USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Personal recollections of Minnesota and its people : and early history of Minneapolis > Part 33
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The Indians that went down with us separated. Eight of them and the squaw went north ; the other eight went further down. I have not seen any of them since. After father was killed I took both guns and the ammunition and started to go to Devil's Lake, where I expected to find some of my friends. When I got to Beaver creek I saw the tracks of two Indians, and at Standing Buffalo's village I saw where the eight Indians that had gone north had crossed.
I carried both guns as far as the Sheyenne river, where I saw two men. I asw scared, and threw my gun and the ammunition down. After that I traveled only in the night ; and as I had no ammunition to kill anything to eat, I had not strength enough to travel fast. I went on until I arrived near Devil's Lake, when I staid in one place three days, being so weak and hungry that I could go no further. I had picked up a cartridge near Big Stone Lake, which I still had with me, and loaded father's gun with it, cutting the ball into slugs. With this charge I shot a wolf, ate some of it, which gave me strength to travel, and went on up the lake until the day I was captured, which was twenty-six days from the day my father was killed."
The removal of the Indians from the borders of Minnesota, and the opening up for settlement of over a million of acres of superior land, was a prospective benefit to the state of immense value, both in its domestic quiet and its rapid advancement in material wealth.
LETTER FROM GEN. H. H. SIBLEY, DATED SEPT. 24TH, 1889.
Col. J. H. Stevens-My dear Sir : I would cheerfully com- ply with your request, to furnish you with an account of the release of the captives, and incidents connected therewith, over my own signature, but unfortunately I cannot, after the lapse of so many years, trust my memory to recall the details of that most important and interesting episode in our history. If I can find the article I furnished years ago to some magazine or newspaper, and to which you refer, I will send it to you with- out delay. It would give me much pleasure to contribute to the success of your enterprise. With loving regards to Mrs. Stevens, believe me to be your sincere friend, HENRY H. SIBLEY.
CHAPTER XLIX.
The autumn of 1862 was dreary to citizens of Minneapolis and St. Anthony. The Indian war had brought sorrow to many households in the two cities. Currency was so scarce that the town of Minneapolis issued scrip redeemable in bank notes in sums not less than five dollars. This script was signed by S. H. Mattison, president, and Geo. A. Savory, secretary. It was endorsed by R. J. Mendenhall, treasurer, which gave it a good standing in the community. Messrs. J. E. and D. C. Bell, Benj. F. Bull, and other merchants, exchanged their goods for the script. Most of the teams in the two cities were pressed into the service of the state for the Indian war.
Sidney Smith, a resident of Minneapolis since 1854, and one of the most reliable, respected citizens, became interested in the freighting business, but there was little work in that line this fall for want of teams.
The fall election passed off very quietly. John A. Arm- strong was elected sheriff, Harlow A. Gale, auditor ; Geo. W. Chowan, register of deeds ; John B. Gilfillan, county attorney; A. Blakeman, county commissioner ; and F. W. Cook, sur- veyor ; A. C. Austin and R. B. McGrath, members of the house. R. J. Baldwin, senator, held his office for two years, as did David Heaton, in St. Anthony.
Rev. D. Cobb became pastor of the Methodist church in Minneapolis, this fall.
Anson Northrup and Simon P. Snyder raised a company of men to defend the unprotected settlers on the frontier from the depredations of the Indians ; while Eugene M. Wilson had no difficulty in organizing a company of mounted
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rangers. October 15th, the company was mustered into the service with Mr. Wilson, captain ; E. A. Goodell, first lieu- tenant ; and James M. Paine, second lieutenant.
Hon. H. E. Mann, a prominent attorney of Minneapolis, received the appointment of clerk of U. S. court at St. Paul.
David C. Bell was married this fall to Miss Lina Conklin at lier family home in Richburg, Alleghany county, New York. The couple came directly to Minneapolis and have resided here ever since.
W. W. McNair of Minneapolis was married to Miss Wilson, daughter of Edgar Wilson of Virginia.
Harrison's block, the most commodious house up to this time in Minneapolis, was completed in October of this year.
The State Bank of Minnesota, with R. J. Mendenhall as its president, was organized in November.
The county commissioners followed the example of the town board and issued scrip for a circulating medium.
As winter approached it became necessary to renew efforts in behalf of wounded and sick soldiers. The soldiers' aid society was reorganized with Mrs. D. Morrison, president ; Mrs. Geo. W. Chowan and Mrs. George Godley, vice-presi- dents ; Miss Abby Harmon, treasurer ; Mrs. E. Harmon, secretary ; with Miss Nellie Elliot, Mrs. Case, and Mrs. H. O. Hamlin, managers. This organization, like the previous one, accomplished a good work in behalf of the soldiers.
November 19th Thos. S. King, recently from New York, assumed editorial control of the Atlas. Mr. King wielded an able pen, and for many years was one of the ablest newspaper men in the city.
Late in November D. Morrison & Co. opened a large store in Minneapolis. Messrs. Mat. Nothaker and Henry Oswald also successfully engaged in the mercantile business.
All agricultural products ruled low in prices this fall ; wheat was only worth sixty cents per bushel.
Rev. C. C. Salter was called to the pastorship of the Con- gregational church, which position he occupied many years· He was one of the most popular pastors of the city.
The Hennepin county medical society was organized in December. Dr. A. E. Ames was elected president, Dr. R. H. Ward, secretary ; and Dr. A. E. Johnson, librarian.
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Dr. J. J. Linn became a resident of Minneapolis in 1857, and aided in the organization of the Hennepin County Medical Society that year. He was influenced in coming to Minne- apolis by his nephew, Hon. E. M. Wilson. He has been and is a successful physician.
YOUNG MEN CONNECTED WITH THE PRESS.
The Press of those early times sent out several young men from the Falls of St. Anthony who have become distinguished. Among them was Hon. Erastus Timothy Cressey. He was the first printer's devil in the old St. Anthony Express office. soon after that paper made its first appearance. Daniel L. Paine is another man who was in the Express office in 1851, who has made his mark in the world. Joseph A. Wheelock, the veteran editor-in-chief of the Pioneer Press, was never connected with the newspapers at the Falls of St. Anthony, but he was a pioneer resident of the county as early as the fall of 1850. From several letters written to me in those early days it is easily seen that he wielded a powerful pen. At a later period Colonel Levine P. Plummer, Willard S. Whitemore, Colonel Charles W. Johnson, and Fred. L. Smith graduated from the printing offices in either St. Anthony or Minneapolis. They attained high places in the estimation of the community. Colonel Plummer died several years since. Colonel Johnson is Secretary of the United States Senate. C. H. Slocum is another worthy of mention in this connection. These facts are additional evidence that the composing-room of a printing-office turns out many of the best men of the country.
THE COUNTRY WEST OF MINNEAPOLIS.
In the fall of 1856 I resided with my family on my farm at Glencoe, where I remained for several years, and was inter- ested in the settlement of the country west of Minneapolis. After my farm in Minneapolis had been laid off into lots, and covered with houses, I found if I was to " follow the plow" it would be necessary to select a new home. In doing so I experienced the pleasing senation of pioneer life over again. Carver, the intermediate county between Hennepin and Mc- Leod counties, was being rapidly settled by a thrifty people, many of them from Germany. Several villages were spring- ing up along the line of the road from Minneapolis to Glencoe.
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OF MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE.
The first settlers in Chaska were Judge Jacob Ebinger, T. D. Smith, Fred Greiner, Fred DuToit, John Lee, E. Ellsworth, G. Krayenbuhl, and Thomas B. Hunt. Carver was the river depot for Glencoe. Its first settlers were Axel Jorgenson and John Goodenough, in 1852. In February, 1854, Levi H. Griffin and associates purchased Jorgenson's claim and laid out the town. Mr. Griffin was a printer, and previous to his location in Carver had been to California. He erected a large hotel, and was energetic in building up the town. He was followed by Stephen Holmes, Anton Knoblaugh, Walton Bros., John O. Brunius, Charles Johnson, A. G. Anderson, Herman Muehlberg, Enoch Holmes, Charles Basler, J. S. Letford, J. W. Hartwell, C. A. Bloomquist, W. A. Griffin, J. A. Sargent, Dr. E. Bray, and other enterprising citizens.
Young America, midway between Carver and Glencoe, was a beautiful village laid out in the "deep green woods", by Dr. R. M. Kennedy and James Slocum, worthy pioneers. Dr. Kennedy died in 1862. His widow became the wife of Enoch Holmes, then a pioneer merchant of Carver, now a citizen of Minneapolis.
The first settlers of Glencoe, Hutchinson, and McLeod county generally, were pioneers of an excellent race of men. The names of W. S. Chapman, John V. McKean, Henry Little, L. G. Simons, A. J. Snyder, C. L. Snyder, B. F. Buck, James Phillips, John Smith, Lawrence Gillick, Henry Elliott, Prentice Chubb, John Folsom, G. K. Gilbert, A. H. Reed, Isaac W. Cummings, James B. and Thomas McClary, Brad- bury Richardson, E. W. Richardson, F. B. Dean, A. H. Rouse, George Harris, J. R. Louden, F. W. Hanscomb, the Langley Bros., Peter Durfee, C. Chandler, the McDougal Bros., W. W. and J. H. Getchell, and others around Glencoe ; the Hutchinsons, R. E. Grimshaw, Wm. White, Lewis Har- rington, B. E. Messer, W. W. Pendergast, J. H. Chubb, the Chesley Bros., the Pollock Bros., with others at Hutchinson and Lake Addie ; J. S. Noble, A. H. and C. Jennison, Daniel Nobles, A. S. Nobles, L. Guard, in the interior of the county, and E. Lambert, John and H. C. McClelland farther north, with other equally good men scattered throughout the county, was a sure guarantee that it was destined to be one of the best counties in the state.
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN AT THE FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY.
Among the most persistent men at the Falls of St. Anthony during the hard times of the late fifties and early sixties were those engaged in an effort to make Minneapolis and St. Anthony the head of navigation. It is true every man, woman and child at the Falls fully believed in the wondrous future of the Twin Cities, and their faith therein was never clouded by a doubt ; but Captain John Martin, Captain John C. Reno, Captain Edward Murphy, and Captain J. B. Gilbert, and some others, thought that steamboats would greatly assist in the develop- ment of their greatness. These gentlemen backed their belief by investing heavily in steamboats. Captain Martin seldom failed in any of his business pursuits. Excellent judgment with a clear head were his chief characteristics, and with promptness and integrity he has led a successful life.
Another gentleman who came to St. Anthony during the financial crisis, in 1859, is Henry F. Brown. During the so- called hard times he never for a moment became discouraged. His life is an illustration of the results of industry, thrift and energy. Following in the path pursued by Col. W. S. King, Mr. Brown earnestly engaged in breeding rich strains of thoroughbred stock, and like Col. King became a public bene- factor to the whole northwest by the introduction of a superior quality of stock among the farmers.
Still another who came to Minneapolis during the hard times of the late fifties whose life has been a marked success financially and in his profession is Levi M. Stewart. By strict attention to the profession of law and by wise investment he has attained more than a competency, a portion of which he distributes in unostentatious charity.
No one has been more loyal to the interests of Minneapolis than Washington Pierce. He came here in a very early day, and has for many years been intrusted with different offices, which he has filled with credit.
John Ludlum, a brother-in-law of N. E. Stoddard, a pioneer of the early fifties, always commanded the respect of the whole community. His home is near where he first settled when he came to the territory. It is seldom even in this com- paratively new country that the first homesteads remain in the same family more than one generation, in many instances
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only a few years. I will give the names of a few of the many early and valuable pioneers in this section whose homesteads are in the hands of strangers.
REMOVED FROM THEIR OLD HOMESTEADS.
Luther Patch came to St. Anthony in 1847. His family consisted of four boys and two girls. The former are Edw'd, Wallace, Lewis, and Gibson S. Patch ; the latter Mrs. R. P. Russell and Mrs. J. M. Marshall. Mrs. Russell is the only representative of the family left.
The late Phineas B. Newton settled on his farm in Maple Grove township in October, 1855. He and his family were unusually respected. His boys, Wm. I., Frank H., Thos. R., and I. C. Newton, were of much promise. Their home was a pleasant one, but the old farm is in the hands of strangers.
Isaac Hankinson settled in Helen, McLeod county, in 1856. He was an industrious, respected citizen, and had a house full of children who were esteemed by the whole community. A good sized homestead made them happy and prosperous. The boys, Thomas, James, Joseph, and John, aided their father in raising large crops on the farm. The girls married and settled in the neighborhood. The old homestead has passed out of the hands of the family-not a representative left on it.
In the very early days at the Falls no one wielded greater influence than Pierre Bottineau. He has moved away-has only one representative, the well-known lawyer John B. Bottineau.
Not a descendant of John Jackins, one of our first county commissioners, is left. Mr. Jackins and family are west of the Rocky mountains. Only a few remain of the descendants of our second county commissioner, Washington Getchell, who went to Oregon long ago. Levi Longfellow, a respected citizen, and a successful business man, is a grandson of Mr. Getchell.
Ralph T. Gray, the first actual resident barber in St. Anthony, still resides in Minneapolis, and is held in high esteem by the people.
John Dudley has always lived on the east side of the river, but his extensive mills were at the junction of the St. Croix with the Mississippi.
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CONCLUSION.
With the close of 1862 this record of pioneer events ends. In a feeble way, inadequate to the occasion, I have performed the duty I have felt that I owed to the Pioneers of Minnesota, and especially to Minneapolis, by willing testimony as to their ster- ling worth and generous deeds. They worked for the good of those who were to follow in their footsteps, inherit this glorious land, and possess the institutions founded in intelligence, and fostered with care. With prophetic eye they viewed with pride the blessings that would be showered upon generations that were to follow. Only a few of them were permitted to reap great personal and material benefit from the ripening harvest that follows the seeds they planted ; and comparatively few of them remain to clearly see, and fully comprehend, what has been accomplished, and realize the glories that will indefinitely increase after their eyes are closed in eternal sleep.
While to a limited extent this record is historical, it lays no claim to the dignity of history. It would be presumptuous in me to assume the importance of historian. That I am partial to the old settlers, is as natural as the love of a parent for his children, or the affection of brothers and sisters. I simply offer a tribute of love and respect to my old associates, which I know they richly merit. The record is by no means complete. In such a multitude of events, many as worthy or more worthy, with the most careful attention, in a work of such limited scope, must pass unrecorded.
With regretful eye, sad heart, and steps willing only as they performed a duty, I have aided in placing a large number of whom I have written, in the silent tomb. The open grave is familiar to me, and a frequently-recurring sight. But the limit will soon be reached. May fresh eyes, joyous footsteps, and loving hearts, ever inherit this land. I dedicate the record contained in this book to those who know me well, and I feel sure they will be lenient to its faults if they experience the pleasure in reading that I have felt in writing it. It is also hoped that more recent dwellers in this fair land, if they peruse these pages, will find some interest in comparing the present with the past. . And may some abler pen trace their good deeds, with as good intentions, as I have recorded those of their immediate predecessors.
CHAPTER L.
THE LIFE OF A MINNESOTA MISSIONARY HALF A CENTURY AGO.
Elsewhere I have written of Rev. Gideon H. Pond, one of the earliest missionaries to the Dakotas in Minnesota, and of his appointments to preach at my little house under the bluff, just above the Falls. And now, by the courtesy of his nephew, S. W. Pond, jr., of Minneapolis, I am enabled to present a glimpse of his life here at an earlier day, even half a century ago. The views are given by himself in extracts from his journal, commencing in 1837. To me it is the life of a noble, self-sacrificing man, devoted to an almost hopeless mission of mercy to the heathen, but not less interesting on that account. EXTRACTS FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNAL OF REV. GIDEON H. POND.
Lac-qui-parle, June 30, 1837 .- To-day I enter upon my twenty-eighth year, and for my future benefit commit to writ- ing my determination to endeavor to deny myself ungodliness and follow after peace, seeking to be meek and lowly in mind and to exhibit an humble, unassuming character, striving at all times to look at myself in the glass of truth, as a rebel by nature against the government of the blessed God, and in myself entirely destitute of worth, but yet a child of God through the grace of Jesus Christ, as not my own and as hav- ing nothing which I can call my own ; that I will endeavor to improve my time diligently, remembering that it is short and precious, and that I can do nothing without exertions, and that I will most assuredly be doing wrong unless I make exertions to do right; that I will endeavor to keep an account of the manner in which I spend each day, and strive to improve, to- morrow, in that wherein I fail to-day.
As all before me is dark, so that I can plan nothing for the
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future, I will endeavor to live by faith and cast all my care on God and seek His special guidance continually, through Jesus Christ : and
O may the blessed God, by His spirit through Jesus Christ, and for the sake of His own glory among these Indians, help a poor, weak and faithless sinner to be faithful through the year and till death. Amen.
July 3 .- Spent from eleven until half-past one looking over with Wamdiokie some simple translations I made Satur- day. [The following days are filled with labors in fitting up the house, and improving every opportunity for learning the Indian language, and for conversing with the Indians on religious subjects. ]
Friday, 7th-Have felt disposed to be a little impatient with an Indian to-day-Seca-duta. I am in want of a disposition to compassionate them as I should. May Christ sit in my heart as a refiner and purifier of silver until his own image shines bright in me.
Thursday, 13th .- I ought to feel very thankful that God has given me the opportunity to collect two or three words to-day. I feel that my responsibilities increase with every word which I learn, or which I might learn and do not. Will the Lord forgive me that I have been so negligent, and sanc- tify my heart through the truth by giving me a lively faith through Jesus Christ by the influence of the Holy Spirit, that I may love and serve Him only, and be faithful unto death.
Friday, 14th .- Preparing boards for floor. Though it is, in itself, most disagreeable, trying and tedious, yet I feel grateful because I have been favored with the company of Indians ; and though I have been engaged in manual labor, have, I hope, been able to learn some.
Monday, 17th .- Laying floor in chamber this afternoon. I commenced an attempt to translate the 31st Psalm into Dakota.
Monday, 31st .- This morning wrote a letter to brother Samuel, and went to Mr. R.'s with it. Have spent most of the day with the Indians. Had a long interview with Wamdiokie, and tried to tell him why Christ died, and why it is necessary that men should be made new, in the temper of the mind, the danger of self-deception, the wickedness of forsaking God, and some of his attributes. A miserable "guide of the blind,"
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OF MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE.
because my own eyes are so near shut. Lord that my eyes may be opened, and his too, that we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds.
Wednesday, 2d .- Taoyateduta [Little Crow ] came here this afternoon to read. I have some hope that he will apply him- self ; if so, I shall endeavor to assist him while he stays.
Saturday, 5th .-- I have for two or three days felt more than commonly disposed to weep on behalf of the Indians, and especially Wamdiokie. They are blind and dead. Lord that their eyes may be opened.
Friday, 11th .- The Indians came to dance to us to-day, and we considered it to be our duty to offend them grievously by disregarding them. The house, however, shook to their praise.
Monday, 14th .- To-day we have had a new exhibition of the gratitude of these degraded heathen by a letter from the principal chief at this village, written by Wamdiokie, reproach- ing us, not in anger, but with savage mildness, because we teach that we should love others as ourselves, and do not share with them what we ourselves possess. May I have grace to count the reproaches of Christ among these heathen greater riches than the pleasant society of New England Christians, and give them no occasion justly to reproach.
This afternoon the Indians are much terrified, supposing a man and woman will come here who have had the smallpox. October 31, Tuesday .- I felt disposed to invite the blessed Savior to the marriage. I felt an earnest longing that He should rather come than any person in the world. O may the blessed presence be with us.
Nov. 1, 1837 .- I was married this afternoon at 3 o'clock, to Miss Sarah Poage, by Rev. Stephen R. Riggs. The guests were the members of the Mission, Mr. Renville's family, and a number of Indians, and I trust our Savior was with us by His spirit in our hearts. .
Saturday Minnie-apa-win and To-te-duta-win were exam- ined for admission to the church, and received with hesitation. Sarah and Catharine were baptised. Perhaps more Indians have attended meeting to-day than have ever attended at once. O that their eyes may be opened.
Sunday seven made a profession of their faith, in church, and received the sacrament of the Supper.
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Sixteenth .- All the week has been as Monday, except that I got one word, and do not yet know what it means.
Sunday, 17th .- Dr. Williamson read some translations he had prepared to six women and a few children in the morning. In the afternoon he read a sermon in English. We went to Mr. R.'s in the evening to sing. Several of the women came together. We sang three or four Dakota hymns. I spoke to them a little of God's urging us to seek the salvation he has made ready, and which is waiting for us, by the considera- tions of heaven and hell. The meeting was closed by a short prayer by myself in Dakota. The Indians have planted, I suppose, about thirty acres of corn at this village.
July 16th .- Spent most of the forenoon in reading the translation of the story of Joseph by my brother, which Mr. Rigg's brought up, with him, and in conversation with Wam- diokie, who says he believes now that all men are sinners, or have hearts inclined to evil, though he did not believe it, he says, " when you first told me so." So I was better able to tell him why Christ died, and the necessity of believing in him in order to be at peace with God.
Wednesday, 18th .- I had a visit this afternoon from Wam- diokie, who had much to say about our labors here, other missions, wars, etc. One fact worthy of particular notice he confessed concerning the nation of the Sioux, that "They are wicked exceedingly ;" to use his own expression, " What God loves is good, and men are commanded to do, they have gathered all together, hated and destroyed ; and what God hates and disallows, they have gathered all together, and love and do that only."
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