USA > Minnesota > Goodhue County > History of Goodhue county, including a sketch of the territory and state of Minnesota > Part 36
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" Wacoota was never accustomed to boasting. He was a man of good sense and sound judgment, considering his circumstances. Doubtless in his younger days he distinguished himself as a warrior and hunter, as his name indicates ; but he was a keen observer of men and things, and understood human nature better than many who are born under the light of civilization. The only advantage he ever had over a common heathen was a visit to Washington in company with a delegation of the chiefs of his tribe; and from this visit he obtained a very correct understanding of the strength and superiority of the people of the United States. Being convinced that it was education and industry that made the whites superior, he labored to promote these interests among his people. It was through his personal solicitation that a second mission was established in his village in 1848. He used to say that the old Indians could never be made white, but he had hope for the children, and was anxious that they should be taught to read and write. His own family were always required to attend the mission school. During his later years he would often labor in the field in spite of opposition from his braves and time-honored customs. Sometimes
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he appeared to lack firmness, but in every other essential quality he was a chief worthy the name.
" Wacoota died a few years after the removal to the reservation on the Minnesota River, a good providence sparing him from the scenes of 1862."
In the fall of 1850, a man named Snow, secured an Indian trader's license, and built a trading house near the present steamboat landing, where he kept a stock of Indian goods. In 1851, Calvin Potter became a partner with Snow. Soon after the partership was commenced, Mr. Snow died of cholera in St. Paul, and Mr. Potter succeeded to the entire management of the business, which he continued until the Indians were removed. The building used by Mr. Potter as a trading house, was afterwards converted into a hotel and called the Eastern House. It was subsequently (in 1857 or 1858) included in the Metropolitan hotel building, and was used as the kitchen of that hostelry. The Metropoli- tan was built by A. A. and E. L. Teele. It was destroyed by fire.
Early in the spring of 1852, John Day came over from Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin, and made a claim in the upper part of town, and not far from his present residence. Mr. Day has the honor of being the first white man to come to Red Wing's village, with a determined purpose to make it a permanent home.
John Bush, U. S. farmer for the Indians, and Calvin Potter, made a claim to the land included in and occupied by the Indian village and their cornfields. Early in the spring of 1852-about the middle of May -William Freeborn and Dr. Sweeney became interested in building a town on the site of the Indian village, and Freeborn purchased the claim right of Bush and Potter. Dr. Sweeney purchased a claim held by a French half-breed named Young, adjoining the Bush and Potter claim, on the west or upper side.
Says Mr. Hancock in his reminiscences : "Troops of claim hunters came in this season (1852) and many and amusing were the strifes about who should hold this or that favored claim in the surrounding county. At that time there had been no United States survey, and each man was permitted to mark off his own one hundred and sixty acres. It was astonishing to see how long some men could pace. Then, every one had a host of friends coming after, for each of whom he must have a claim selected, and in duty bound must see that their rights were pro- tected. All this made business quite lively in our embryo city. Arbi- trations and appeals to the court of Justice Lynch were every day occurrences. A slight skirmish was not unfrequent; but to the honor of the first settlers of Red Wing, no lives were lost and none to our knowledge was seriously injured.
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Very few of the first claim hunters remained as permanent residents. They had come too soon. It was dull business to wait until the land could be surveyed and brought into market, boarding one's self in a log cabin eight or ten feet square, without any floor or window. Nobody thought of raising wheat at that time. Our flour, pork and butter all came from down the river.
One circumstance that occurred in the spring of 1852, is thus related by Mr. Hancock: Two men found their claims were overlapping each other to such an extent that both could not have enough for a farm. An angry dispute began which seemed likely to end in a regular battle. Each party had some friends, so that the strength of each was nearly equal. A large party of the Indians were still here, and in no very mild mood in regard to the new comers. The Indians were, in fact, still in possession, as they had not received notice of the ratification of the treaty.
Mr. Hancock, who had learned to speak the dialect of the Indians, and being a peace man, told the belligerents that if a fight ensued he would tell the Indians to take a hand-to " pitch in" and "pitch the disputants across the river into Wisconsin." The threat was not without force and effect. The difficulty was settled. The angry elements were quieted, and peace reigned once more in the village.
In 1850, Mr. Sibley, the territorial delegate to Congress, secured the establishment of a postoffice at Red Wing, but the gentleman appointed to be postmaster had removed from the village, and as candidates for public places were not as numerous then as they are now, the office was not opened until 1851. The first incumbent, Rev. J. W. Hancock, had to go to St. Paul at his own expense to be " sworn in." The salary the first year was less than five dollars. In the winter the mail was carried between Prairie du Chien and St. Paul with a one-horse cutter. The route was the icy bed of the Mississippi River. Towards spring this method of traveling was attended with some danger. Sometimes a horse was drowned, and the mail was frequently wet. On one occa- sion Mr. Hancock spent a whole day in drying the mail which had lain five or six hours in the river. Sometimes the office was three weeks without a mail, and for that length of time Red Wing's village was without communication with the rest of the world. Such failures to receive the mail were occasioned by the perils and dangers of traveling before roads and bridges were constructed.
After the first election in the fall of 1852, other signs of approach- ing civilization began to appear. A large raft of lumber had been landed, which was taken out of the water and hauled up the bank.
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Several carpenters came to reside here. Heretofore bark-lodges or log-cabins had been the only dwellings for both rich and poor. Ceiled houses were now aspired after. The sounds of saw, hammer and plane, began to be heard in the land.
Social enjoyments pertaining to civilization were also introduced. A lyceum and a singing school were organized and well attended in the winter of 1852-3. Hiram B. Middaugh was leader of the choir, and first teacher of vocal music.
The first building commenced, was the hotel called the Red Wing House. This was completed early in the spring of 1853; and imme- diately opened for boarders and the accommodation of travelers. The first landlord was Andrew Durand, who also opened the first hotel at Cannon Falls. The Red Wing House was afterwards purchased and kept by Jacob Bennett, Esq, and was destroyed by fire in 1865.
Several frame dwelling houses were built in the summer of 1853 ; among which were those erected by Wm. Freeborn, Dr. Sweeney, Wm. Lauver, James Akers and Warren Hunt.
A building was also erected for a store on Main street, which was filled with goods and kept by Henry L. Bevans.
The town was surveyed and platted as now recorded, by J. Knauer, during the same summer. A partial survey had been made the year before, a few stakes had been driven; but the whole plan was changed by Mr. Knauer.
Some farming was done this season. Wheat, oats, corn, potatoes and ruta-bagas, were grown within the limits of the present city. Probably the first wheat raised in Minnesota south of the Minnesota river was raised here at that time.
In the last of April, 1853, just before the Dakotas were accustomed to return from their winter wanderings to re-occupy their bark lodges, an event occurred which, more than anything else, served to emanci- pate the place from a savage to a civilized village.
The day was serene and cloudless. The sun had reached the meridi- an. The noise of the busy carpenters had ceased. That death-like stillness which forebodes the coming earthquake seemed everywhere to prevail. All at once the cry of fire was heard. It was no false alarm. Flame and smoke were seen to roll up at that instant from the roof of every Indian wigwam. No engine, no water, no-nobody to put out the fire. In less than an hour, every bark house had disappeared. This was the most extensive fire that ever occurred in Red Wing. Supposed to have been the work of incendiaries; but the perpetrators of the deed were never discovered and brought to justice. We can imagine
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the feelings of the poor Indians, who came on in a few days, to witness the changes that had taken place at their old home. They doubtless began to realize that they had sold their country.
Another event worthy of record this year was the first social Christmas dinner. It was a good time. Everybody was invited, and everybody was there. This gathering took place at the house now occupied by T. B. Sheldon, Esq., then the residence of William Freeborn. The house was well filled. The company all that could be desired. This was the first and last time, when the whole people of Red Wing met together and took dinner under the same roof-when they were all with one accord in one place.
In the fall of 1853, Dr. W. W. Sweeney was appointed postmaster. His appointment being dated November 23d of that year.
Among the incidents of 1853 was the following: A number of Indian families were encamped in the vicinity of Red Wing, a few miles up the river, on the Minnesota side. A man named Hawley had a whisky shanty on the Wisconsin side, just above the site of the present village of Trenton. Some trouble occurred between Hawley and Ta·sha-ka (Deer Hoof,) in which Ta-sha-ka received a fatal stab with a knife. Word was brought to the few settlers at Red Wing that Hawley had killed an Indian, and the settlers were seriously alarmed, for it had been the boast of Red Wing's people that none of that band had ever killed a white person, consequently, if Hawley had killed one of their number, it was naturally expected the " true inwardness " of the Indian character would assert itself and seek retaliation in vengeance on the whites. Some of the settlers went up to the Indian encampment and assured them that Hawley should be punished as he deserved, and they were satisfied, and manifested no desire to wreak vengeance on the innocent settlers. Hawley fled from his shanty and was never after- wards seen in the country. A report subsequently came back that he had been shot and killed by an Iowa sheriff.
The spring of 1854, continues Mr. Hancock, brought a large number of immigrants. Many came to take up land and become permanent residents at Red Wing and vicinity. The county of Goodhue had been organized the winter previous by the Territorial Legislature, and Red Wing designated as the county seat.
Among the business houses opened this year was Mrs. Allen's board- ing house, afterward called the American House, J. C. Weatherby's dry goods and grocery store, E. P. Lowater's shoe store, and Hoyt & Smith's warehouse, on the corner of Levee and Broad streets.
Rev. Jabez Brooks arrived this year, and opened a school in the hall
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over Hoyt & Smith's store. This was the beginning of Hamline Uni- versity.
The prevalence of the cholera on the river during the summer months retarded the growth of the town very materially this season. Persons were frequently landed here from boats, who were infected and died soon after. Five deaths occurred in one week from this disease.
The Indians had been formally removed by the government in the fall of 1853 to their reservation, but many stragglers came back again and encamped near the place during the following season. So much attached to their old home, and so dear to them were the graves of their dead, this was not at all surprising. No danger was apprehended by those who were well acquainted with them, but some of the new comers were not without their fears. It would have been very easy for the Indians to have taken the place by surprise, and murdered all the inhabitants in a single night, at that time, had they been so disposed. The distance between Red Wing and their new home was not great. Very few white settlements then intervened. The Indians were fully acquainted with the country, and greatly dissatisfied with the change they had been compelled to make. But their patience was not quite exhausted, and the settlers were not molested. One man was badly scared, however. Awakened suddenly in the night by a hideous noise, he thought the Indians had certainly come, and that the work of death was going on at his neighbors' houses, and that all was lost, he deter- mined to sell his life as dearly as possible. Snatching his revolver, which was ready loaded, he bounded into the street in his night dress, and rushing to a clump of bushes which stood between his house and the others he awaited the attack, hoping to kill at least three or four Indians before they should kill him. An interval occurred in the noise, revealing the sound of familiar voices among those who were imitating the savage war whoop, and he was convinced of his mistake. It was only a party of the boys paying their respects to a newly married couple.
The winter of 1854-5 was mild for this latitude, and the usual intel- lectual and social enjoyments of the season were passed with all the pleasures incident to such scenes. As spring approached there began to be a sense of want. The first boat of the season was never more anxiously waited for than at this time. With a large majority of the inhabitants of Red Wing this was their first year in Minnesota. Not knowing how much better appetites were enjoyed here than anywhere else in the United States, the supply of meat and bread fell short. Money was plenty enough, but pork and flour could not be bought for love or money. No one was in danger of starvation, for fish were plenty
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and easily taken, and as soon as the ice began to melt, ducks came to the rescue ; but still the settlers craved a change of meat, and wanted more bread. The old settlers remember how the proprietor of the Red Wing House was put to his trumps to provide for his voracious guests. He took his pail and went to this and that private family to borrow a little flour, promising to return it as soon as the boats came. At last the long wished and waited for boat arrived. Messrs. Jackson & Enz brought up a stock of groceries and provisions. A hogshead of hams and shoulders and eleven barrels of flour !! All these came on Friday evening, April 25th, and by the next Monday morning were all sold out. As soon as it was noised abroad that there was flour and smoked meat at Jackson & Enz's, people could be seen in rows following each other to and from their store, carrying hams, and pails or sacks for flour. Settlers on claims far out of town came in so late on Saturday that they were obliged to buy food on Sunday to take home to their families. No one family could have a whole barrel of flour or more than a single piece of meat. It must be divided. Thus the firm of Jackson & Enz started with great promise of success. They then occu- pied the building next door north of the Argus printing office.
The United States Land Office for the Red Wing Land District was opened here about the beginning of the year 1855; W. W. Phelps, register, and C. Graham, receiver. They first occupied the office of P. Sandford, Esq., and were kept very busy in filing the declaration of intention for pre-emptors, and "proving up," until the time of the first public sale.
The same year, some time in the summer, the Red Wing "Sentinel," the first weekly newspaper, made its appearance. It was a very cred- itable appearing sheet, published by Merritt & Hutchins. The printing was in a building on Main street which had been used as a carpenter's shop, and a house of religious worship, and afterwards "reconstructed" and used as a private residence.
The most remarkable event of this year was the advent of whisky. The town proprietors and nearly all the early settlers were professedly temperance men. Liquor selling was to be forever prohibited. But as in Job's time, so then. When a number of good people are gathered together, Satan makes his appearance. He came in the form of evil spirits to Red Wing, on the sly. Nobody suspected any danger. The building where the "Argus" is now published, had been erected by Jared Boughton, Esq., and was rented by a dry goods merchant named Parish. This store began to be a place of frequent resort by those who loved to talk. After a while it was told one of the unsuspecting citizens
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that this dry goods merchant kept hardware in his cellar. Means were instituted to find out what this hardware meant, which resulted in the finding of a barrel of the crathur already tapped. A pail of water and a glass stood in close proximity. No whisky was actually sold, but a "thirsty" individual could enter the "hardware department," leave his dime on the barrel-head, take a drink, wipe his mouth, and return with a " brick in his hat." How that barrel of whisky got into the cellar was a great mystery. The people became somewhat excited and an indignation meeting was called, which resulted in a fixed deter- mination to drive the evil from the village at whatever cost. Mr. Hancock relates :
The advent of whisky as an article of trade caused great commotion. More than two years had passed since the town was laid out, and no spirituous liquors had been kept for sale. But this ubiquitous evil found its way here also. It crept like a snake-first in the cellar. As it first lifted its hydra head into the light of an upper story, it was dashed out of the window by an indignant hotel keeper. It appeared as if no one could tolerate its presence in open day. At last it succeeded in charming a few into the cellar where they were evidently bitten, as they returned with visages marred by the effects of poison in the blood.
This was soon noised abroad. A public meeting was called. Men of all trades, professions and creeds met together to express their indigna- tion at the outrage. Long and powerful speeches were uttered ; some advised that summary measures be taken with the offenders. Others counseled more moderate proceedings, but all were unanimous in having the evil removed as soon as practicable.
The result of the meeting was that a committee of five were appointed to wait on the merchant who kept whisky under the name of hardware in his cellar, and inform him that the traffic in intoxicating drinks could not be allowed. This committee was instructed to do all in its power to dissuade the dealer from his unpopular and pernicious trade. The com- mittee performed their duty by going in a body to his store, stating the purposes of their visit, and the authority under which they acted.
The man winced somewhat under the influence of popular feeling thus boldly expressed, and denied the charge of selling liquor to be drank on his premises, but would not promise to abandon the traffie at once. His great object of life was to make money as fast as possible, and like many others, he was ready to sacrifice almost everything else to attain his desire. The committee therefore failed to accomplish the object of the meeting.
Another public meeting was held, and after much debate as to what
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measures should be adopted, it was proposed that a committee be appointed to raise money by voluntary subscription to purchase all the whisky on hand and destroy it, providing that no more should ever be landed or brought to the place for sale.
This proposition received a hearty and almost unanimous support. The paper was immediately circulated and $200 soon raised, that being the amount understood to be necessary. For some reason the measure was not fully carried out. The money which had been paid to the com- mittee was refunded, and the excitement for a time subsided.
There was a lull in the storm. But like the war of the elements which sometimes intermits its warmth only to increase its strength, the war against the whisky traffic was again renewed with augmented energy.
Red Wing had acquired a good reputation abroad for morals and sobriety. No town on the upper Mississippi had commenced with fairer prospects. It seemed a pity that this enviable position should be lost through inaction.
The friends of order and sobriety were called to meet in the hall over Smith, Hoyt & Co's. store. This was the common hall for all public meetings at that time. A strong temperance organization was effected. The total abstinence pledge was taken, regular meetings appointed, and lecturers engaged for the time to come. All this was done with a special object in view, namely, to nip the growing evil in the bud. Besides the regular addresses on the subject of temperance in general, there were grave questions of policy discussed. Such as whether it was not the duty of the friends of order to " beard the lion in his den :" to go in a body and destroy all the whisky to be found in places where it had been stored for sale. It was suggested that the ladies might turn out and accomplish the work, if men could not. Some of these meas- ures would doubtless have been adopted, had those who advised them been as ready to act as they were to speak.
There was a weighty lawyer here in those days, who threw his influ- ence into the temperance scale. Mob law was not the best way in his opinion. There was already a strict, prohibitory law. Whisky was contraband as an article of trade. All that was needed to conquer a last- ing peace, and gain a complete victory for the temperance cause, was to put this law in force. At that time the county was under the jurisdiction of the United States law as a territory. The prohibitory law extended over all that portion of the territory lately occupied by the Indians. It was therein provided that any officer of the United States Government could destroy all the intoxicating liquors that he could find, brought for sale or otherwise to this forbidden ground.
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This advice was taken, and two barrels of whisky, at least, and several marked vinegar (so reported,) were forced open by the ax, and their contents poured out to mingle with the waters of the Mississippi.
This was a triumph, but, alas for human laws and lawyers ! our pro- hibitory law had been repealed by the trickery of a St. Paul lawyer, who had been sent to the territorial legislature. In those days laws were made for special purposes, under other titles than belonged to them. The victory was, after all, on the side of the liquor dealers. They not only received damages from the friends of temperance, for losses sustained, but thenceforth began to sell openly the intoxicating draught.
It would be interesting to some at this day, to know why that first dry goods merchant who kept whisky on the sly, did not remain in Red Wing after the close of the struggle. All the reason that can be given is the following : At the close of an eloquent speech by a noted divine, this important, though somewhat mysterious advice, was given : That a hot stone be put in his nest. Perhaps that stone was too warm.
At the time of the events herein narrated, the foundations of Red Wing were well established. The village of a few hundred inhabitants grew in population year by year, until a city of thousands marks the favorite camping place of Hhoo-pa-hoo-doo-ta and his band of people. The old Indian cornfield and village plat is occupied with stately mansions, beautiful grounds, large business houses, and busy manufac- tories. The zigzagging Indian paths are blotted forever, and remain . only in the memory of a few-J. W. Hancock, Dr. W. W. Sweeney, John Day, E. C. Stephens and a few of their surviving contemporaries of 1852-3-of the times that tried the pluck and nerve of the pioneer settlers of the city of bluffs and church spires. Soon they will follow their fathers to the shores of the everlasting beyond.
The situation of the city is a charmingly romantic one. For beauty of location, pleasant surroundings and charming prospects from the various points of observation, Red Wing is remarkble. This accounts for its having long been the chosen dwelling place of the Indians, the sites of their villages always displaying a taste for the beautiful in nature. The many mounds that were seen within and around the town- site by the settlers of 1852-3-4, but obliterated many years since by the plow, gave evidence of the country having been inhabited by some tribe of the human race, long, long before Hhoo-pa-hoo-doo-ta and his band erected their lodges along the banks of "Jordan," and cultivated their " patches" of corn on the ground now overlooked by the local temple of human justice and various houses dedicated to the worship
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