Edward E ..
500
Roe. Anders
312
Ofson. John M.
357
Rossow. Carl F
350
ui-on, Ole JI.
565
Rost, Charles W
-19.
Olson. Peter A
.351
Rost. James R.
493
mason. Poler T
51-4
Rne. Halock K
372
Olson. Simon
338
Rue, Hiram (
397
Olson. Tollet
.5.41
Russell. Perry L .
.516
Upperund. Anders
.367
Russell. Thomas J .. 45%
Paddock. George B
.420
Saathoff, Henry 483
Page. Edward G ..
Shathoff, Siebeil 1
537
Palmer, Captain Jareb
333
St. John. Andre M
-157
Palmier, James E.
337
St. John, Benona P 132
l'atter-on. Jesse .1
367
Salin. John .A
583
Paulson, Henry
.572
511
Paulson, Paul II.
.416
Sandon, Charles
.3.11
Pearson, Ernest E.
Sawyer. Fredt D
105
Pellersan, Anton
Sawyer, Google
.301
Perry, Charles E.
178
Sawyer. John M
.510
Peter. William
191
Schepjanana. Vgn-1
502
Peters. Herman 11
-1336
526
Poter-en. Lauritz P.
4.15
Schnapp, John D
135
Peterson. Andrew
102
Schorlerias B. Frederick W
555
Peterson. Charlie
Schorwe. Rudolph
.502
Peterson, John
513
Schroeder. A. M.
.403
Pietsch, Guido E
513
Sehrorder. Theodore
.475
Pigmin. Walter I
Schroeder. William J. (
518
Plagman, Ferdinand
.538
Schroeder, William M. F
.512
Pohlman. Angust
Schmitz. Heury
. 455
Pullman Houry
531
Schumacher. Edward
-1st
Publinan, Hermin
561
schumacher. William
.381
Pope. Trink L
517
Schwager, JJurgen
.102
Poppitz, Bruno
Spleen. Fred J.
361
Post. Harm
123 Sether. Hans (
.346
Prescott. Je P
.370 Severson, Charlie
.5.17
Pribyl. Frank J
shay. James D
.545
Pribyl. Joseph f
479 Shearer, Samuel
567
Reimers, Fred .453
Ridgeway. William F.
.369
Ricken, Claus E ...
472
Riley. Captain Daniel L
. . 4423
Olson, Andrew C.
343
Robson. Henry
Rossow. Henry
Sander.
.519
.400
Peter -. Emil
551
Schlapkohl. Charles
558
Albert
510
Schneider. William &
533
Pohlman, (r) W
Schonacher. Theodore E
391
Pohlman, Willim
Portmana. Dr. Walban t
Serum. Amlrow (
371
Road. Band 1;
Nilsen. Mathias
Breves. John L ..
Nelson, Ole
371
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
xxi
Page.
Page.
Shudahl, Herman
576
Tordson, William 480
Shumacher, Ernst
476
Tramm, Albert F 576
Sievert, Frank .545
.463
Trosin. Emil
522
Skalsky. Frank
571
Trosin, Frederick W 557
Skinrud, Ilans O.
380
Tusa. John
572
Smalley. Isiah L .571
Smith, Edwin
507
Uden, Henry W. 500
Smith, George 11 443
440
U'ptagratft, John
445
Smith. John JJ
490
Smith, John T
350
Vacek, Joseph 525
Smith, Morton W
.517
Vacura, Edward F. 434
Spafford, JJohn A
.497
Vacura, James 430
Vagt, Otto 574
527
Stall, Hans
399
Vanduzer. Bradford F
524
Stall, Henry A
392
Vavricbek, Anton
582
Stall, Martin
426
Vorhl, Adam
444
Stall, Thomas H
.505
Voelil. Henry W.
556
Steffen, Henry
478
Steiner, John L.
531
Stenzel, Clement
504
Stenzel, Frank J.
389
Steward, Ecroy D
.567
Stofferahn. Frank
581
Wadsworth. Isaac
562
Wagner, Michael 474
Wagnild, Ole I. 421
416
Strom, Herman L
446
Ward, Albert W
437
Strong. Albert H.
.356
Washburn. Charles F
510
Struck, Henry
575
Watland, Alfred .520
489
Stude, Henry
463
Wegner. Reinhold C. 584
Stude, Lewis
465
Weis, Nick W. 578
Stuermer, Reinhold
570
Wendelsdorf, John C. 539
Stumpf. Lorenz
451
Weppler. Balser 584
447
Sullivan, Jerry
488
Whisney, Mike
534
Swenson, Andrew H
418
Wiebener. Clans
494
Swenson, Carl J.
557
Wiese, Gustav
520
Wiger, G. E.
485
Wiley. Albert
401
Willford. Port
533
Tallman, Augustus 532
Tank. Ilerman N.
127
Teig. Carl
55S
Teig, Edward
585
Wold. Dr. W. W. 467
452
Teigen. Anton
393
Teigen, Lars O.
.357
Wood. George H
.377
Thielvoldt, Henry
384
Wood, William
Thomas, James B
335
Thomas, Joseph
336
Thomas, Joseph E 378
Wrede, William
552
Thomson, John B 462
Thoreson, Ole 560
Thoreson, Tilbert
539
Yeadicke, Herman J
Tollefson. Ben J 410
Youngren. Carl O 567
Tollefson, Hans 352
Tonder, Marius 477
Tord-en. John
565
Zenor, Leland E. 521
Tordsen, Peter
119
Zinser, Leonard F 550
.348
Withers. Charles W
.501
Withers. George
390
Teig. O. M.
579
Wolff, Charles F.
Wood. Clark A 509
355
TerlJaar, Henry 442
Wood, Jonah H
335
Woolstencroft, John S
478
Swenson, John O. 401
Swenson, Olof O.
435
Von Behren, Henry
514
Wade, Robert H. 358
Stone. Henry P
411
Streator, Edwin
579
Wallace, John I.
Stude, Christ
460
Wazlahowsky, Frank
Sullivan, Alex
523
Werner. Angust
Sparks, Arthur J
447
Stahl, Ilans
546
Valgamore. Henry I
Smith, John
Trondson, Trond O. .362
Skalieky, Emil J
Ukosick, Joseph 443
Vogt, Peter J. 361
Worshek. Wesley 479
Varns, George B. 426
Winzer, Charles
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY MINNESOTA
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
JOSEPH NICOLAS NICOI LET
The First White Man to Set Foot on the Soil of Jackson County.
CHAPTER I.
ABORIGINAL DAYS-1834-1855.
I T WAS only a few hundred years ago gists estimate, 100,000.000 or more years that Christopher Columbus discover- ago during the Archean or Beginning era, ed America. That was a modern - which extended over a period of time event in the history of the world-and roughly estimated at 50,000,000 or more years. The early part of this period is termed Azoie, from the absence of any evi- dence that the earth or the sea had either plant or animal life. Following this came the Paleozoie time, covering a period of something like 36,000.000 years, an era characterized by ancient types of life, un- known today. Jackson county-according to the meas- urements of time employed by the archae- ologists and geologists. We can, in ima- gery, go back to that time and let our fancy tell us what the Jackson county of that day was like. Its topography was practically the same as we find it today. There were the same broad, rolling prai- ries, stretching as far as the eye might reach, presenting in summer a perfect paradise of verdure, with its variegated hues of flowers and vegetation : in winter a dreary and snow-mantled desert. The rivers and ereeks flowed in the same courses as now; the lakes occupied the same banks.
But to get at the beginning of the his- tory of Jackson county we must consider events that antedate the discovery of America by periods of time measured in eons-events which the most vivid imagi- nation eannot conceive. events which were never witnessed by mortal eye. We are informed that ages before man was made our earth was a mass of molten. seething fire; that in time this huge ball of fire cooled and the earth's erust was formed. This transformation occurred, so geolo-
The next period of time is known as the Mesozoie time, covering the comparatively short period of 9,000,000 years. Our county was land area during the greater part of this time. The floras and faunas of this age were gradually changing from their primitive and ancient character of the Paleozoie time, but had not yet at- tained the comparatively modern forms of the succeeding era. In late Mesozoie days the greater part of Minnesota was again depressed beneath the sea. as it had heen in ages past.
The Cenozoic time, some 3,000,000 years in length, followed, during which that part of the earth's surface now known as Minnesota was lifted from the sea. and it has ever since remained above the water. During this time there came into existence the present types of life,
25
1
26
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
replacing those of the early periods. Man was created. disperse l over the earth. and developed into the several colors and races.
Most wonderful and most recent of the wonders occurring in the making of our earth was the Ice age, which began some 15,000 or 100,000 years ago and ceased only from 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Prior to the beginning of this time the carth had been uniformly warm or temperate, but about the time mentioned the north- ern half of North America and northern Europe became enveloped with thick sheets of snow and ice. probably caused by the uplifting of the land (the surface was then from 2,000 to 3,000 feet higher than now) into extensive plateaus, which received snowfall throughout the year. The lower latitudes retained the temper- ate climate, thus permitting the plant and animal life to survive until the melting of the ice sheets again permitted the oceu- paney of the northern latitudes. Under the weight of the vast glaciers the land sank to its present level. the surface was ground down and evened off and made practically as we find it today. With the sinking of the land came the rapid melt- ing of the glaciers, though with numerous pauses and probably slight readvances.
During these millions of years many interesting things happened in Jackson county. From a part of the seething, molten mass that composed the earth dur- ing the millions of years about which even the geologist dare not venture a guess it became a part of the earth's surface in the process of cooling. Thereafter it was suc- cessively covered with the waters of the sea, was raised from the depths to a high altitude. and was crushed back by the weight of the vast ice shorts. During these various periods its topographical foa- fures were formed, many changes resulting before nature had them fashioned to her
liking. Ridges and hills were formed by the action of the ice; depressions were left in which are now lakes; the water from the melting ice sought avenues of escape and formed the rivers and crocks : soils. Joks and minerals were spread over the surface ; plant and animal life came into existence.
When Jackson county was first inhabi- ted by the human specie- is unknown. Archaeologists cannot even hazard a guess when the American continent was tir-t inhabited. There has been discovered evidence that man lived upon North Am- trican soil during the decline and closing scenes of the Ice age.1 some 6,000 to 10 .- 000 years ago, and probably had done so for a much longer period. Concerning the original peopling of North America, Warren Upham. A. M .. D. Se., in Minno- sota in Three Centuries, says:
The original propling of America appears to have taken place far lenger ago by migration from northeastern AAsia during the carly (Quaternary of Ozarkian epoch of general up- lint of northern region- which immediately preceded the Ice age, and wich continued through the early and probably the greater part of that age. Then land undoubtedly ex tended across the present area of Bering sea.
During Ozarkian time and the long early part of the Glacial period. wandering tribes. migrating for better food supplies or to es. cape from enemies, could have crossed on land from Asia lo Alaska, and could advance sonth to Palagonia and Tierra del Fuego. ocenpying all the ground (excepting the ice covered area) that is now, or was in pre-Columbian times, the home of the American race. 11 1- not improbable, too, that another line of very ancient migration, in the same carly Pleisto. cene or Quaternary time, passed from western Europe by the Faroe islands, Iceland, and Greenland. to our continent.
When civilized man first came to the new world he found it peopled with a sivage race which he called Indians. They lad no knowledge of their own ancestry nor of any peoples who may have preceded them. Whether or not this race supplanted , ne of a higher civilization is a question up-
"Trees of man's prescher during this period hive loon found in a fond plain of the Missis- Mappi river at Litth Falls, Minnesota and in other parts of the United States.
27
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
on which archaeologists disagree.2 The only sources of information available concern- ing the early inhabitants are the imple- ments of warfare and domestic use they made, found in burial places and elsewhere in the land. The Mississippi valley is pro- lific in mounds-the burial places of these- ancient peoples-many having been found and excavated in Minnesota. Scattered through the Des Moines valley and around the lakes of the vicinity have been found inany of these interesting works of pre- historie days.
At least one such mound in Jackson county has been excavated. In 18:1 a solid stone ball, about two inches in diame- fer, made round by primitive tools, was plowed out of the ground on the farm of Mr. Hans Chesterson, a short distance west of Jackson. A mound in the vi- cinity was excavated by Jackson people two years later. The monnd was semicir- cular and several fect high, the outer line of the embankment being broken in sev- eral places. In one of the larger mounds a part of a man's leg bone was found. The excavation was not pursned extensively and nothing else of interest was un- earthed.3
While we have little knowledge of the very early peoples who inhabited our state. from the middle of the seventeenth cen- tury, when white men first came to the northwest, we can trace the history quite accurately.
The two principal tribes that inhabited
""'It was formerly thought by many archaeolo- gists. twenty-five to fifty years ago, that the mounds of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys were built by a prehistoric people, distinct from the Indians and further advanced in agricul- ture and the arts of civilization. To that an- cient people the name of Mound Builders was given, and it' was supposed that they were driven southward into Mexico by incursions of the Indian tribes that were found in our coun- try at the first coming of white men. This view, however, has been generally given up. The researches of Powell and other specialists, including Winchell and Brower in Minnesota. have well referred the building of the mounds to the ancestors of the present Indians."- Warren Upham in Minnesota in Three Centur- ies.
3Jackson Republic. August 30, 1873.
Minnesota from the time of our first knowledge of the country, until they were supplanted by white men, and whose hunting grounds long included all this area, until ceded by treaties, were the Ojibways, ranging through the northern forest region, and the Sioux or Dakotas, who originally inhabited the southern and western prairie portions of the state. Bands from four other tribes of Indian peoples have temporarily lived in the state. these being the Hurons, Ottawas, Winne- bagos and Crees.
The Sioux tribe, which chiefly concerns us, came originally from the Atlantic coast, in Virginia and the Carolinas. Sev- eral centuries before the discovery of Am- erica they migrated from that eastern country, by way of the Ohio river, and eventually located on the prairies west of the Mississippi river. The name of this nation is a contraction of Nadonessis or Nadouesioux, which is the name used for the tribe by the very early explorers, and which was given to these people by the Ojibways and other Algonquins. The or- iginal name is a term of hatred, meaning snakes or enemies. Naturally the Sioux disliked this name, and they called them- selves. collectively. Dakotas, which means confederates or allies.
When knowledge was first gained of the Sioux or Dakota Indians there were three great tribal divisions, namely, the Isantis, residing about the headwaters of the Mis- sissippi; the Yanktons, who occupied the region north of the Minnesota river ; and the Titonwans, who had their hunting grounds west of the Yanktons.
When white men began making homes in this frontier country they gained more definite knowledge of the natives than had been secured by the infrequent explorers. We, being chiefly interested in that branch of the Sioux nation which partially inhab- ited and wholly claimed the southern
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28
ILISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
part of the state, are fortunate that defi- nite and reliable information of these bands was seenred and has been preserved. General 11. HI. Sibley, who was an authori- ty on Indian affairs because of his inti- mate relations with the natives in his ca- pacity as head trader for one of the big fur companies, has described the Indian bands of this section as he found them in 1834.
The M'daywakantons, or People of the Iweaf. comprised seven bands who could bring into the field about six hundred warriors. Their summer residences were in villages, the lodges being built of elm bark upon a frame work of poles. These villages were situated at Wabasha Prairie. where the city of Winona now stands; af Red Wing and Kaposia. on the Mis- sissippi river: on the lower Minnesota, below Shakopee, where there were three hands; and on lake Calhoun. near Minne- apolis. The Wahpakootas. or People of the Shot Leaf, were in villages on Cannon lake, a short distance from the present city of Faribault, and a few other points. and they numbered about one hundred fifty warriors. The lower Wahpatons were located at Little Rapids, Sand Prai- rie and on the banks of the Minnesota not far from Belle Plaine. The lower Sis- setons occupied the regions around Tra- verse des Sioux (near St. Peter), Swan lake and the Cottonwood river, their pos- sessions extending to the Coteau des Prai- ries of extreme southwestern Minnesota. It was this branch of the Sioux which claim- ed jurisdiction over and title to the pres- ent day Jackson county, although they did not have their permanent homes here. The upper Wahpaton tribe had its villages on the shores of the Lae qui Parle. The upper Sissetons were on Big Stone lake and Lake Traverse.
These tribes also claimed a generous part of northern lowa and portions of
South Dakota. It was never entirely clear by what right the Sioux claimed this part of Jowa or even the extreme southwestern part of Minnesota. They had never made permanent location thercon. and, indeed, the only occasions when they had visited these districts were at the times of their excursions against the Sacs and Foxes of the upper Des Moines, or when they were in search of buffalo in that region or about lake Shetek.' Their muniments of title were vagne and imperfect. After having heen driven from the country cast of the Mississippi by the Chippewas, they had crossed to the west bank and driven a band of lowa Indians from the country about Fort Snelling and established themselves along the Mississippi and Minnesota ris- ers.
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