History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 15

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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"The country in the locality had been sparsely inhabited for a number of years. Young men with young families had settled there, and fer a time had not felt the necessity of education or religious instruction. As their families grew up, however, several had expressed a determination to leave on account of their fam- ilies growing up ignorant in these particulars and devoid of a knowledge of the amenities and conventionalities of social life. A slight impetus of immigration has raised their drooping spirits, and by an effort they had just completed a school house, which, on the Sabbath, they used as a church when a wandering minister traveled that way. This being the situation, word was given out that our reverend sportsman, Brother Shaffer, would, with divine permission, give them a discourse on the ensuing Sabbath, at such an hour as might suit their convenience. Nature had been lavish of gifts to our friend of herculean proportions. He was deep chested, strong limbed, and with a voice as clear as the clarion's notes, combined with the resonance of distant artillery, yet he could modulate it to the murmur of a mountain rill, under the controllings of genial influences. Ilis invariable practice, after the evening meal, as the shades of night drew on, was to retire a short distance from the camp, and I presume offer up his devotions, and then break forth in evening hymn, which cansed all camp avoea- tions to be suspended. The very birds ceased their songs; the gambolings of the little denizens of the forest and the busy hum of insect life seemed hushed. Naught of earth was heard but the voice of praise and the gentle murmur of the passing stream, in

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fitting unison. We were not the only auditors. The powerful voice of the singer had penetrated far into the surrounding woods. Hearers had learned when to enjoy the pleasure and would silently approach the camp without their presence being known, that they might more clearly appreciate the beauty of the song. A religious feeling was aroused, and the hearts of the community were in sympathy with Brother Shaffer. On Sunday morning all the inmates of the camp were on their way to the place of meeting, and it appeared that the entire population was in motion. By the roads, footpaths, and through the woods they came, until the house was full and groups standing on the outside. The speaker gave them a discourse suited to their wants. The grand old woods and the crystal waters came in as blessings which should be thankfully acknowledged in their devotions to God, together with the sustenance and pleasure derived therefrom. The re- marks were appreciated, and I will venture that seed was sown there that time will not smother, nor the germinal principal decay, without bringing forth much fruit.

"After the sermon all the fishing party returned to camp, with the exception of our clerical friend, who was requested to stay and conduct the exercises of the class and Sunday school. In course of the afternoon, Webster and myself took a stroll on the hillside back of our camp, where the river, running a few yards from the path, at the base of the hill. was plainly visible in the interval between the trees. The pools of water were as calm as the sleep of an infant. The quieting influence of the day ap- peared to have affected the inmates of the waters, and their usual lively demonstrations were sobered down to a gentle motion of their fins to keep them in suspension in their liquid element. A cosy shelf on the hillside invited a rest and we sat down to enjoy the scene. Anon a ripple in the stream attracted attention. 'Twas not larger than that caused by a drop of rain. Nothing was said, but my eyes were riveted on the spot. 'Twas repeated and in the same place. I saw that I should fall into temptation, to avoid which I ingloriously fled. What Webster saw, I know not, but when he returned to camp his eyes had a prominence and convexity that indicated having 'seen sights,' and his manner that of a high state of nervous excitement. I said he returned. He did, but he disappeared again, in a state of mind that caused serions apprehension on the part of his friends. In a short time Shaffer arrived, and selecting a tufty, shady spot, threw himself prone on the ground, discoursing pleasantly of the happiness he felt in having been allowed to minister to the wants of a people so much in need of gospel teaching and so willing to receive it. I heard him, and cordially was with him in spirit, but my eyes

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were on the path, over the shingle and up the river, where our absent friend evidently had gone. After a time my apprehensions were ahnost quieted in regard to Webster, and I was watching the countenance of the speaker as it swayed under the various emotions called up by the incidents of the day, when a noise startled me. Turning around I saw Webster approaching a few yards away, evidently in a more easy state of mind. On he came, and I was hopeful that none of the proprieties of the day or occa- sion had been violated, but when within ten feet of me he sud- denly extended his right arm, softly exclaiming .Look there.' I sprang to my feet and beheld the very incarnation of piseatorial beauty, his colors unfaded and the light of life still in his eye. My exclamation brought Brother Shaffer to a sitting position. His eyes had an imperfect vision, and he sternly exclaimed, 'Oh, you wicked, wicked man.' Webster skilfully displayed the full- length broadside to view. Brother Shaffer was on his feet in a twinkling, fondling the fish. and the words, 'Oh. isn't he a beauty !' burst involuntarily from his lips, his admiration obliter- ating all thought of the crime. A rebuke was now powerless, as he himself, by his involuntary exclamation and action, was not above the temptation, but in fact participated in the fault.

"The human countenance, as a reflex mirror of impressions on the mental organization, is a pleasing and instructive study, from the very inception of the stimuli on the infant brain up to its maximum in mature manhood, thence following on the waning side of life to those changes which shadow forth the coming of second childhood. Friend Shaffer's physiognomy for a brief season well repaid study and analyzation. First were traces of sorrow and rebuke. then surprise and wonder, followed quickly by signs of extravagant admiration, thenee down the grade to shame and humiliation. The thought waves were electrical in velocity-each ripple expressing a sentiment or emotion which the most rapid symbolism could not trace on paper. A single character would have to represent the emotional name; to eluci- date it would require pages, yet it was plainly written, and in as legible characters as though carved in 'monumental marble.' With a sigh he subsided into his former position, realizing, doubt- less, the weakness and imperfection of human nature, and that even the best of men are as 'prone to do evil as the sparks are to fly upward.'

"I think all those who saw that little episode will never for- get it. It was one of the incidents that language cannot com- municate or the artist's pencil portray ; the finer features of the picture would be inevitably lost. My thoughts called up Unele Toby's violation of the third commandment, in his anxiety to relieve the poor lieutenant, and I would adopt the author's views

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as to the criminality in the case, with a very slight alteration : That the accusing spirit which flew up to Heaven's chancery with the fault blushed as he gave it in; and the recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word, blotting it out forever.

"In the fall of 1852. having a fishing-seine in our possession, we organized a fishing party. and built the necessary craft for running a fishery. We began the enterprise for the purpose of supplying our own wants. Meeting with great success, and having nothing else to do, salt and barrels were procured, and in a short time we supplied St. Paul with forty barrels of good fish, at the remarkably low price of $6 per barrel. Our fishing ground was the 'Bay.' on the Wisconsin side, about a mile above Bay ('ity. Large quantities were caught. of all the kinds inhabiting the river, but we only preserved the best fish, rejeeting pike, pickerel, bass, sturgeon, dog-fish, sheep-head and gars, while the rich, fat and luscious cat. buffalo and carp were carefully cleaned and salted, well repaying us for our labor. At one haul of our seine, in the lake referred to. we took ont over eight barrels of fish, when cleaned and packed, besides an innumerable quantity of the 'baser sort' as before indicated.

"These remarks may provoke satirical comments from the members of that class of fisherman who think that the mantle of old Izaak Walton has fallen on them individually, and that their palates and peculiar notions should form the standard of true sport and gustatory excellence. But to these I would say, we only wanted such fish as would repay us in nutriment and feed for the animal economy, when the mercury ranged from zero to forty below. This was supplied by our selection, some of the fish yielding over a pint of good oil. Pike, pickerel, bass and trout, as salted fish, are about as nutrient as floating islands, puffs. pastry and gimcracks, and all are measurably worthless as food to strong, hearty working men.

"A short description of three or four of the Indian celebrities of the village may not be out of place. I will commence with 'Wacoota ' -- literally the 'Shooter,' chief of the band.

"Wacoota stood about six feet in his moccasins, was well pro- portioned, and, I judge, about sixty-five years of age when I knew him. He was the most intelligent man in the band, with the exception of Wa-kon-toppy. He was friendly to the whites, and much disposed to adopt the habits and customs of civilized life, and consequently without much authority among the reekless young men of the village. His schemes for promoting the well- being of his people were thwarted by Mahpiya-maza, or Iron Cloud, second in rank, but first in real power.

Mahpiya-maza was a crafty, intriguing politician, favoring

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all the raiding propensities of the young men, stimulating opposi- tion to any advancement in civilization; begging when it would accomplish his object; threatening when he thought he had the power to do injury-a base, bad man, and a thorough savage, whom no kindness could bind in the bonds of friendship, nor reason influence to adopt views salutatory to the welfare of his band. His only redeeming trait of character was his advocacy of the cause of temperance. Ilis death, in the latter part of the summer of 1852, freed the whites of the annoyance of his presence and counsels. Being indisposed with symptoms of biliousness indicating cholera, which was then prevalent along the river, he called at Mr. Potter's trading house, and espying a demijohn, he asked if it contained minne-wakon (whiskey). Mr. Potter told him it did not. that it was cha-han-ti-eha (molasses or tree sap). The old fellow immediately asked for a donation, but was in- formed that it belonged to Paska, as E. C. Stevens was called by the Sioux. Iron Cloud then left on a hunt for Mr. Stevens, first stopping at his own tepee and getting a good-sized coffee pot, as though sure of his object. After finding Mr. Stevens he succeeded in getting the molasses. In a day or two this medicine was dis- posed of, but the patient was not much benefited by its use, and importunate for more. Mr. Stevens came to me and inquired what would be the result if old Mahpiya repeated the dose. My reply was that it would kill him as dead as Julius Caesar. But importunity finally obtained the coveted sweets, and in a few hours a messenger arrived from a lodge in the Indian corn-field, who told me that Iron Cloud was very sick and wanted to see me. I accompanied the messenger and on entering the tent found it occupied by the sick man stretched on a robe. His wife had ranged in a semi-cirele six of the most popular medicine-men, dressed in very unprofessional costume, or rather in undress, for the united apparel of the whole conclave would not have afforded material enough for a pair of leggins. The doctors looked very sullen at my intrusion, but the patient told me that they had done him no good, and wanted me to do what I could for him. Upon examination I found him past all remedies, so I left. In an hour a wail told me of the departure of Maphiya-maza to the happy hunting ground of the Indian spirit world.

"T'maza-washta, or Good Iron, was the next man of import- ance in the village. Taller than Wacoota, always smiling, a rebuff never ruffled his equanimity. A friend of both the Wacoota and Iron Cloud factions, he successfully performed the difficult feat of carrying water on both shoulders, as the phrase is. On the death of the second chief. Good Tron was excessively amiable, making feasts and otherwise doing those things which we in

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civilized life see so frequently performed by aspiring men thirst- ing for political distinction. The old fellow being so good- natured, I frequently gave more heed to his requests than was proper or necessary, and he had reached the conclusion that he had only to ask and he would receive the favor. He wanted to be the second chief. A delegation of Indians from Wabasha stopped at our village, and Good Iron concluded a big feast would bring him the desired elevation. I had a fat cow and a good one, and an equally fat dog, but in no other particular did the dog resemble the cow. Now these two animals, in old T'maza's esti- mation, would just about furnish the necessary amount of influ- ence to place him in possession of the object of his aspirations. Accordingly, all smiles, he preferred his request, and, of course was refused. He was a little crestfallen at first, but he soon laughed and said : 'My friend, you always gave me what I asked for. Now, when I have friends come to see me and I want to feast them you refuse me your cow and your dog. It is not good.' I couldn't see the logie. The old beggar got to be second chief, however.

"Maca-tiniza, meaning Standing Earth. more generally known among the whites as 'Old Scolder,' was a regular old masculine termagant. Nothing suited him. His only luxury was gambling, and he enjoyed that to an unlimited extent. He was, however, a strict Good Templar, and not a bad Indian ; but his unfortunate peenliarity rendered him anything but a favorite among his people. He attended church frequently and behaved very well, except on one occasion. I had made Wacoota a one-horse train, or sled, the first winter of my residence here. The 'Scolder' knew of this. and one Sabbath when we were all at church and Mr. Hancock was in the midst of his discourse, the old man and his wife entered. Giving a succession of grunts, he said: 'I have come to church to learn to be good, and maybe the Good Spirit will smile on me. so that Pezutawichasta (my Indian name) will make me a sled.' The old fellow grinned at his interruption of the service, and I concluded that his religion was not of a serious nature. or likely to become chronic. I never saw him sleigh- riding, but I am informed that he was one of those unfortunates who perished on the scaffold at Mankato at the close of the Indian war in our state.

"Wakon-toppy Esteemed Sacred) was my friend, and with him I will conclude my list. He was honest. honorable and intel- ligent. a true man whether judged by the savage or civilized standard. This man was the only Indian I ever knew whose word and character were above reproach. The traders gave him eredit whenever he desired. sure that they would receive prompt pay-

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ment. Whatever he stated to be a fact could be relied on. IIe frequently camped with me, and it was my especial delight to fill our camp-kettle with eatables enough for a dozen men, and in addition thereto make a corresponding amount of pezuta-saps (black medicine or coffee) and then drawl over the meal, eating slowly, constantly replenishing Wakon-toppy's plate and cup, which he made a point of honor to empty as soon as possible, until the old fellow would heave a deep sigh and cry out 'Ozhuta!' (full). Whenever this was accomplished, look out for yarns. I have lain in the tent and listened for five long hours at a stretch to the tales, traditions, history of the feats in war and hunting. He had never gone on a raid against the Chippewas, but he had followed the warpath south and west against the Saukies and Omahas. Ilis father was adopted into a Dakota family, having been taken prisoner when he was very young in one of the Dakota forays against the Sauks and Foxes, and finally married a sister of Ti-tan-ka Monia, or Walking Buffalo, a very influential chief, and father of Wacoota. Wakon-toppy was very anxious to adopt civilized habits, and I wrote several letters, at his dictation, to the Indian Agent, in which he desired the government to give him eighty acres of land, and he would release all claims to annuities. He even went so far as to stake out his claim, which was where the village of Mazeppa now is, and was where he made his winter hunting ground for a long period of years, and where he wished his bones to rest when the Master of Life should summon him hence to a residence in the spirit world. His letters were unan- swered and he was not allowed to hold his claim when the whites came, but was driven off with threats of violence. He stayed around here until after the Spirit Lake massaere. Finally, con- eluding to go up to Red Wood, the then place of residence of our old band. he gave me a history of Ink-pa-duta and his followers, and told me if he could get permission he would lead his party against them. In the fall an Indian messenger on his way to Wabasha stopped at my house, at the old man's request, and gave me an account of the expedition. Wakon-toppy had kept his word. Nearly all the inmates of the three lodges perished by the hands of their own kindred. This man, so prompt to avenge the wrongs of the whites, perished miserably in confinement at Daven- port, for no other crime than that of not being able to control the young men of his family in the Indian difficulties on the frontier. From his imprisonment at Mankato he sent me word, by Lieu- tenant Comstock, that his fault was in letting his son have a horse, not knowing the purpose for which it was to be used. If previous good character in any man is to be relied on, then was Wakon-toppy an innocent vietim.

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"In the spring of 1853 I farmed the old Indian cornfield. The crop was oats, corn, seven acres of potatoes, six of rutabagas, turnips, pumpkins, cabbages, beans, etc., all of which yielded largely. In the fall I needed help to secure the corn and potatoes, and there was no other resource than to hire native laborers, the white population of the county not exceeding one hundred souls. The Indian camp was situated on the Mississippi river, near the mouth of the Cannon river. I dug a few rows across the potato patch in order to ascertain what a day's work might be, and found that six rows were a moderate day's labor, but knowing the Indians pretty well I decided to make four the standard. This done, I sent word to the camp that twenty women were wanted to help me, who should receive a barrel of potatoes for every four times they dug across the field. The next morning found me at the patch, but 9 o'clock arrived before they eame. At last thirteen women hove in sight, accompanied by about two dozen dogs, a like number of children, several camp kettles, saek straps and hoes. In a short time the business preliminaries were adjusted by the high contracting parties. Among the operatives were the Princess Royal Lucy and her niece, Weenona.

"About 11 o'clock, after working about an hour and a half, the workers stopped work and held a short council, and I was soon informed of the result of their deliberations, which was nothing less than that I should get dinner for them. I refused to cook for such a crowd, but we finally compromised by my furnishing pork and bread. Vegetables were close at hand. A note was written to my wife on a white basswood chip. desiring her to let the bearer have eight pounds of pork and all the bread she could spare. The messenger ran off on the errand like a deer, while an old squaw rigged three tripods for camp kettles, washed potatoes and turnips, and ent up cabbages and pumpkins; then when the pork arrived it was all dumped into the kettles together. When it was cooked it was sufficient for a company of infantry who had been on a short allowance of hard tack, but it all dis- appeared under the united efforts of women, children and dogs. At the close of the day all received their wages-two women having accomplished eight rows each, each of them receiving two barrels, which they all took home with them, promising to return the next day.

"The next morning thirty-two squaws appeared, with the usual accompaniment. and the same number continued until the field was finished. When the last round was dug we were all grouped together on a slope between Main and Third streets, and women talking and joking. Lucy stepped up to me and said : 'Pezuta-wichasta. do you know the reason why you have not

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worked any in the field?' I thought I saw mischief in her eye, and looking around observed the same sign among the dusky crowd ; but not to be beat by squaws I replied : 'Yes, it is because there are so many women to work for me, there is no need of my working.' She said: 'No, no, that is not it; you are little and not strong, and cannot work,' tossing her blanket off as she made the remark. I saw the point at once, and felt relieved, as that was one of my best holds. I told her I was strong enough for any in that crowd. No sooner were the words out of my mouth than Lucy pitched in, and was thrown a double somersault the first time. Another essay was made, with like result. A little whispered parley took place, and a challenge for a third trial was given. We squared ourselves shoulder to shoulder, Lucy gripping like a vice. Just as the struggle commenced I felt myself grasped from behind, and knew I had got into difficulty. The outside pressure was heavy against me-tripping, velling and laughter. The best I could do was to make of it what in my youth was called a 'dog fall'; that is a tumble into a promiscuous heap, without anyone being uppermost enough to speak of, and this was accomplished. I extricated myself from the confused mass, and concluded not to engage any further in this undignified pastime, knowing very well that fair play couldn't be had in that crowd. Then they dispersed, having gathered for me over 1,000 bushels of potatoes, exclusive of their own wages. From this crop I never realized a dollar, as there was no market, but it answered very well for gratuitous distribution in the spring of 1854.

"Having such success in operating with native labor, I con- cluded to put up eight acres of corn, so as to secure the fodder for my stock, it being, as yet, but little injured by the frost. The services of a married woman and her sister were secured, beside two boys of ten or twelve years of age. The girl was sixteen or seventeen years old, and the most mischievous imp I ever saw. She appeared to have grown too fast for the apparel she had on, for I noticed that her upper garments refused to form a junction at the waist with that portion designed as a protection for the lower parts of the body. Myself and the women cut up the corn ; the duty of the boys was to place it in the shock. After work- ing pretty hard, the day being warm, I called a rest and we all sat down, I fanning myself with a large straw hat. When it was time to resume labor the women were told to go to work. The girl laughingly refused, telling me to work myself. After a little parley she finally got up and advanced close to where I was sitting. Making a remark to attract my attention away from her, she dexterously seized my hat by the rim and sent it sailing

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over the cornfield, and then bounded like a deer to get out of my reach; but she was too late. Without rising, I threw myself forward in the direction she was going, grasping desperately at the same time. I caught the hem of her garment and something gave away. When I recovered an upright position and my equa- nimity, I saw a dark piece of feminine apparel lying on the ground, and what to my astonished gaze appeared to be a pair of preambulating tongs seudding through the corn. The girl hid herself behind a shock and commenced pleading for her clothes. After tormenting her enough, I exacted a promise that she would behave herself and go to work, and then sent one of the boys with the desired garment. When she rejoined the company her coun- tenance had a very decided vermilion tinge, and I thus discov- ered that a squaw could blush."

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 15

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264