Meeker County, Minnesota - Chapter 2: History of Minnesota - from 1660 to 1887, 1888

tIE first exploration bywhites of the territory which now comprises the State of Minnesota dates back early into the seventeenth century. It is claimed by good authorit}' that Jean Nicolet (pronounced Nicolay), one of Champlain's interpreters, was the first to spread knowledge of the country west of Lake Michigan. As early as 1635 he set foot upon the western shores of Lake Michigan, and traded near Green Bay, also roaming over various portions of Wisconsin at about that time. In December of the same year he returned to Canada. It is very doubtful whether Nicolet ever set foot on Minnesota soil, although it is certain that his visit to the countr}'^ Avest of Lake Michigan was the means of spreading knowledge of this country, and of the aborigines of Minnesota. It was said of him that he penetrated far distant countries, and in a letter bearing date of 1640, it is stated that "if he had proceeded three days more on a river which flows from that lake (Green Bay), he would have found the sea." The death of this explorer occurred at Three Rivers in 164-0.

After Nicolet's visit to Wisconsin, for a quarter of a century history brings no trace of any explorations concerning this region. At the end of this time, in 1660, the first white men of whom there is any reliable record, set foot on Minnesota soil. They were Medard Chouart, called Groselliers, and Pierre d'Esprit, who was known as Sieur Radisson. Both Avere Frenchmen who had come to Canada when young men to engage in the fur trade. About the middle of that century several important changes had been made in the location of Indian tribes. The Ilurons and their allies, the Ottawas, after successive battles, had drifted to the west of Lake Michigan. In former times they had been located in the St. Lawrence region. Finally reaching the Mississippi they found the Iowa River. Later, returning to the Mississippi, they settled upon an island in the river near where the city of Hastings is now located ; but becoming involved in battles with the Sioux, we finally find the Ilurons located about the headwaters of the Chippeway, and the Ottawas on the shores of Lake Superior, near Avhere Bayfield is now situated. It was to trade with the Indians that the two Frenchmen mentioned, Groselliers and Radisson, made their trip to this wild region. They passed the winter of 1659-60 among the Sioux villages in the Mille Lacs country, and the following spring and summer was spent in the region of Lake Superior. In August, 1660, they returned to Montreal, and their report of the country they had visited created much excitement. Within a few weeks an exploring and trading party was formed, and accompanied by six Frenchmen and two priests, one of whom was the Jesuit, Rene Menard, they again started westward, and on the 15th of October, 1660, the}^ reached the Ottawa settlement on the shores of Lake Superior. The objects of this party were various, some bent on exploration, others on trading, while Father Menard went as a missionary. Groselliers (pronounced Grosay-vfi) and Radisson, accompanied by others, pusiied on through the country to the noi'tliwest of Lake Sujierior anil at length reached Hudson's Bay. They returned to Montreal in May, 16G2. The names of all the members of this party have not been preserved. Groselliers and Uad isson proceeded to Paris, thence to London, where they were well received by the nobility and scientific men. A vessel was litted out and placed at their disposal, in the hope of finding a northwest passage to Asia. In June, 1G6S, they left England and made an extended voyage, reaching a tributar\^ of Hudson's Baj' and returning to England, where, in 1670, the famous tradingcorporation, the " Hudson's Bay Company," was chartered.

Now to return to the venerable Father Menard, who had been left among the Ottawa Indians on the shores of Lake Superior in October, 1600. For nearly a year he lived there in a cabin built of fir branches. In the summer of 1661 he decided to visit the Ilurons, who had fled eastward from the Sioux of Minnesota and were located among the woods of northern "Wisconsin, as stated. He was accompanied by one Frenchman, whose name has been lost in the mist of years. They became separated, and Father Menard was lost, as Perrot says, ''in the labyrinth of trees." This was the last ever positively known of him, although his breviai'y and cassock were said afterward to have been found among the Sioux Indians. Whether this good and venerable man starved or was murdered or captured by the Indians will forever be shrouded in mystery.

These were the earliest explorations of the Northwest of which any record has been left, but after that period this region was visited by various parties at long intervals, and many interesting documents have been preserved giving accounts of their journeys and discoveries.

About the j'ear 1665 several French traders and the Jesuit, Allouez, visited the country off the western shore of Lake Superior. Early in 1679 we find Daniel G. Du Luth west of Lake Michigan, and it is believed he planted the Fi-ench arms on Minnesota soil. His records state that "on July 2(1 he caused his Majesty's arms to be planted inthegreat village of the Nadousioux. called Kathio, and at Songaskicous and ILnietbatons, one hundred and twenty leagues distant from the former." Pev. E. D. Neill in his tiiorough work relating to early explorers of Minnesota, locates this as being "one hundred and twenty leagues beyond Mille Lacs." Du Luth states that at one point on Minnesota soil he found upon a tree this legend : " Arms of the King c«t on this tree in the year 1679." He established several posts, carried on trading with the Indians, and was probably the most prominent of the early explorers. Later he was stationed near Lake Erie and died in 1710. His reports furnish much interesting information regarding the early explorations in the Xorthwest.

La Salle Avas given a commission by the King of France in 167S to "explore the AVest," and do limited trading. He visited various parts of the Northwest. His jealousy of Du Luth appears to form a considerable portion of his official reports, but it is stated on good authority that he wrote the first description of the upper Mississippi Valley, August 22, 1682, some months before the publication of Father Hennepin's first work, "Description de la Louisiane." He must, however, have obtained his information from one of Hennepin's men.

Father Louis Hennepin's explorations and atl ventures through the Northwest form an interesting cha]iter in the earlier history of this region. He was a native of Ath, an inland town of the Netherlands, and had early rssumed the robes of ]iriesthood. In 1676 he came to Canada, and two vears later "vas ordered to join the La Salle exploring expedition. A ship was rigged, and on August 7th, 1679, its sails caught the breezes of Lake Erie - the first European vessel launched on the great lakes. La Salle conducted his expedition to Green Bay, thence along the coast of Lake Michigan, and about the middle of January', 1080, landed it on an eminence near Lake Peoria, on the Illinois River, where he commenced the erection of Fort Crevecffiur. On the last of February of the same year, Father Hennepin, in company with Michael Accault (Ako) and Angelle, left the fort to ascend the Mississippi River. On the 11th of April, 16S0, after having reached a point north of the Chippewa River, they wei-e met and taken charge of by a party of over a liundi'cd Sioux Indians. They then proceeded witli tlis Indians to their villages, nearly sixty leagues north of St. Anthony falls. The}' remained with the Indians some time, being well treated, and on the 2.5th of July, 1G80, they were met by Du Luth, who was accompanied by his interpreter, Faff art, and several French soldiers. They then proceeded to Mille Lacs, arriving, according to Father's Hennepin writings, on the nth of August, 1G80. In the latter part of September they started to return to the French settlement, passing by St. Anthony falls. Father Hennepin published two works relating to his discoveries, the first, " Description de la Louisiane," in 1836; the second, " The JSTew Discovery," in 1697. These works called forth much criticism, as there can be no doubt Hennepin greatly magnified his own importance, and exaggerated his services and discoveries. For instance, he claims to have descended the Mississippi River to the Gulf of IMexico, before proceeding northward, then returned and proceeded on to the St. Anthony falls. This in the face of his own stated facts - leaving FortCrevecoeur the last of February, he claims to have made this wonderful trip, and arrived two miles south of where the city of St. Paul is now located, late in April, giving the 11th of April as the date of their capture by the Indians. However this may be, Father Hennepin's work was not in vain, and his memory is entitled to the credit for that which he did. His publications hastened and facilitated exploration, and his failing - if such it was - should be treated with charity. La Salle speaks of him highly, but charitably says, " it was his failing to magnify those adventures which concerned him."

During 1684, Nicholas Perrot and Le Sueur visited Lake Pepin, and the following winter the French traded with the Indians on Minnesota soil. Perrot had been ap- ])ointed l)y the governor of Canada as the commandant for the "West, and was accompanied by twenty men. Upon his arrival he caused a stockade to be built on the east bank of Lake Pepin, which bore his name for many years. He discovered a number of lead mines, and his name figures conspicuously in the history of the early French explorations and frontier Avoik. Perrot remained for some time after building the fort, then, in 1686, returned to Green Bay. He passed much time in collecting allies for the expedition against the Iroquois in New Yoi'k, and in the spring of 16S7, was with DuLuth and.Tonty with the French and Indian allies in the expedition against the Senecas of the Genesee Valley in New York. The following j'ear lie was sent with a company of Frenchmen to reoccupy the post on Lake Pepin, in Minnesota, and it was in 1689 tiiat Perrot, in tiie presence of Father Juse]ih James Marest, a. Jesuit, Boisguiblot, a trader on the Wisconsin and Mississip]ii, and Le Seur, made a formal record of taking possession of the Sioux country in the name of the King of France.

iiicnts. In 1G92 Le Sueur was sent by Gov. Fi'oiUenac, of Canada, to the extremity of Lake Superior to maintain ])eace between tlie Indian tribes. Entering- tlie Sioux country, in 1094, lie established a jiostupon a prairie island, nine miles below where Hastings is now located. lie v.is acconijianied by Peiiicaut and others. Here they established a fort and storehouse and ]nissed the winter, as game was veiy abundant. On July 15, 1G95, Le Sueur went back to Montreal accompanied by a ]mrty of Ojibways, and the first Dakotah brave that ever visited Canada. Le Sueur then visited France, and in 1697 received a license to open certain mines that were supposed to e*xist in Minnesota. The ship in which he was returning was captured by the English, and lie was taken to England ; when released he returned to France and secured a new commission, but it was afterward susjiended. Fortunately, D'llberville, a kinsman of Le Sueur, was appointed governor of the new territory of Louisiana, and in December, 1G99, Le Sueur arrived from France with thirty workmen to proceed to the mines. During the next year he ascended the Minnesota Kiver with his expedition, and in October, 1700, built a fort on the Blue Earth Eiver, which he named L'lluillier. This was occupied by Le Sueur's men until 1702, when it abandoned because of the hostility of the Indians. Charlevoix, who visited the valley of the lower Mississippi in 1 722, says that " Le Sueur spent at least one winter in his fort on the banks of the Blue Earth, and that in the fulhjwing April he went up to the mine, about a mile above, and in twenty-two days they obtained more than .^0.000 jiounds of the substance - lead." Le Sueur estimated the Sioux Indians at that time as being four thousand families.

which he claimed to have iirnetrated and pursued exj)lorations through the territory which now "orms ^linnesota, farther tlian any of hi' predecessors. He states tliat he found a river tributary to the Mississippi, and describes a journey of 500 miles up this stream, which he named Long TJiver. His wontlerful story was believed at the time and the river was placed upon the early maps; but in later years it was discredited and is now by the closest students and ablest historians treated as fabulous.

In September, 1727, Fort Beauharnois was erected and a French post established on the shores of Lake Pepin, under the directions of Sieur de la Perriere. An extensive trade Avas carried on with the Indians here, and it was occupied for a number of years. In 172S Veranderie, who had been ])laced in command of a post on Lake Xe]"t:gon, began laying plans for finding a co- .munication with the Pacific Ocean. An expedition was fitted out which left Montreal in 1731, under the management of his sons and a ne})hew, Dela Jemeraye, he not joining the part}- until 1733. A fourth son joined the expedition in 1735. In the autumn of 1731, the party reached Rainy Lake, at the foot of which a post, called Fort St. Pierre, was erected. The next year the}' reached Lake of the Woods, and established Fort St. Charles on its southwest bank. A few miles from Lake Winnepeg they established a post on the Assinaboine, and a fort was established on the Maurepas ("Winnepeg) Biver. In June, 1736, while twenty-one of the expedition were encamped on an isle in the Lake of the "Woods, they were surprised by a band of Sioux Indians hostile to the French allies, and all were killed. The island on this account is called Massacre Island. The remaining portion of the expedition progressed as best they could. October 3, 1738, they built an advanced post called Fort la Reine on the Assinaboine River.

They came in sight of the Eocky Mountains on the 1st of January, 1743, and, on the 12th, ascended them. In 1744, after planting a leaden plate of the arms of France in the upper Missouri country', they returned, reaching Minnesota soil late in June, and after establishing several posts in the extreme northern frontier country they finally returned to Montreal. Expeditions were afterward fitted out, one of which again reached tlie Eocky Mountains, Init the clash of arms between France and England put an end to the explorations so far as the French were concerned.

In 1763, by the treaty of Versailles, France ceded Minnesota east of the Mississippi to England and west of it to Spain. In 1766 Capt. Jonathan Carver, the first British subject, although a native of Connecticut, visited the Falls of St. Anthony. He spent some three years among the different tribes of Indians in the upper Mississippi country ; found the Indian nations at war and succeeded in making peace between them. As a reward for his good offices, it is claimed that two chiefs of the Sioux, acting for their nation, at a council held witli Carver at a great cave, now within the corporate limits of St. Paul, deeded to Carver a vast tract of land on the Mississippi Eiver, extending from the Falls of St. Anthony to the foot of Lake Pepin, on the Mississippi, thence east one hundred miles ; thence north one hundred and twenty miles ; thence west to the place of beginning. This pretended grant, however, was examined b}^ our government and totally ignored.

At the begmning of the present century there were no white men in Minnesota, excejit the few engaged in the fur trade, and the posts were chiefly held by the Northwest Company, which corporation in 1794 erected a stockade at Sandy Lake. In 1802 we find William Morrison trading at Leech Lake, and two years latei' at Itasca. In the meantime.

in 1796, the iaws of the ordinance of 1787 had been extended over the Northwest, and on May 7, 1800, that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi had become a part of Indiana by the division of Ohio. On the 20th of December, 1803, that part of Minnesota west of the Mississippi, for forty years in the possession of Spain as a part of Louisiana, was ceded to the ITnited States by Napoleon Bonaparte, who had just obtained it from Spain. In 1804 Upper Louisiana Territory was constituted. During the following year the United States for the first time sent an officer to Minnesota, in the person of Lieut. Z. M. Pike, who established government relations and obtained the Fort Snellino- reservation from the Dakotahs. He remained here for some time, but the war of 1812 coming on postponed the military occupation of the upper Mississippi by the United States for several years. Pike afterward fell in battle at York, in Upper Canada.

In 1817 the Earl of Selkirk, a nobleman, visited the Scotch colony on the Eed Eiver, established in 1812, and created Cjuite an excitement on the part of some of the United States authorities. The same year Maj'or Stephen H. Long, of the United States Engineer Corps, visited Minnesota and made a report recommending the bluff at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers as a site for a fort.

In 1819 Minnesota east of the Mississi])pi Eiver became a part of Crawford County, Mich. During the same year Fort Snelling was established and the site of Mendota was occupied by the United States troops, under Col. Leavenworth. Major Taliaferro was appointed Indian agent.

During the year 1820 much of interest transpired on Minnesota soil. Early in the spring Jean Baptiste Faribault brought Leavenworth's horses from PrairieduChien. On the 5th of May Col. Leavenworth established summer quarters at Camp Cold water,

(Hennepin County). In July Gov. Cass, of Michigiin, visited the camps. In August Col. Joshia Snelling succeeded Leavenworth in command, and on the 20th of September the corner-stone of Fort Snelling (then Fort St. Anthony) was laid. On the loth of April t lie superintendent of farming for Earl Selivirk left Pi'airie duChien, having ])urchased seed wheat; he ascended the Minnesota River to Big Stone Lake, where the boats were placed on rollers, dragged a short distance to Lake Traverse, and reached Pembina June 3. This j'ear the first marriage in Minnesota occurred, Lieut. Green to a daughter of Capt. Gooding. The first birth of a white child in the State -occurred this year, a daughter to Col. Snelling ; died the following year.

In 1821 Fort St. Anthony (Snelling) was sufficiently completed to be occupied by troops. During this year a sawmill was constructed at St. Anthony Falls for the use of the garrison under the supervision of Lieut. McCabe.

Nothing of particular interest transpired during 1S22. In 1S23, however, the first steamboat, the Virginia, arrived at the mouth of the Minnesota River on the 10th of May, and created consternation among the Indians. Beltrami, the Italian, during the same year explored the northernmost- sources of the Mississippi, and Maj. Long, of the United States army, visited the northern boundary by way of the Minnesota and Red rivers. Millstones for grinding flour were sent to St. Anthony to be placed in the sawmill.

After tiiis time events crowd rapidly one after the otliei' to fill in the time. From 1825 on, the arrival of steamboats became more frequent. During this year a heavy flood visited the Red River, and a portion of the colony were driven to Minnesota and settled near Foil Snellinjj:.

In 1832 Schoolcraft exploited the sources of the Mississippi River, and during the following year Rev. W. T. Boutwell established the first mission among the Ojibways on Leech Lake. About the same time E. F. Ely opened a mission school at Atkins, a trading post on Sandy Lake.

That portion of Minnesota lying west of the Mississippi River was attached to Michigan in 18.34. During this year Gen. II. II. Sibley settled at Mendota as agent for the fur company, and Samuel W. and Gideon H. Pond, missionaries among the Sioux, arrived. They were followed the next year by T. S. Williamson, J. D. Stevens and Alexander G. Huggins, and in June, 1835, a Presbyterian Church was organized at Fort Snelling. Late the same year Maj. J. L. Bean, in accordance with the treaty of 1825, surveyed the Sioux and Chippeway boundary line as far as Otter Tail Lake.

In 1836 the Territory of Wisconsin was organized, embracing all of Minnesota east of the Mississippi River; that territory west of the river being attached to Iowa. A numl)er of steamboats arrived during this year, a passenger on one of them being the distinguished French astronomer, Jean N. Nicollet.

In 1837 Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, made a treaty at Fort Snelling with the Ojibways, by which the latter ceded all their pine lands on the St. Croix and its tributaries ; a treaty was also effected at Washington with a deputation of Dakotahs for their pine lands east of the Mississippi. These treaties led the way to the first actual settlements in the State. The treaty was ratified by Congress in 1838. At about this time Franklin Steele made a claim at St. Anthony Falls ; Pierre Parrant took a claim and built a cabin on the present site of St. Paul ; Jeremiah Russell and L. W. Stratton made the first claim at Marine in the St. C.''oix Valley. During the year 1838 a steamboat arrived at Fort Snelling with J. N. Nicollet and J. C.

Fremont on a scientific expedition. Development begins in the St. Croix Valley. The next year the chapel of "St. Paul" was built and consecrated, giving the name to the capital of the State.

Henry M. Eice arrived at Fort Snelling in IS-iO, others came and in November, 184-1, St. Croix County was established with "Dakotah" designated as the county -seat.

On the 10th of October, 1813, a settlement was commenced on the present site of the city of Stillwater, and the erection of a sawmill was immediately commenced. The names of the town proprietors were : John McKusick, from Maine ; Calvin Leach, from "Vermont ; Elam Greeley, from Maine and Elias McKeane, from Pennsylvania.

Dr. E. D. Neill in his " Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota," says that in 1816 " the site of St. Paul was chiefly occupied by a few shanties, owned by ' certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,' who sold rum to the soldiers and Indians." On the 6th of August, 1846, the Wisconsin enabling act was passed. In 181:7 St. Croix County was detached from Crawford County, Wis., and reorganized for civil and judicial purposes with Stillwater as the county-seat. The town of St. Paul was surve^'ed and platted, and recorded in St. Croix County. During this year the Wisconsin constitutional convention was held. On the 29th of May, 1818, Wisconsin was admitted to the Union, leaving Minnesota (with its present boundaries) without a government, and on the L'lith of the following August a convention was held at Stillwater to take measures foi' a separate teri'itorial organization. On the 30th of October, 1818, Henry II. Sibley was elected delegate to Congress, and he was admitted to a seat January 15, 1849. March 3d, 1849, a bill was passed organizing Minnesota Territory, and on the 19th of the same month territorial officers were appointed. June 1st Gov. Ramsey issued a proclamation declaring the territory organized, and on September 3d the first territorial Legislature assembled. In 1851 tlie capital of the State was permanently located, as was also the penitentiary. In June, 1854, the first line of railway was completed to St. Paul.

On the 23d of February, 1857, an act passed the United States Senate, to authorize the people of Minnesota to form a constitution, preparatory to their admission to the Union. In June a constitutional convention was held, and the State constitution was framed. This was adopted on the 13th of October, 1857, and a full list of State officei's was elected. On the lltli of May, 1858, the President approved of the bill admitting the State, and Minnesota was full}' recognized as one of the United States of America. The first State officers were sworn in on the 24th of May.

From this time on we can only briefly review the most important events that have transpired. A great tide of immigration had set in early in the "fifties," which rapidh' filled up portions of the State, until in 1857 a census gave the State a total population of 150,037. During that 3'ear, however, real estate speculation reached a climax, and the terrible financial panic occurred which greatly retarded the settlement.

In 1858 the "State loan of $250,000 Avas: negotiated ; five million loan bill was passed, being voted on April 15; great stringenc}' in money market.

During 1859 the hard times continued to intensify. "Wright County War" occurred ; " Glencoe" and "Owatonna" money was issued ; work on the land grant roads ceased ; collapse of the five million scheme ; first export of grain that fall ; hard jiolitical struggle, in which the Republicans triumphed.

In ISfil war cast its gloom over the country ; on A})ril 13th the President's proclamation for tr'oops was received ; the first regiment i-ecriiited at once, and June 22d it embarked at Fort Snelling for the seat of war.

In 1862 occurred the memorable Sioux outbreak ; x\ugust 17th, massacre at Acton ; August ISth, outbreak at Lower Sioux Agency; 19th, New UIra attacked ; 20th, Fort Eidgely attacked ; 25th, second attack on New Ulm ; 30th, Fort Abercrombie besieged ; September 1st, the bloody affair at Birch Coolie ; 19th, first railroad in Minnesota in o]ieration, between St. Paul and Minneapolis; 22d, battle of Wood Lake; 26th, captives surrendered by the Indians at Camp Release; military commission tried 321 Indians for murder, 303 condemned to die ; December 26th, thirty -eight hung at Mankato.

In 1863 Gen. Sibley conducted an expedition to the Missouri Eiver ; July 3d, Little Crow was killed ; July 24:th, battle of Big Mound ; 26th, battle of Dead Buffalo Lake ; July 28th, battle of Stony Lake.

In 1864 the civil war was still in progress, and large levies for troops were made in Minnesota; expedition to Missouri River, under Sully ; inflation of money market ; occasional Indian raids.

In 1865 the war closed and peace returns ; Minnesota regiments return and are disbanded ; in all, 25,052 troops were furnished by the State ; census showed 250,000 inhabitants.

After the close of the war, and from 1866 until 1872, " good times" prevailed ; immigration was very heav}% and real estate and all values were inflated. The western portion of the State received many settlers. Railwa\' construction was very active.

In 1873 the famous grasshopper raid began throughout the western part of the State, and continued about five seasons. January 7-8-9 of this year, a terrible storm swept over the State, in which seventy persons perished. In September of the same year, the financial "panic of 1873 " began.

On the 7th of September, 1876, an attack was made on the Bank of Northfield by a gang of armed outlaws from Missouri ; three of the latter were killed, and three were captured.

On November 15th. 1880, a portion of the hospital for the insane, at St. Peter, was destroyed by fire ; eighteen inmates were burned to death, seven died subsequently of injuries and fright, and six were missing. Total loss was $150,000.