The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-12

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John CanpDsal:..The Action ~
Juage Lynch JustlfleA. "
Editor Of ths So Pas, Piosss.lSz;ass' =
The lynching Of JONI cQ0,Pau1aE
lNankato, onthe ssSsnd ri ~ rsnd i
everything eonneetsA With hiS mt lsde =
a mstter Of Jintsiest. Ths fl6xtH,
gathered hastily together within = -
two days, from old citissns and Men from
the Sioux Reservation, and thoss who
were in CAMpBrIIs company in the South,
one of them an officer, comprise matters
worthy of preservation: v ~
THE GRANDFATHER.
The grandfather of John Campbell, on the
male side, emigrated from Scotland at the close
of the last century, and was trader at Prairie
du Chen. His reputation was that Of .
shrewd, active man, with intelligence far above
the ordinary standard. ------.------- =
His name was Colin Campbell. Zebulon
Pike, on his return from his voyage mp tho
Mississippi, was treated by him with hospital
ity., He mentions in his journal that Mr..
Campbell presented his men with barrel of
pork, and that he and others of his party break
tasted with Mr.. Campbell at his invitation on
Saturday, the 10Th day of April, 1906. is3G!0s +
He (Gen. Pike afterwards gave United
States officer about to visit Prairie du Chen a
letter of introduction to Mr.. Campbell, which
indicated that he held him in remembrance.
Like the other traders of that period, MIR.
Campbell was in the habit Of visiting Sault
st. Marie periodically for goods and to sell his
fup. While there upon one Of these trips, he
became embroiled in o difficulty with d Mr..
Drummond, which resulted in duel that cul.
minated in the death of Campbell. This duel
was fought on Drummond's Island, in the st.
Marys River, about the year 1876. He was
married to an Indian woman, e. N dewakanton
Sioux, from the best information I can gather)
and left three children, Duncan, Scott and John
land perhaps fourth named Colin. eioia1 /
.g. .g.H u. THE FATHER s1Jl yGGM /
= Scott Campbell was the father of the subject
of this article, and was born in 1890 at Prairie
du Chen. After he grew up he followed the
profession of trader, and was United States
Interpreter to the Sioux at Fort Smelling for
some twenty-five years. He clerked for Messrs.
Steele, Kittson, and other traders in early days.
Prior to 43 he moved to st. Paul, and lived
on the site of the stone building occupied by
the American Express on Third street, near
fho hut ohm hn al cd
some twenty acres, which is well known to old
residents and lawyers who have examined our
records, as "Scott Campbell's claim" s.5
In 1847 he sold out his claim and the log
shanty in which he resided to Mr.. Hartshorn,
for $500, and moved to Lighthouse just above
Denoyers, on the st. Anthony road, where he
lived until the time of his death, which tran
spired in 1850. He was buried near the resi-
dence Of Mr.. Wheelock, on st. Peter street, ct
what was then the Catholic Cemetry. a..3
He died in very abject circumstances. He,
like his father, is represented to have possessed
much ability. Of this he availed himself, to
get inserted in the Treaty with the Sioux in
1887 two clauses, by which he was secured in
the quiet possession of 500 acres of land mile
and half below Fort Smelling, on the west
side Of the Mississippi, where he then resided,
and $3.50 per year for 20 years. He was not
shrewd enough, however, to prevent the Sen
ate striking out both Of these provisions. As
Mr.. Campbell was the United States Inter
prefer in making the Treaty, the stipulations
appeared to that body as suspicious. D '4a"
His principal vice seems to have been exces.
siye intemperance. He died In abject poverty,
leaving wife, mixed Menomiree and Sioax,
and five sons and four daughters. The Wild
dow married Patoile, trader who was mur-
dered by the Indians in the first day Of the mas
sacre of 1862, near New Ulm, while in COM
pany with Miss Matte Williams, Mary Swan
and Frenchman. She il at present. believe,
living Traverse des Sioux. e. "1R ~ 81
JOHN L. CAMPBELL. t 80
John was the youngest of the sons. He was
born near Mendoza about thirty-two years ago,
and afterwards lived with his father at his
house in st. Paul. where he was well known
to Mr.. Larpenteur, Mr.. Irvine and other old
citizens. When the Sioux moved to their
reservation under the treaties Of 1851-53, he
with others of his brothers followed them. He
inherited his fathers love or liquor and was
frequently upon sprees and engaged in riotous
conduct. he early manifested . cruel DISPOSE
ton, and his history will show that the punish
ment he received was but his Just deserts for
many other crimes. ri, ,, l.si,,f- s.1 30 tiuod.
About seven years ago he fed from the Red
Wood Agency, and after he was gone an Indian
called Indian Charlie" wen known at the
Agency stated that John Campbell IN his pres.
ence had murdered Freedman named La
Port, who lived few miles from there and az.
ter robbing him Of sixty dollars, had buried
him or sunk him in lake and offered to show
the place. He said that Campbell borrowed
his (Charlies) gun to commit the deed, and