USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 10
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 10
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Le Sueur built a fort on Prairie Island (between Hastings and Red Wing) in 1695 and ascended the Mississippi and Min- nesota in 1700, using a sailing and rowing vessel and two canoes, in his quest after what he supposed to be copper ore, near the mouth of the Blue Earth river, at practically the present site of Mankato. Le Sueur's journal, probably written by a secretary, and that of Penicault, a ship carpenter who accompanied the expedition, have been preserved. The Wapakootas had their headquarters around the Blue Earth river as well as around the sources of the Cannon, and Le Sueur and his men became fa- miliar with this branch of the Sioux. It would be natural that the exploring expeditions that were sent out in all directions should reach Rice county.
Even so distinguished an authority as Joseph W. Nicollet identifies a "Long river, described by La llontan, as the Cannon river of the present day." In a report to Congress some years ago he said: "Ilaving procured a copy of La Hontan's book, in which there is a roughly-made map of his long river, I am struck with the resemblance of its course, as laid down, with that of the Cannon River, which I had previously sketched in my fiekl book." This Baron La Hontan was a French soldier-of-fortunc, who after seeking service in Canada, returned to France in 1703 and issued a book in which he claimed to have explored the upper courses of the Mississippi. Early historians attempted to locate the scenes of his marvelous adventures, and even identified the Minnesota or the Cannon rivers as the "Long River," which according to him, fell into the upper Mississippi from the west. At the present day, however, it is believed that the alleged ex- plorations of La Hontan were purely a work of fiction, fabri- cated after conversations with Perrot and Du Luth, and written with an idea of obtaining money to actually visit the regions he claimed to have explored.
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The French had three successive forts at the present site of Frontenac in Goodhue County in the late twenties, the carly thirties and the early fifties of the eighteenth century, and from there, exploring trips were conducted in various directions.
Johnathan Carver, an American, ascended the upper Missis- sippi in 1766, but did not visit Rice County.
Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike explored the upper Mississippi for the United States government in 1806-07 but likewise did not visit Rice County.
In 1819, Col. Henry Leavenworth started to build at what is now Mendota in Dakota County, the fort which was shortly afterward moved across the river and is now Fort Snelling. From that time, Rice County began to be more or less known to the whites. May 10, 1823, the Steamer Virginia from St. Louis arrived at Ft. Snelling, and the influx of white population was started, although Rice County was not open to actual settlement until 1853. (Note .- The treaty of Mendota was signed August 5, 1851. It was ratified with amendments by the United States senate June 23, 1852. The amendments were accepted by the Indians and President Millard Fillmore issued his proclamation accepting, ratifying and confirming the treaty February 24, 1853.)
In 1826, Alexander Faribault came to Rice County with a license to trade with the Indians. Stephen Jewett, who has made a special study of the early days of this vicinity, has pre- pared a paper on the Faribaults, which also gives the story of the first settlement in Rice County and in Faribault.
Mr. Jewett's paper follows :
AFTER EIGHTY-FOUR YEARS.
The year 1826 is notable in the history of Faribault as the date of the coming of Alexander Faribault to the site of the place which now bears his name. Accompanied by his young wife he chose the banks of the Straight River for his first camp- ing place. Alexander Faribault was a lover of nature; and as his eye swept over the unbounded prairie to the south, the Big Woods and silver lakes to the west, and to the meeting of the Cannon and Straight (Owatonna) rivers, it was to him indeed a paradise ; yet he knew the white man, and realized with a sigh its future and manifest destiny.
"I hear the tread of pioneers, Of nations yet to be ; The first low wash of waves where soon Will roll a human sea."
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Such a scene of beauty as well as of lavish and undeveloped wealth could never be forgotten by one whose innate love of Nature was so strong. So in 1834 he returned to his early camp- ing ground, where years after he became a large land-holder and the principal proprietor of the city which bears his name.
The Faribault family came from Le Mans, France, where there are few who bear the name. The American branch are descendants of Bernard Faribault, Royal Bailiff, who was born at Montbizot, on the Sarthe River, in 1669. He married three times and left numerous children, and died on May 5, 1741 at the age of seventy-two.
Berthelemy Faribault, the son of Bernard by his third wife, Madeline Hanion (the widow Bourmault), was born at Mont- bizot in 1713. He resided in Paris and practiced as an attorney. In 1757, at the order of the French government, he sailed for Canada to take an important position in the French army, which was then under the command of the Marquis de Duquesne. He held this position until the end of the unfortunate war which decided the destiny of the French in America. Because of the feeling between the two great nations which had for so long a time fought for pre-eminence, Faribault went to Berthier, one of the oldest parishes in Canada, where he chose the profession of a notary. He died on June 20. 1801, at the age of eighty- eight, leaving ten children.
Jean Baptiste Faribault, the seventh son of Berthelemy Fari- bault, was born at Berthier in 1774. He had the good fortune to secure a fair education, and left school at the age of sixteen to accept a position with a merchant in Quebec. But notwithstand- ing the fact that he was held in the highest esteem, young Fari- bault could not bring himself to spend the greater part of his life behind a counter. The spirit of adventure drew him from his native country, and choosing the free life of a fur trader, he followed in the wake of Marquette, Hennepin and Du Luth to that vast theatre where he could accomplish greater things. An incident decided him to become a soldier. The Duke of Kent. father of Queen Victoria, came to Canada with his regiment of Royal Fusiliers. His command was quartered in Quebec, and the parading of the soldiers was considered a splendid spectacle. The brilliant uniforms of the prince and his officers and the precise movements of the soldiers so charmed Faribault that he made a sketch of them that called forth great admiration. Although he had never taken lessons in drawing his sketches showed talent and taste. The officers of the regiment communi- cated with the duke, who offered young Faribault a commission. He would have accepted but for the opposition of his family, and regretfully renounced the brilliant prospect which had been of-
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fered him. During his old age he frequently recalled the inci- dent saying that but for his respect for his parents nothing would have prevented him from leading a military life. The duke permitted young Faribault to name a friend to fill the post which he had declined, and the memoirs of Faribault state that the favor was conferred on young de Salsberry, who received his commission in 1791. De Salsberry was burning to enter the service as a soldier, and amply justified the choice of his friend in many dashing exploits, preludes to the victory of Chateauquay, which he immortalized by his heroic bravery.
Faribault, with three other active young men, was selected two years later by "The Company of the Northwest" to trade with the Indians. Again his parents begged him not to leave the parental roof, but this time, fascinated by the prospect of adventure in the unknown, he was insensible to their remon- strances. In June 1796 he left Montreal with his three com- panions for Michillimackinac. Braving all difficulties, the hard life and travel by canoes and through trackless forests, with the necessity of transporting their baggage and provisions on their shoulders over portages, he and his companions reached their destination in twelve days, when he was given charge by Gov- ernor Harrison of a trading post at Kankaki, a pretty village, half French and half American, within the territory of the United States. Aided by three Canadian voyageurs, he located the post at the mouth of the Kankaki river, where he conducted a lucra- tive business with the Indians, and, the spring following, with the precious furs he had acquired, he reported at Machillimack- inac to succeed there the agent of "The Company of the North- west," who later, recognizing his services, gave him a more im- portant post, that of Baton Rouge (Red Wood), on the Des Moines river, where he soon acquired a knowledge of the Sioux language. Here he remained for four years in almost complete solitude. The region abounded in wild, fur-bearing animals of all kinds, and was inhabited by the Sioux, Sacs, Renards and Ioouas (Iowas). Traders and voyageurs passed the winter in huts or in trunks of trees, and in the spring visited the different camps to secure the proceeds of the winter's trapping.
His engagement terminated. Faribault proposed to return to Canada, when he learned with grief of the sudden death of his father and mother. This double sorrow decided him to continue in the service of "The Company of the Northwest," and in the winter of 1802 he was given a trading post on the River St. Pierre (St. Peter-now the Minnesota), where he carried on profitable trading with the Sioux. Here he was severely wounded in at- tempting to defend a friend from the attack of an Indian. After a sojourn of three years Faribault married the widow of Mr.
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Hanse, who had previously been superintendent of Indians. This marriage caused him to decide definitely to remain in the midst of the adventurous West. He was at this time thirty-one, and his wife twenty-two, years of age.
In August, 1805, Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, U. S. A., who was commissioned by the government "to examine the country upon the upper Mississippi, and maintain the interests of the govern- ment," ascended the "Father of Waters" from St. Louis, and mentions having been hospitably entertained by J. B. Faribault, a French Canadian fur trader, on the banks of the St. Pierre river, near the present site of St. Paul.
Hostilities having been declared in the autumn of 1808 be- tween the Sioux and the Sauteaux (Chippewas) Faribault, not- withstanding the dangers, determined to pass the following winter with the Sioux Yankton, on the River Des Moines. His further progress was arrested by the Ioouas, who threatened to kill him and rob him of his merchandise, but he was rescued by a large band of Yanktons, who escorted him to the post of the company. By the following spring he had secured a large quantity of pelts. After ten years of service with the company, he chose Prairie-du-Chien for his trading post, where for many years he was prosperous, as it was frequented by the Ouine- bagons, Renards, and Sioux of the Ouakpe-Kouta band.
Anticipating the War of 1812, the English made strenuous ef- forts to enlist the Indians of the Northwest to take up arms against the Americans; and the traders, mostly Canadians, who had much influence over the tribes, were offered commissions to espouse the British cause. All accepted with the exception of Jean Baptiste Faribault and Louis Provencalle, who lent their heartiest service to the United States. Colonel McCall, having been informed of their refusal, had Faribault arrested and im- prisoned on board a gunboat commanded by Captain Anderson, who was transporting to Prairie-du-Chien a troop for the pur- pose of attacking the American garrison there. They wished to force Faribault to take his turn at the oar, but he firmly replied that he was a gentleman, and could not consent to do such service. Colonel McCall, instead of punishing him for his haughty response, admired his courage. admitted him to his own boat, and treated him with marked attention. The English soldiers, to- gether with the Canadians and Indians, on their arrival at Prairie-du-Chien, prepared to storm the American garrison. At their approach the families who resided on the outskirts of the post precipitately abandoned their homes, Mrs. Faribault and her children among the number, and ascended the Mississippi in canoes to what is now Winona (Ouinnona-"the eldest daugh- ter"). She supposed her husband to have proceeded to Mack-
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inac, having no idea he was a prisoner in the hands of the Eng- lish, and later his courageous wife, ignoring the fact, returned to Prairie-du-Chien. After an energetic resistance of three days the fort surrendered and Faribault was released on parole, it being thought that his hostility could in this manner be better gauged. During the siege his house had been burned, his cattle killed, and his merchandise pillaged to the extent of $12,000 This ruined him, taking from him the profits of many years and of labor incalculable. However, he did not lose his indomitable courage, and with renewed ardor commeneed to repair his broken fortune. His wife had found refuge with the Sioux, and these Indians now brought him game and pelts in abundance.
The English having abandoned Prairie-du-Chien, the fort was rebuilt by the Americans under the command of Colonel Chambers. Faribault now became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and took an active part in defending the frontier. organizing a military company, of which he became first lieu- tenant.
"The Company of the Northwest" had sold in 1809 their rights to the "American Fur Company," of which John Jacob Astor was the founder. Joseph Rolette was the agent, and from him Faribault purchased supplies, and again commenced trading, which he successfully conducted until 1819, when he located with Colonel Leavenworth, near Fort Snelling, where he was soon joined by his family. Colonel Leavenworth had offered Fari- bault because of his intelligence, character, and extensive knowl- edge of the Sioux, all possible encouragement to accompany him. At this time Minnesota was a region where civilization had never penetrated. In 1821 Colonel Leavenworth obtained from the Sioux 9,000 acres of land at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, now Fort Snelling. Moreover, the Indians by this treaty ceded their right to the Isle of Pike to Mrs. Fari- bault "and her descendants, the said Pilagie Faribault being the daughter of Francois Kinie, whose wife was one of our nation." The right of Faribault to this island was later presented in con- gress by S. C. Stambough and Alexis Bailly, acting as attorneys for J. B. Faribault. In 1822 the high water of the Mississippi submerged the entire island, and Faribault established himself on the opposite plateau, where again unprecedented floods com- pletely devastated the location, carrying off his house, drowning his cattle, and leaving everywhere traces of disaster. Colonel Snelling, however, most fortunately rescued Faribault's family and saved his most valuable pelts.
About 1826 Faribault located at Mendota and traded with the Sioux, the wildest tribe of the West. Notwithstanding their friendship for him he was frequently in great danger, and on one
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occasion for a trivial matter an Indian plunged a knife into Fari- bault's back, but his vigorous constitution and temperate habits carried him through. The Indian, however, was summarily shot by one of Faribault's sons, Oliver, a boy of fourteen.
For sixty years the voice of Faribault was heard in the In- dian councils. He held their confidence, he settled their differ- ences, gave them a good example, lessened their superstitions, brought to them Christian sentiments by gentle persuasion, and he truly merited the title of pioneer evangelist. Having their confidence he was able to settle impartially their differences, and was given the name of "Beaver Tail" (Ca-pa-Sin-te or Chah- pah-cin-ta) because of his intelligence. It is pleasant to com- pare the conduct of Faribault with that of other traders, who, far from trying to exercise an elevating influence over the In- dians, taught them the vices of a pretended civilization. He passed forty years in the wilds of the West without receiving religious consolation-a great privation to this courageous pio- neer. It is difficult to comprehend the joy which was his when, in 1817, he accidentally met a priest in the solitudes of the forest, who blessed his marriage and baptized his children. In 1840 he found Abbe Gultier dying at Fort Snelling, and taking him to his own home carefully nursed him during the remainder of his life. Moreover, he erected and placed at his service a chapel for the Canadians and Indians, the first where Catholic prayers were heard in the state of Minnesota. When Abbe Ravoux, Vicar General of St. Paul, came from France in 1843 to replace Abbe Gultier, he also enjoyed the hospitality of Faribault until he had mastered the Sioux dialect.
General Sibley wrote. in part, "It is now thirty years that [ have known Jean Baptiste Faribault, and Alexander, his son. Of all the pioneers of Minnesota there is not one whose name merits more respect, and who should be honored more, than Jean Baptiste Faribault. They were always truly my friends, and have merited it. They have shown a constant devotion to the Catholic religion, and were men of exemplary piety." Min- nesota wished to recognize the services of Jean Baptiste Fari- banlt, and did so by giving his name to one of its counties.
The wife of Jean Baptiste Faribault died at Mendota June 19. 1847. He survived his wife many years, enjoying the af- fection of his family and fellow-citizens, until August 20, 1860, when he departed this life at the age of eighty-seven at Fari- bault in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Major Fowler. He had long been prepared for the end, and passed to the great Beyond without regret, full of resignation, with the joy of a soul eager to participate in eternal joys. He had lived to realize his dreams, to see the marvelous development of the unknown west, which
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he had found in its virgin state. He was laid to rest beside his children, grandchildren and other relatives and friends of later years, in Calvary cemetery, on the outskirts of the town which bears his name.
Such, in mere outline, is the story of the life of this un- daunted Canadian, who more than one hundred years ago played a significant part in the settlement of the Northwest, and es- pecially of Minnesota. Connected with the most important com- mercial company that ever existed in the Northwest, carried on irresistably by his enthusiasm to regions unknown, always ready for new dangers, looking death unflinchingly in the face again and again, he lived, through infinite vicissitudes, his honorable life.
Returning to Alexander Faribault, the eldest son of Jean Baptiste Faribault, we find a life interwoven with the develop- ment of the great Northwest almost as closely as that of his father. Alexander was born June 22, 1806 at Prairie-du-Chien, then within the Louisiana Purchase, and was the founder and principal proprietor of the town to which he gave his name. Be- cause of a modest and retiring nature much concerning his in- teresting life will never be known. About the year 1820 we find him on the banks of the St. Peter (now Minnesota) river, and the following year located permanently at Mendota, then in the territory of Michigan, as a United States licensed trader, having outposts throughout the territory. It was at this time that he improved the opportunity to cultivate his English studies through the courtesy of the United States officers at Fort Snelling. He was married November 1, 1825, to Mary Elizabeth Graham, the daughter of Capt. Duncan Graham. She was born July 15, 1805, and died April 8, 1875, at the age of sixty-nine years, at Eliza- beth, in Otter Tail county. He became the father of ten children, namely, George H., Agnes, Emely, Daniel, Catherine, Philip, Julia, Nathalie, William Richard and A. Leon. The spring fol- lowing his marriage, while with voyageurs visiting the outposts on the upper Minnesota river, an Indian gave his life to rescue Faribault and his young wife and companions.
During 1826 to 1829 he traded on the Cannon river, under a license from the American Fur Company, successors of "The Northwest Fur Company," and established a post at Lake Sakata, near the site of the town of Waterville, and in 1831 he located at what is now Morristown. The following year he re- moved to a point between Wells and Cannon lakes. The country was then peopled by the Dakotas, who called what is now known as Cannon lake, Me-da-te-pe-ton-ka ("Lake of the Big Village"). In 1834 he influenced the Sioux to move to the site of the present town of Faribault. They occupied all that tract between Division
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and Fourteenth streets on the west side of Straight (Owatonna) river, and the plateau was covered with the picturesque encamp- ment of bark and buffalo-skin tepes. In 1835 he built the first log house on the east side of Straight river, northeast of the Front Street bridge, and several log houses on what is now the Travis farm, on the road to Cannon City. This tract was then covered with a dense growth of maple which afforded abundance of sugar. The first regular trading post was of logs, built the same year, midway between the Straight river stone mills and Front street bridge. These buildings were afterward occupied by Peter Bush and family and as a blacksmith shop, and were later known as "Hotel Bush." This humble building gave shelter to early settlers, among them several of our most distinguished citizens. In the winter of 1853 Faribault built a temporary log house on the southeast corner of what is now Third street and First avenue cast, while the first frame house in Rice county, surrounded by a stockade, was being erected on the northwest corner of First avenue cast and Division street, which was com- pleted in 1853. The materials for this structure were hauled from St. Paul and Hastings.
The early territorial settlers will recollect the sturdy pioneers Jim Mabon, Jean Cluckey, St. L'Ous, Craidgie, St. Jarmont, Payne, Howard, Wilson, Beaupre, McBeal, Louis Demara and Pierre LaPoint and others, who assisted in the construction of these notable and historic structures.
In 1851 Mr. Faribault was one of the official interpreters at the St. Peter (Traverse-de-Sioux) treaty, when the Indians re- linquished to the government 45,000 square miles lying on the western side of the Mississippi. By this treaty and that of Men- dota the Indians gave up their right of usufruct to all the country previously claimed by them east of the Sioux Wood and Big Sioux rivers. He also reported Little Crow's speech at the sec- ond treaty of 1851 at Pilot Knob, near Mendota. He was also a member of the legislature from the Seventh district in 1851. and a witness, with Sibley and others, before the United States Court, in charges of fraud in Indian affairs. He was among the first to offer inducements to Dr. Breck and to Bishop Whipple, to whom he gave ten acres of land for their schools, contributing liberally in money and lands afterwards. Following the treaty of 1851, which was forced upon the Sioux, many of the Wah-pe- ku-tes (Wapakootas-Leaf Shooters) would not live on the reser- vation at Red Wood and remained at Faribault and were given by Mr. Faribault the use of lands, and otherwise provided for. sending their children to the private schools maintained at his expense. Among them was George St. Clair, who afterward became a clergyman in the Episcopal Church. AAfter the out-
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break of 1862 Mr. Faribault assisted Bishop Whipple further in locating the non-participants, among whom were Wounded Man (Taopi), Good Thunder (Marpiya Washta), and Iron Shield (Wah-hah-chan-ka-maza), who were General Sibley's scouts and saved many white settlers from massacre. The writer, then a new-comer to the West, will never forget a council in the Fari- bault house on the bluffs, where he witnessed the payment of several thousand dollars by Dr. J. W. Daniels, the representative of the government, to these Indian men and women as a reward for their loyalty and services in rescuing many settlers from the hostiles.
Straight river mills were commenced by Mr. Faribault in 1858, and the Le Croix came from Montreal to superintend the construction, also that of the mill on Cannon river, known as the "Polar Star Mills," together with the mill on Straight river near Fourteenth street.
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