USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 44
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in 1855. Since that time the county has advanced with rapid prog- ress, and when we compare its present civilization with its barbarous existence previous to that time, it almost seems that the wand of magic has passed over the land, changing the hunting-grounds of the savage into cultivated farms and homes. Being located in part upon what was called "the half-breed tract," much trouble was ex- perienced both in town and county by the first settlers in obtaining good titles to their land. These were finally adjusted by the gov- ernment, and Wabasha county has become one of the most prosper- ous counties of the state, with a most intelligent and enterprising population. The city charter was revised during the winter of 1868-9, which revision divided the city into two wards, with two aldermen elected in each ward, who held their office two years. The city recorder is elected for one year. In the spring of 1857 a new company was organized and the town site greatly enlarged by the platting of one thousand acres on the west side of the slough which divided the plateau from the original site. This company consisted of Messrs. S. P. Gambia, B. W. Brisbois, S. L. Campbell, Tho. A. Tomlinson, H. M. Rice, Gen. Shields, Oliver Cratte and Philo Stone ; Hon. S. L. Campbell, trustee. A large warehouse was erected on that side by Mr. Lowry, of New York city, and the foundation of an extensive hotel was laid, and the prospect was flat- tering for the growth of the city on that side. But the terrible convulsions in the financial, world which commenced this year came with crushing effect upon the young city, and discouraged both pro- prietors and people. Immigration fell off, and business of all kinds suffered exceedingly. In consequence, that part of the city was given up and the land divided among the proprietors in 1860 ; yet the city proper continued to increase in population slowly until 1871, when the river branch of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Milwaukee railroad was completed, and Wabasha rejoiced in its first railroad. The mail facilities until 1856 had been very irregular, but in that year arrangements were made with the boats to carry the mails, and a triweekly mail was the consequence during the summer, and in winter they were carried by private enterprise. In the spring of 1857 the boats brought a daily mail, and Mr. H. C. Burbank put on a line of stages that fall from St. Paul to La Crosse, carrying the mails as well as passengers, thus affording a daily mail both up and down the river. In 1858 the name of the postoffice was changed to "Wabasha," leaving off the final "w" as superfluous, at the sugges-
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tion of some of the citizens, so that the original Indian name of Wapashaw, like that of many other towns, has become extinct. To our taste, the original spelling and pronunciation of these names and places and rivers is far more liquid and musical than the modernized, and most of them should have been perpetnated.
Like many other new counties where rival towns are springing up, the question soon arose for the removal of the county seat. Plainview had aspirations that way, and Lake City had assumed a high position, and parties there were ambitions that it should become the shire town, and laid their plans for its removal to that place. A vote of the county was taken in 1860 upon the proposed removal, which resulted in favor of Wabasha ; the people of Lake City not being satisfied with that result, a bill was introduced in the legislature in 1867-8, which passed both houses, again allowing the people to vote upon the question. The feeling of rivalry was very strong between the two towns as election day approached, and voters were sought for, far and near; but by dint of hard work Wabasha again succeeded in securing the most votes, four thousand and fifty-two being polled for that location, while Lake City had three thousand and thirteen. Some people thinking there was irregularity in these votes, brought the matter before the courts, and the supreme court finally decided in favor of Wabasha, where the matter still rests.
The first agricultural fair of the county was held in September, 1859, across the slough, in the building erected for a warehouse, which building, in 1864, was removed to this side the slough and occupied as a grain elevator until it was consumed by fire April 3, 1883. Mr. S. L. Campbell was president of the association, Mr. H. C. Simpson, secretary. Address delivered by S. L. Campbell, Esq.
A company was organized at one time for the improvement of the Zumbro." This was to be done by bringing its waters along the base of the bluffs, a distance of some five miles, in a canal running in what is now called the slongh, which would furnish an immense water-power. The enterprise seemed to be of great importance, but for want of capital to carry forward the work it has been abandoned.
* The early French explorers named the Zumbro river La rivière des Embarras, which means " the embarrassed river." The early American settlers could not pronounce the word "Embarras," so they got it as near as they could and called it " Zumbro," by which name it is now known.
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In 1858 determined efforts were made to build a road across the island bottoms, just opposite the city, to the bluffs, in order to secure the trade from that side of the river. Much labor and money were expended, but owing to the crash in the financial world it became a failure, and the ferry and ferry-boat succeeded the effort in 1862. As the county improved Wabasha became a good market for wheat and all other productions of the farmers. In 1865 a large grain elevator was erected on the levee, and occupied by H. W. Holmes & Co., and about this time a steam flonring-mill was erected by A. G. Remendino on the corner of Bridge and Third streets, which passed into the hands of F .. Klinge. Destroyed by fire in 1868. In 1870 a machine-shop and foundry was started by Mr. Lowth, who also, in connection with J. B. Downer, erected the stone flouring-mill now in operation. Messrs. Ingraham, Kennedy and Gill erected a planing-mill in 1871, and opened up a lumber- yard corner of Second and Alleghany streets, reaching to Bridge in the fall of the same year. The first lumber-yard of the place and county was opened in 1851 by H. S. Allen & Co., of Chippewa Falls, on Levee street between what is now Bridge and Alleghany streets.
The pioneer hardware establishment of Wabasha was opened by Joshua Egbert in the summer of 1857. Mr. Egbert sold out to Jewell and Duganne in 1868, Duganne retiring in 1869. The busi- ness continned for some years under the name of Jewell & Son ; in the autumn of 1882 Mr. Jewell sold out all interest to H. B. Jewell and Julius Schmidt, which firm still continues the business.
About a mile above the city, on the bank of the river, the city has located a lovely spot, consisting of about fifteen acres of land, as the final resting-place of the weary, when the higher, nobler part shall have winged its way to the beautiful land, which all anticipate and hope for, yet from which no traveler returns. Riverview cemetery truly is one of the beautiful places where
Streameth down the moonlight On cliff and glen and wave, Descending ever softest, On a little grassy grave.
And where
" With tenderest effulgence, a tide of pallid gold Down issues, brightly bathing the marble and the mould."
In the fall of 1868 a club was organized with forty-two members, the object being to invite and develop literary culture, build up a circulating library, and establish a place where all could spend
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their leisure time profitably. The club rented a hall and furnished it neatly, supplied the table with the daily papers of the state, together with most of the popular magazines and leading literary journals, and filled the shelves of the room with a select number of books. They also furnished facilities for all and various drawing- room games. This club consisted of the best society of the place, both ladies and gentlemen. Its managers, however, were gentle- men. During the winter of 1870-1 the interest in the club seemed to be on the wane, and fears were entertained that this good begin- ning might have to be abandoned. But the ladies decided that it
should not be a failure, and they took the library off the hands of the gentlemen entirely, reorganizing under the name of the "Ladies' Library Association," which has been snstained by efforts of the ladies wholly, and is still in a very flourishing condition, there being, at the present date, some sixteen hundred volumes.
Messrs. Luger brothers in 1876 erected a large furniture factory on Bridge street, on the site of the flouring-mill before mentioned, and the business supplies the trade here and a large branch house in Fargo, and other points of the northwest.
The manufacturing interests of Wabasha are improving; the natural facilities being great, capital only is required to perfect what nature has so liberally provided for.
In the autumn of 1871 the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Chicago railroad was completed, passing through Wabasha on the west side, which event was hailed with great rejoicing. In 1878 the Minne- sota Midland was projected and completed as far as Zumbrota, start- ing from Wabasha; since which event the place has seemed to receive new impetus, and its business has increased nearly one-half. The Lake Superior & Chippewa Valley was completed to this point in July, 1882, crossing the Mississippi between this place and Read's Landing, and intersecting the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Chicago road at their depot, giving Wabasha some prominence as a railroad center, creating great hopes again of its growth in wealth and population.
The business of the city has ever been transacted on a safe basis, and after struggling through continued hardships with untiring perseverance, it now looks as though Wabasha had a grand future before it.
The first meat-market in the place was kept by S. Demary. There are now three. Misses Kate and Winifred Redmond were
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the first milliners and dressmakers here. That line of business has improved and increased greatly also.
The first banking house in Wabasha was instituted by H. Rogers and son, from Zanesville, Ohio, in the summer of 1857. This did not continue long, however, owing to the financial crisis of 1857-8, and Mr. Rogers removed to St. Paul in 1859. In 1861 Mr. N. F. Webb opened a bank on Main street, which continued in business until the autumn of 1870. Messrs. Southworth and Florer in 1871 established a bank, which will be fully treated of in the his- tory of the town ; changed managers in 1882, and is now known as the bank of Wabasha ; directors, A. D. Southworth, J. G. Law- rence, L. S. Van Vleit, C. F. Young, H. P. Krick, C. F. Rogers, Lucas Kuehn.
The first physician to settle in the town was Dr. F. H. Milligan, who came in 1853. He married a daughter of Mr. Alexis Bailly, and settled here soon after. Dr. William L. Lincoln was the next, coming here in July, 1857. There was a young lawyer here by the name of John McKee, when the town was organized, of marked ability, but intemperance fastened her fangs upon him and he died in 1857 from the effect of her seductions. Death has claimed many of our prominent and esteemed pioneers. C. W. Lyon, W. W. McDougall, Charles Wyman, Dea Oliver Pendleton, W. W. Prindle, W. S. Jackson, whose places here have not yet been filled. Mr. Francis Talbot, the last of the pioneer fur traders, came here in 1853 with letters of introduction to Mr. Bailly, from his friend, John H. Kinzie, of Chicago, with whom Mr. Talbot was connected at an early day. The first white child born in Wabasha was Charles, son of B. S. Hurd, on the 14th of May, 1855. A steam planing and saw mill were erected on the east bank of slough at the foot of Fourth street in 1856, by Mr. L. Clapp. This mill did a good busi- ness until the financial crash of 1857, when it succumbed gracefully to the pressure.
Philo Stone in 1850 erected the dwelling on Levee street after- ward owned and occupied by Dea Oliver Pendleton until his death in June, 1875. A building on the levee, just above the present residence of Mr. W. T. Duganne, was erected in 1853 by a river pilot, whose name was Harold, and it was kept as a boarding-house, known as Harold's Exchange. Destroyed by fire in 1858.
It seems like magic that in so brief a period of time the Indian titles to forty millions of acres of land, broad and beautiful, should
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have been made to blossom as the rose, and that the keen-eyed enterprise of the American people should have accomplished so much as has been done in a quarter of a century, and the fabled magic of the eastern tale that renewed a palace in a single night, can only parallel the reality of this. Minnesota was admitted to the union in 1858, since which time the blankets and painted faces of the red man have entirely disappeared, together with the moccasins and red sashes of the French voyageur and half-breeds, while civili- zation, with its thousand arms, has advanced in their stead with resistless and beneficent empire ; and now arts, manufactures and science equal those of any state in the union, while steam on the water, steam on the land, is almost unparalleled. Immigration from the Atlantic and European states is rapidly developing the almost unsearchable riches of the lands, while the immense line of rail- roads, when completed, will bring the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in direct communication with the great markets of the world.
In the preceding pages reference has been made to most, per- haps to all, of the subjects of these sketches who have been pro- minent actors in some department, and further notice may seem like repetition ; but as the object in view is to pay tribute where it is due, I trust the reader will pardon the iteration. Messrs. Rocque and Buisson were of French descent, and their children and descendants still remain in Wabasha. Augustin Rocque built the first house in this vicinity in 1830, and Duncan Campbell was the next to build, and on the same side of the slough. Oliver Cratte was sent here in 1838, and he built the first house on the present site of the city. Mr. Rocque died in 1856, and, at his own request, lies buried upon the top, and just on the verge of the highest bluff overlooking the town, with no stone or epitaph to mark his resting-place, other than the silent grandeur of the scene. His son, Joseph Rocque, was ac- counted the greatest hunter of his time, and was so fleet on foot, that one time upon a wager he ran down a deer and drove it into camp. At another time he carried dispatches on foot from Fort Snelling to this place, a distance of ninety miles, from sun to sun. The governor fearing he would not be able to make the trip, sent a man on horseback after him ; but Rocque left man and horse on the prairie, and distanced both. He was perfectly familiar with the country, having traversed it many times in company with Indians and voyageurs, and understood the shortest route, which he took, and so executed his mission in due time. Another son, Baptiste, acted
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as scout for Gen. Sibley during the Indian outbreak of 1862. Men- dota at that time was called St. Peters. Nearly all the old French traders married Sionx wives, and the government set apart four hun- dred and fifty square miles for the benefit of the so called half-breed children. In 1857 these half-breeds received four hundred and eighty acres of land scrip from the government in place of their re- served land, and several old French settlers at Wabasha received scrip for their wives and children. Duncan and Scott Campbell received about twenty-three scrips ; Mr. Cratte had nine ; Mr. Alexis Baily, seven. The Campbells were men of Scotch parentage, and both were well known at all the different posts and among various tribes. Dur.can Campbell was killed in a duel near Mackinac, with one Crawford, a brother of the agent of the Northwest Fur Company. Campbell was an independent trader in opposition to the Northwest Company. Nelson's Landing was a trading post on the Wisconsin side of the river. At one time, a war party of Chippewas, numbering about one hundred and fifty, came down to the Mississippi, and stopped at the Landing. This was in 1853. They threatened the village, and just as they made their appearance on the river bank a Sioux Indian was seen coming down the river in his canoe. On see- ing his enemies so close to him, he threw himself over in the water, and holding his canoe with tlre left hand swam ashore, the canoe serving him as a shelter from the bullets of his enemies, although completely riddled by them. But "Oregon" (so he was called by the whites), managed his bark so as to reach the Minnesota side without being wounded, and as soon as npon land he gave the war- whoop common to his tribe, which was soon answered by scores of his friends, and the Chippewas were glad to retreat without even a scalp. A short time before, a treaty of peace had been perfected between the Chippewas and Wapashaws band, which was ratified by all the principal men of the band, and everything seemed quiet. But the Redwing band either did not know of the treaty or ignored it wholly, and made raid upon the Chippewas, which renewed hosti- lities at once.
When the writer of these annals first came to Wabasha, in the spring of 1857, the teepee of the Indian was to be seen in every direction, and the dusky form of the savage might be expected to walk in upon you, or be seen peering curiously at yon through the window at any time. Usually they wanted food or "coshpop" (the Indian term for ten cents), begging being one of their strong charac-
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teristics. Just below the house in which we lived stood a little copse of wood, where the death-song of the "poor Indian" was heard many times when he thought himself dying ; the "fire-water" of the white man proving too much for him. He would get thus far on his way back to the teepee, lie down, as he thought, to die, and then the terrible wail would begin and continue until the poor fellow was overcome and dead-drunken sleep drowned all sensibilities. Their dances, too, were very frequent and dreadfully hideous, yet apparently enjoyed with all the zest their benighted brains and energies could desire. Their medicine and war-dances were the most frequent ; they had also a snake-dance, which took in all the serpentine antics and hisses, while the monotonous beatings of their drums was most unearthly.
Sitting at our dinner-table one day, we were startled by the door being opened suddenly and five dusky faces, one above the other, peering in at us, the last one with face painted black and red, with mischief-gleaming eyes and two feathers in his hair. Our eldest son, who, in a short time, had caught much of the Sioux language, upon seeing the last face, jumped up and accosted him with, "Now, Dick, what does all this mean ?" "Indian hungry," was the reply. "But why are you here with that face ?" "Dick dandy," he replied, and it appeared that he had painted and dressed himself in those habiliments for our especial benefit. The Indian was known ever after as " Dandy Dick." In the raid upon the whites, in 1862, Dandy Dick came to grief as one of the marauders, although pro- testing his innocence and pleading hard for life. He was finally removed, with many others, to the Santee agency, Nebraska. Among those banished to that reservation at that time was the old and faithful Sioux, Ta-mah-haw, who had been a friend to the United States all his life. He was familiarly known as "the one- eyed Sioux," and Lieut. Pike speaks of him as "my friend " in his journal, and also says he was a war chief, and that he gave him his "father's tomahawk." In the table of the appendix of this journal he is set down as belonging to the Medaywokant'wans; he was also called "the Bourgne " (French for one eye), but his Dahkota name was Ta-mah-haw, his French name was "L'Orignal Leve," and his English, "The Rising Moose." He was born at Prairie Aux Ailes (Winona), and in his younger days was noted for his intel- ligence, daring and activity. During a game in boyhood one eye was accidentally destroyed, giving him the peculiarity by which he
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was always known. In person, he was tall and of fine appearance, muscular and active even to the day of his death. During the war of 1812 he rendered most valuable service to the American cause. Gen. Clark, of St. Louis, employed hin as scout and messenger, and, with one exception, he was the only Sioux who remained friendly to us during that contest. This other was Hay-pie-dam, who belonged to the band of Wakuta. Col. Dickson, the British leader, once had him arrested at Prairie du Chien and threatened him with death, but Ta-mah-haw bravely and firmly refused to betray his cause. Gen. Clark esteemed his services highly, and on May 6, 1814 (sixty-nine years today) gave him a commission as chief of the Sioux nation, together with a captain's uniform and medal. He carefully kept and treasured this commission and shows it with genuine pride to every new comer. Most of the early settlers are familiar with his characteristics, always wearing a high-crowned hat, and often appearing in an officer's blue swallow-tailed coat and epaulets, given him by Gov. Clark. He was remarkable among the Sioux, and it was his highest pride and boast that he was the only American in his tribe. He deserved, on this account, to receive from the government authorities special consideration ; yet he was suffered to go away in banishment from his old friends the white men, which grieved him so much that he died in a few months. In the Dahkota tongue Ta-mah-haw means "pike." He was given that name by his band, undoubtedly on account of friend- ship for and intimacy with Lient. Pike.
It may be thought that too much pains has been taken to eluci- date the history of this man, but he was more than an ordinary Indian, and his personal friendship for Lient. Pike, of whom he delighted to talk, and his devotion to the American cause, justly attaches to his history more than ordinary notice.
Old Wapashaw, the grandfather of the present chief who bears his name, was the man of his time, and tradition has preserved the name of no braver, greater man than he. He was the leading hereditary chief of the People of the Lakes, and in all tribal affairs his word was law, not only with his own particular band, but with all those belonging to the same division. At one time he went to Quebec to settle some trouble in relation to a murder which had been committed, and there he represented the Dahkotahs as living in seven bands, with as many chiefs, of whom he was one. He there received for them seven medals, one being hung around his own
.
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neck, and the remainder to be given one to eaeli chief of the other bands. Wapashaw died far away from his home on the Hoka river, and, it is said, the father of Wakuta was the physician who attended him in his last illness. The Dakotahs will never forget the name of Wapashaw, and their affections eluster around and cling to this place from very reverence to his memory.
I copy from the "Wabasha Herald " the particulars of an inter- view with Wakuta, the last Sioux chief who dwelt on the Mississippi, and who is said to have possessed one of the medals given Wapa- shaw at the time of his visit to Quebec : "A few days since we had the pleasure of looking at a few old relies in the shape of parchiments, commissions, treaties, etc., which privilege was granted us by an old Indian chief, Wakuta by name, at present located at the Santee reservation in Nebraska with his tribe, and who is pay- ing his old friends and acquaintances here a visit. The first docu- ment shown us was a commission to Tatangamanie, or "Walking Buffalo," appointing him as grand chief of the Gens de Lac Nation (Men of the Lakes), and signed by James Wilkinson, com- mander-in-chief of the army of the United States and governor of the territory of Louisiana and superintendent of the Indian affairs, indorsed as follows : "Given under my hand and seal of arms, at St. Louis, this 27th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thon- sand eight hundred and six, and of the independence of the United States of America the twentieth." Signed by " his excellencie's command, James Wilkinson." Also another, bearing date August 26, 1812, appointing Walking Buffalo as first chief of the Mende- waconton band, which constituted all the Sioux on the Mississippi river ; also another, appointing Walking Buffalo chief of the Tribes of the Lakes, signed by Wm. Clark, governor of Missouri, bearing date July 29, 1815. He had another doenment, a treaty of peace, signed at St. Louis in 1815 by the following chiefs and commission- ers : Win. Clark, Marian Edwards and Aug. Choteau, commission- ers, and Tatangamanie, the "Walking Buffalo"; Hai-saw-nee, " The Horn"; A-am-pa-ha, "The Speaker"; Na-rn-sa-ga-to, "The Hard Stone"; Hai-ba-had, "The Rounding Horn," chiefs.
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