The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-09


some menus missed it's way To 'hs printer,
va may be excused for revertiny 10 it here.
The R,gnter gives tie following explana.
ton OF the source to which Nie0lIet county
owes its name -" NIcoLLGr, another
| Frenchman, who was sent Out from Qiebec
10 1859, to Wisconsin, ~ on Ambassador to
make treaty with the Indians"
Nothing could be wider Of the mark. A
Monsieur NicoLET, it is true, visited the
Lake Winnebago, in the pracat State of
| be concud.d an alliance, 10 the interest u
the French. with the Indians Of the Fox
River Valley. This NIcoLgr-w who, by
the way, was not an Ambassador or any
thing Of the sort, but simply JEALOUS tray
eler who, from his acquaintance with eye-
raj Indian tongues, was made Interpreter
and Commissary Of the Colony Of New
France never visited what 10 now Mime.
sofa, and, it is scarcely necessary TO say
was not connected in any manner with its
history, nor did be have any such general
historical reputation a. would entitc him
TO the honor Of giving his name to an n,c.
rior county Of Minnesota, however appro.
pirate it might be for Wisconsin.
NicolIct county derives its name from
person much more intimately associated
with ia history aud that Of Minnesota in
general. This WINS JEAN N. NICoiLgr,
whose history and connection with the ear.
ly geography Of Minnesota forms 30 con-
spcuous u feature IN the published nnnals
OF the Minnesota Historical Society shat it
seems astonishing the usually welliniormed
editor Of the kegisisr should have overlook
cd so distinguished and obviou, an origin
for the name in question. From memoir
rcnd by the Hon. II. II. SIpLxy before the
Historical Society, and Mr.. NgIIi.s lIlsto
~, we condense the following account Of NJ.
| NicoLLkr:
lie was born in the year 1890 at C!uscs,
in Savoy, France.
His early life was passed 10 poverty. but
by dlnt Of his own ,xertions hc became
distinguished for a proficiency in mathemat
ics. which with some knowledge Of Latin
md other languages gained for him admis
sion in L'soois hormaie." at Paris ard al
towards into the college Of Lo.s lie
Grande." In 1918 he published letter on
!lfo Assurances, which attracted universal
attention. Devotpg himself 10 astrouom
ho e',""e famous tor his calculations aud
discoveries IN this walk Of science. Pre-
yious 10 1928. he rec, wed the decoration OF
the Legion OF Honor. aud was appointed
Professor Of the Royal Coll,gc q l.oui.
le Grurde." Some disastrous spcculatious
Obliged him to leave France, aud he came
to the United States IN 1882. /, was in
sJG that he arrived ut Fort Smelling On u
voyage OF exploration. lie nsccu,lcd the
Mississippi to Lake l,asca, aud was the frs,
who ever accomplished IL complete scientific
exploration of the sources of that stream
With great appropriations. snys Mr.
Mn, "hns his claim been rccognired by
the ,oplc of Minnesota, Ms the individual
Who COM leted the explor .,lon OF the
Mississippi, hy giving his uame 10 II county
| During the winter Of 1896 y, he was a
| guest # Mr. SiuLtY. ., Mrdola. who is
lavish in bus ,n,omiums Of his character us a
student aud man.
Going TO Washington in 1897 he was
honorci with u commission by the United
| States Government, and JouS &, fRsaoNr
became HIS assistant Ascending the Ms
sourl river IN steamboat to Fort Pierre,
| he Travelled the interior of Minnesota, visit
'ug the Rcd Pipe Stone quarry. AMI ascrud
| ing ths valley Of the Minnesota and Red
Rivers tn pevit's Lake. His map and ~
trouomcal obs,rvstous have been Of iuvaln
able service 10 the coun,ry, There IL u
peculiar aud even touching appropriated, -
IN at'ixirg the uauc OF Nicollct To one ol
the liGes, cuunties on the Minnesota river.
! lie had an enthusiastic love Tor the sc,utry
| along the hanks Of that stream. 4 lev
years ago while roaming mar the press Mt
ste Of fNrt Rdsc'y, Ne ioutd an cd trader
Who was ia'i Of rreol,cc,ious 81 NicoiLtr.
SEATED IN knoll commanding an offensive
prospect Here be- aid was where he parted
from Nicnr,r. He had named it Belle ,ue
trom the admir- TX ordinations ot NicuIIxr
ALL belle WI, An vuc msgut-
fqw Whether the spot retains the tame
which our old irieEa lAYW,sRolsg gave T. .
in honor Of his distinguished ira nj. We do
| not know.
NicoItKr died in lSIA Even" saws