USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 21
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Governor Ramsey, Hon. II. II. Sibley, and the delegate to Congress devised at Washington, this winter, the territorial seal. The design was Falls of St. Anthony in the distance. An immigrant ploughing the land on the borders of the Indian country, full of hope, and looking forward to the possession of the hunting grounds beyond. An Indian, amazed at the sight of the plough, and fleeing on horseback towards the setting sun.
The motto of the Earl of Dunraven, "Que sursum volo videre" (I wish to see what is above) was most appropriately selected by Mr. Sibley, but by the blunder of an engraver it appeared on the territorial seal, "Quo sursum velo videre," which no scholar could translate. At length was substituted, "L' Etoile du Nord," "Star of the North," while the device of the setting sun remained, and this is objectionable, as the State of Maine had already placed the North Star on her eseutcheon, with the motto "Dirigo," "I guide." Perhaps some future legislature may
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SCALP DANCE IN STILLWATER.
direct the first motto to be restored and correctly engraved.
In the month of April, there was a renewal of hostilities between the Dahkotahs and Ojibways. on lands that had been ceded to the United States. A war prophet at Red Wing, dreamed that he ought to raise a war party. Announcing the fact, a number expressed their willingness to go on such an expedition. Several from the Kaposia village also joined the party, under the leadership of a worthless Indian, who had been confined in the guard-house at Fort Snelling, the year previous, for scalping his wife.
Passing up the valley of the St. Croix, a few miles above Stillwater the party discovered on the snow the marks of a keg and footprints. These told them that a man and woman of the Ojibways had been to some whisky dealer's, and were re- turning. Following their trail, they found on Apple river, about Iwenty miles from Stillwater, a band of Ojibways encamped in one lodge. Wait- ing till daybreak of Wednesday, April second, the Dahkotahs commeneed firing on the unsuspecting inmates, some of whom were drinking from the contents of the whisky keg. The camp was com- posed of fifteen, and all were murdered and sealp- ed, with the exception of a lad, who was made.a captive.
On Thursday, the victors came to Stillwater, and daneed the scalp dance around the captive boy, in the heat of excitement, striking him in the face with the scarcely cold and bloody scalps of his relatives. The child was then taken to Ka- posia, and adopted by the chief. Governor Ram- sey immediately took measures to send the boy to his friends. At a conference held at the Gov- ernor's mansion, the boy was delivered up, and, on being led out to the kitchen by a little son of the Governor, since deceased, to receive refresh- ments, he cried bitterly, seemingly more alarmed at being left with the whites than he had been while a captive at Kaposia.
From the first of April the waters of the Mis- sissippi began to rise, and on the thirteenth, the lower floor of the warehouse, then occupied by William Constans, at the foot of Jackson street, St. Paul, was submerged. Taking advantage of the freshet, the steamboat Anthony Wayne, for a purse of two hundred dollars, ventured through the swift eurrent above Fort Snelling, and reached
the Falls of St. Anthony. The boat loft the fort after dinner, with Governor Ramsey and other guests, also the band of the Sixth Regiment on board, and reached the falls between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. The whole town, men, women and children, lined the shore as the boat approached. and welcomed this first arrival, with shouts and waving handkerchiefs.
On the afternoon of May fifteenth, there might have been seen, hurrying through the streets of Saint Paul, a member of naked and painted braves of the Kaposia band of Dahkotahs, ornamented with all the attire of war, and panting for the sealps of their enemies. A few hours before, the warlike head chief of the Ojibways, young Hole- in-the-Day, having secreted his canoe in the retire:l gorge which leads to the cave in the upper sub- urbs, with two or three associates had crossed the river, and, almost in sight of the citizens of th" town, had attacked a small party of Dahkotahs, and murdered and scalped one man. On receipt of the news, Governor Ramsey granted a parole to the thirteen Dalkotabs confined in Fort Snell- ing, for participating in the Apple river massacre.
On the morning of the sixteenth of May, the first Protestant church edifice completed in the white settlements, a small frame building, built for the Presbyterian church, at Saint Paul, was destroyed by fire, it being the first eonflagration that had occurred since the organization of the territory.
One of the most interesting events of the year 1850, was the Indian council, at Fort Snelling. Governor Ramsey had sent runners to the differ- ent bands of the Ojibways and Dahkotahs, to meet him at the fort, for the purpose of en- deavouring to adjust their difficulties.
On Wednesday, the twelfth of June, after much talking, as is customary at Indian councils, the two tribes agreed as they had frequently done before, to be friendly, and Governor Ramsey presenting to each party an ox. the council was dissolved.
On Thursday, the Ojibways visited St. Paul for the first time, young Hole-in-the-Day being dressed in a coat of a captain of United States infantry, which had been presented to him at the fort. On Friday, they left in the steamer Gov- ernor Ramsey, which had been built at St. An- thony, and just commenced running between
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EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA.
that point and Sauk Rapids, for their homes in the wilderness of the Upper Mississippi.
The summer of 1850 was the commencement of the navigation of the Minnesota River hy steamboats. With the exception of a steamer that made a pleasure excursion as far as Shokpay, in 1841, no large vessels had ever disturbed the waters of this stream. In June, the " Anthony Wayne," which a few weeks before had ascended to the Falls of St. Anthony, made a trip. On the eighteenth of Jury she made a second trip. going almost to Mahkahto. The " Nominee " also navigated the stream for some distance.
On the twenty-second of July the officers of the " Yankee." taking advantage of the high water, determined to navigate the stream as far as possible. The boat ascended to near the Cot- tonwood river.
As the time for the general election in Septent- ber approached, considerable excitement was manifested. As there were no political issues before the people. parties were formed based on personal preferences. Among those nominated for delegate to Congress, by various meetings. were II. Il. Sibley, the former delegate to. Con- gress, David Olmsted, at that time engaged in the Indian trade, and A. M. Mitchell, the United States marshal. £ Mr. Olmsted withdrew his name before election day, and the contest was between those interested in Sibley and Mitchell. The friends of each betrayed the greatest zeal, and neither pains nor money were spared to in- sure success. Mr. Sibley was elected by a small majority. For the first time in the territory, soldiers at the garrisons voted at this election. and there was considerable discussion as to the propriety of such a course.
Miss Fredrika Bremer, the well known Swedish novelist, visited Minnesota in the month of October, and was the gnest of Governor Ramsey.
During November, the Dahkotah Tawaxitku Kin, or the Dahkotah Friend, a monthly paper, was commenced, one-half in the Dahkotah and one-half in the English language. Its editor was the Rev. Gideon HT. Pond, a Presbyterian mis- sionary, and its place of publication af Saint Paul. It was published for nearly two years, and, though it failed to attract the attention of the Indian mind, it conveyed to the English reader much
correct information in relation to the habits, the belief, and superstitions, of the Dahkotahs.
On the tenth of December, a new paper, owned and edited by Daniel A. Robertson, late United States marshal, of Ohio, and ealled the Minne- sota Democrat, made its appearance.
During the summer there had been changes in the editorial supervision of the "Chronicle and Register." For a brief period it was edited by L. A. Babcock, Esq., who was succeeded by W. 6. Le Duc.
About the time of the issuing of the Demo- crat, C. J. Henmiss, formerly reporter for the United States Gazette, Philadelphia, became the editor of the Chronicle.
The first proclamation for a thanksgiving day was issued in 1850 by the governor, and the twenty-sixtti of December was the time appointed and it was generally observed.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1851.
On Wednesday, January first, 185], the second Legislative Assembly assembled in a three-story brick buikling, since destroyed by fire, that stood on St. Anthony street, between Washington and Franklin. D. B. Loomis was chosen Speaker of the Council, and M. E. Ames Speaker of the House. This assembly was characterized by more bitterness of feeling than any that has since convened. The preceding delegate election had been based on personal preferences, and cliques and factions manifested themselves at an carly period of the session.
The locating of the penitentiary at Stillwater, and the capitol building at St. Paul gave some dissatisfaction. By the efforts of J. W. North, Esq., a hill ereating the University of Minnesota at or near the Falls of St. Anthony, was passed, and signed by the Governor. This institution. by the State Constitution, is now the State Uni- versity.
During the session of this Legislature, the pub- lieation of the " Chronicle and Register" ceased.
About the middle of May, a war party of Dal- kotahs discovered near Swan River, an Ojibway with a keg of whisky. The latter escaped, with the loss of his keg. The war party, drinking the contents, became intoxicated, and, firing upon some teamriers they met driving their wagons with goods to the Indian Agency, killed one of
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LANDS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI CEDED.
them. Andrew Swartz, a resident of St. Paul. The news was conveyed to Fort Ripley, and a party of soldiers, with Hole-in-the-day as a guide, started in pursuit of the murderers, but did not succeed in capturing them. Through the influ- enee of Little Six, the Dahkotah chief, whose vil- lage was at (and named after him) Shok- pay, five. of the offenders were arrested and placed in the guard house at Fort Suelling. On Monday, June ninth, they left the fort in a wagon, guarded by twenty-five dragoons, destined for Sank Rapids for trial. As they departed they all sang their death song, and the coarse soldiers amused themselves by making signs that they were going to be hung. On the first evening of the journey the five culprits eneamped with the twenty-five dragoens. Handcuffed, they were placed in the tent, and yet at midnight they all eseaped, only one being wounded by the guard. What was more remarkable, the wounded man was the first to bring the news to St. Paul. Pro- ceeding to Koposia, his wound was examined by the missionary and physician, Dr. Williamson; and then, fearing an arrest, he took a canoe and paddled up the Minnesota. The excuses offered by the dragoons was, that all the guard but one fell asleep.
The first paper published in Minnesota, beyond the capital, was the St. Anthony Express, which made its appearance during the last week of April or May.
The most important event of the year 1851 was the treaty with the Dalkotahs, by which the west side of the Mississippi and the valley of the Minunesota River were opened to the hardy immi- grant. The commissioners on the part of the United States were Luke Lea, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Governor Ramsey. The place of meeting for the upper bands was Trav- erse des Sioux. The commission arrived there on the last of June, but were obliged to wait many days for the assembling of the various bands of Dahkotahs.
Ou the eighteenth of July, all those expected having arrived, the Sissetons and Wahpayton Dahkotahs assembled in grand council with the United States commissioners. After the usual feastings and speeches, a treaty was concluded on Wednesday, July twenty-third. The pipe having been smoked by the commissioners, Lea
and Ramsey, it was passed to the chiefs. The paper containing the treaty was then read in English and translated into the Dabkotah by the Rev. S. R. Riggs, Presbyterian Missionary among this people. This finished, the chiefs eame up to the secretary's table and touched the pen; the white men present then witnessed the document and nothing remained but the ratification of the United States Senate to open that vast country for the residence of the hardy immigrant.
During the first week in August, a treaty was also coneluded beneath an oak bower, on Pilot Knob, Mendota, with the M'dewakantonwan and Wahpaykootay bands of Dahkotahs. About sixty of the chiefs and principal men touched the pen, and Little Crow, who had beeen in the misssion- school at Lac qui Parle, signed his own name. Before they separated Colonel Lea and Governor Ramsey gave them a few words of advice on various subjects connected with their future well- being, but particularly on the subject of educa- tion and temperance. The treaty was interpret- ed to them by the Rev. G. H. l'ond, a gentleman who was coneeded to be a most correct speaker of the Dahkotal tongue.
The day after the treaty these lower bands received thirty thousand dollars, which, by the treaty of 1837, was set apart for education; but, by the misrepresentations of interested half- breeds, the Indians were made to believe that it ought to be given to them to be employed as they pleased.
The next week, with their sacks filled with money, they thronged the streets of St. Paul, purchasing whatever pleased their fancy.
On the seventeenth of September, a new paper was commenced in St. Paul, under the auspices of the "Whigs," and John P. Owens became editor, which relation he sustained until the fall of 1857.
The election for members of the Legislature and county officers oeeurred on the fourteenth of October; and, for the first time, a regular Demo- cratie ticket was placed before the people. The parties called themselves Democratic and Anti- organization, or Coalition,
In the month of November Jerome Fuller ar- rived, and took the place of Judge Goodrich as Chief Justice of Minnesota, who was removed; and, about the same time, Alexander Wilkin was
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appointed secretary of the territory in place of C. K. Smith.
The eighteenth of December, pursuant to proclamation, was observed as a day of Thanks- giving.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1552.
The third Legislative Assembly commence of its sessions in one of the editces on Third below Jackson street, which became a portion of the Merchants' Hotel, on the seventh of January, 1852.
This session. compared with the previous, formed a contrast as great as that between a boisterous day in March and a calm June morn- ing. The minds of the population were more deeply interested in the ratification of the treaties made with the Dahkotahs, than in political dis- cussions. Among other legislation of interest was the creation of Hessepin county.
On Saturday, the Gartenth of February, a dog-train arrived at &' Paul from the north. with the distinguished Arctic explorer. Dr. Rae. Ile had been in search of the long-missing Sir John Franklin, by way of the Mackenzie rive .. and was now on his way to Europe.
On the fourteenth of May, an interesting Insus naturæ occurred at Stillwater. On the prairies, beyond the elevated bluffs which encirele the business portion of the town, there is a lake which discharges its waters through a ravine. and sup- plied MeKusick's mill. Owing to heavy rains. the hills became saturated with water. and ihe lake very full. Before daylight the citizens heard the " voice of many waters." and looking out, saw rushing down through the ravine, trees, gravel and diluvium. Nothing impeded its course. and as it issued from the ravine it spread over the town site, covering up barns and small tenements. and, continuing to the lake shore, it materially improved the landing. by a deposit of many tons of earth. One of the editors of the day, allnding to the fact, quaintly remarked, that "it was a very extraordinary movement of real estate."
During the summer. Elijah Terry. a young man who had left St. Paul the previous March. and went to Pembina, to act as teacher to the mixed bloods in that vicinity, was murdered un- der distressing eireumstances. With a bois brule he had started to the woods on the morning of
his death. to hew timber. While there he was fired upon by a small party of Dalikotabs; a ball broke his arm, and he was pierced with arrows. Ilis scalp was wrenched from his head, and was afterwards seen among Sisseton Dahkotahs, near Big Stone Lake.
About the last of August. the pioneer editor of Minnesota, James M. Goodline. died.
At the November Term of the United States District Court. of Ramsey county. a Dahkotalı. named Yu-ha-zee. was tried for the murder of a German woman. With others she was travel- ing above Shokpay, when a party of Indians, of whom the prisoner was one, met them; and, gathering about the wagon, were much excited. The prisoner punched the woman first with his gun. and. being threatened by one of the party, loaded and fired, killing the woman and wound- ing one of the men.
Cu the day of his trial he was escorted from Fort Snelling by a company of mounted dragoons in full dress. it was an impressive scene to witness the poor Indian half hid in his blanket, in a imggy with the civil officer. surrounded with all the pomp and circumstance of war. The jury found him guilty. On being asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death shouldl not be passed, he replied, through the interpreter, that the band to which he belonged would remit their annuities if he could be released. To this Judge Hayner. the successor of Judge Fuller, replied, that he had no authority to release lim: and. ordering him to rise, after some appropriate and impressive remarks, he pro- nounced the first sentence of death ever pro- nounced by a judicial officer in Minnesota. The prisoner trembled while the judge spoke, and was a piteous spectacle. By the statute of Mlin- nesota. then, one convicted of murder could not be executed until twelve months had elapsed. and he was confined until the governor of the ter- orrity should by warrant order his execution.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1853.
The fourth Legislative Assembly convened on the fifth of January. 1853. in the two story brick edifice at the corner of Third and Minnesota streets. The Council chose Martin MeLeod as presiding officer, and the House Dr. David Day.
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INDIAN FIGHT IN STREETS OF ST. PAUL.
Speaker. Governor Ramsey's message was an interesting document.
The Baldwin school, now known as Macalester College, was incorporated at this session of the legislature, and was opened the following June.
On the ninth of April, a party of Ojibways killed a Dahkotah, at the village of Shokpay. A war party, from Kaposia, then proceeded up the valley of the St. Croix, and killed an Ojibway. On the morning of the twenty-seventh, a band of Ojibway warriors, naked, decked, and fiercely gesticulating, might have been seen in the busiest street of the capital, in search of their enemies. Just at that time a small party of women, and one man, who had lost a leg in the battle of Still- water, arrived in a canoe from Kaposia, at the Jackson street landing. Perceiving the Ojib- ways, they retreated to the building then known as the " Pioneer " office, and the Ojibways dis- charging a volley through the windows, wounded a Dahkotah woman who soon died. For a short time, the infant capital presented a sight " similar to that witnessed in ancient days in Iladley or Deerfield, the then frontier towns of Massachusetts. Messengers were despatched to Fort Snelling for the dragoons, and a party of citizens mounted on horseback, were quickly in pursuit of those who with so much boldness had sought the streets of St. Paul, as a place to avenge their wrongs. The dragoons soon fol- lowed, with Indian guides scenting the track of the Ojibways, like bloodhounds. The next day they discovered the transgressors, near the Falls of St. Croix. The Ojibways manifesting what was supposed to be an insolent spirit, the order was given by the lieutenant in command. to fire, and he whose scalp was afterwards daguerreo
typed, and which was engraved for Graham's Magazine, wallowed in gore.
During the summer, the passenger, as he stood on the hurricane deck of any of the steamboats, might have seen, on a scaffoll on the bluffs in the rear of Kaposia, a square box covered with a coarsely fringed red cloth. Above it was sus- pended a piece of the Ojibway's scalp, whose death had caused the affray in the streets of St. Paul. Within, was the body of the woman who had been shot in the "Pioneer " building, while seeking refuge. A sealp suspended over the corpse is supposed to be a consolation to the soul, and a great protection in the journey to the spirit land.
On the accession of Pierce to the presidency of the United States, the officers appointed nuder the Taylor and Fillmore administrations were removed, and the following gentlemen substitu- ted : Governor, W. A. Gorman, of Indiana ; See- retary, J. T. Rosser, of Virginia ; Chief Justice, W. Il. Welch, of Minnesota ; Associates, Moses Sherburne, of Maine, and A. G. Chatfieldl, of Wisconsin. One of the first official acts of the second Governor, was the making of a treaty with the Winnebago Indians at Watab, Benton county, for an exchange of country.
On the twenty-ninth of June, D. A. Robertson, who by his enthusiasm and earnest advocacy of its principles had done much to organize the Democratie party of Minnesota, retired from the editorial chair and was succeeded by David Olm- sted.
At the election hell in October, Henry M. Rice and Alexander Wilkin were candidates for deligate to Congress. The former was eleet- ed by a decisive majority.
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EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER XXIII.
EVENTS FROM A. D. 1854 TO THE ADMISSION OF MINNESOTA TO THE UNION.
Fifth Legislature Execution of Yuhazer Sixth Legislature First bridge over the Mississippi Arctic Explorer-Seventh Legislature-Indian girl killed near Bloomugton Ferry- Eighth Legislature-Attempt to Remove the Capital- Special Session of the Legislature-Convention to frame a State Constitution- Admission of Minnesota to the Union.
The fifth session of the legislature was com- menced in the building just completed as the Capitol, on January fourth, 1854. The President of the Council was S. B. Olmstead, and the Speak- er of the House of Representatives was N. C. D. Taylor.
Governor Gorman delivered his first annnal message on the tenth, and as his predecessor. urged the importance of railway communications, and dwelt upon the necessity of fostering the in- terests of education, and of the Inmbermen.
The exciting bill of the session was the act in- corporating the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Company, introduced by Joseph R. Brown. It was passed after the hour of midnight on the last day of the session. Contrary to the expectation of his friends, the Governor signed the bill.
On the afternoon of December twenty-seventh, the first public execution in Minnesota, in accord- ance with the forms of law, took place. Yu-ha- zee, the Dahkotah who had been convicted in November, 1852, for the murder of a German woman, above Shokpay, was the individual. The scaffold was erected on the open space be- tween an inn called the Franklin Ilouse and the rear of the late Mr. J. W. Selby's enclosure in St. Paul. About two o'clock, the prisoner, dressed in a white shrond, left the old log pris- on, near the court house, and entered a carriage with the officers of the law. Being assisted up the steps that led to the scaffold, he made a few remarks in his own language, and was then exe- outed. Numerous ladies sent in a petition to the governor, asking the pardon of the Indian. to which that officer in declining made an appro- priate reply.
EVENTS OF A. D. 1855.
The sixth session of the legislature convened on the third of January, 1855. W. P. Murray was elected President of the Council, and James S. Norris Speaker of the House.
About the last of January, the two houses ad- journed one day, to attend the exercises occa- sioned by the opening of the first bridge of any kind, over the mighty Mississippi, from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. It was at Falls of Saint Anthony, and made of wire, and at the time of its opening, the patent for the land on which the west piers were built, had not been issued from the Land Office, a striking evi- dence of the rapidity with which the city of Minneapolis, which now surrounds the Falls, has developed.
On the twenty-ninth of March, a convention was held at Saint Anthony, which led to the formation of the Republican party of Minnesota. This body took measures for the holding of a territorial convention at St. Paul, which con- vened on the twenty-fifth of July, and William R. Marshall was nominated as delegate to Con- gress. Shortly after the friends of Mr. Sibley nominated David Olmsted and Henry M. Rice, the former delegate was also a candidate. The contest was animated, and resulted in the elec- tion of Mr. Rice.
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