Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-11

and perpaps too much colored with the pas
sions or prejudices that are inseparable from
our human organizations, to place an impair
tial estimate on. motives, and actions, and re-
suits. By such rule rs the above, the name
which heads this sketch, is one that must al
ways occupy iforemost1place in the history
of our State.
Henry 81. Sibley was born in Detroit,
Michigan, February 20, 1911. His father,
Judge Solomon Sibley, native of Massa-
chusetts, was one of the most prominent pi-
oneers of the Northwest, settling in Ohio in
1895. and in Michigan in 1897, from which
he was member of the first legislature of
to Congress in 1920; judge of the supreme
court from 1924 to 1886; United States dis
trict attorney, etc. He died in 1916, uni
versally lamented. Judge Sibley married at
Marietta, Ohio, in 1902, Miss Sarah w.
Sproat, daughter of Colonel Ebenezer
Sproat, a distinguished officer of the revolu-
ton, and granddaughter of Commodore
Abraham Whipple, of the revolutionary
navy. Her parents and grandparents were
all pioneers in Ohio, so that the subject of
this sketch was, by ancestral influence, pre-
disposed to such q life of pioneer adventure
as he was destined to lead. Mrs. Sibley died
at Detroit, January %, 1851. Mrs. ElIet,
in her work, "Pioueer Women of the West"
remarks that she was woman of unusual
personal beauty, and rare mental accom-
piishments.
81. 81. Sibley received an academical edu-
cation when young, and subsequently en-
joyed two years. private tuition in the class
les, from Rev. r. F. Cadle, one of the pio-
neers of education in the Northwest. His
father had wished him to adopt his own
profession. but, after studying law some
time, he became convinced that his natural
inclination would lead him to more active
and stirring life. His father sensibly told
him to pursue his own inclinations in this
respect-"a decision," said writer, refer
ring to the fact, ''that gave to Minnesota
her honored pioneer-one whose history is
SO interviewer with her own that to write
the one is almost apso .fact0 to record the
other.''
About the age of II, young Sibley went
to Sault Ste. Marie, and was engaged there
in mercantile operations for about year.
In 1929, he went to Mackinac, and entered
the service of the American Fur company
as clerk. He remained at that post five
years. In 1884, Mr.. Sibley, then % years
of age, was admitted as partner in the
American Fur company, of which Ramsey
Crooks, father of Colonel William Crooks,
of this city, was president, and the late b.
L. Dousman and Joseph Rolette, Senior, of
Prairie du CHEN, were also partners, and
was to have charge of the trade above Lake
Pepin, as far as the British line, with head
quarters at Mendoza, then called "Saint
Peters," Gen. Sibley himself says this step
was largely owing to FL. L. Dousman's solic-
itation, and to the glowing accounts he gave
of Minnesota as land of game, perhaps
knowing Gen, SIS fondness for field sports.
Mr.. Sibley arrived at Mendoza, November
z, 1884, having rode on horseback from
Prairie du Chien, distance of nearly 800
miles, there being but one human habitation
on the way. Then, in all the region now
known as Minnesota, there was, excepting
the garrison at Fort Smelling, only hand
full of white men, mostly fur-traders and
Canadian voyaguers. What mighty changes
these forty-one years have witnessed. Gen.
Sibley is now the Oldest living settler, save
one, in our population of 100000 people,
and it has been his fortune to take q more
active and prominent part in the history of
that period, than any other living man.
On May 2, 1843,, he was united In mar
riage to Miss Sarah J. Steele, at Fort Smell
ing. He had previously, in 1886, erected, at
Mendoza, the first private dwelling built of
stone, in Minnesota, which is still standing.
Mrs. Sibley died May 81, 1869-being truly
one of the pioneer women of our State, and
lady of rare virtues and accomplishments.
Mr.. Sibley was probably the first civil Of
fcer in what is now Minnesota. having been
appointed justice of the peace in 1888, by
Gov. John Chambers, of Iowa, which then
embraced the territory west of the MISSISSIPPI
pi.
On October 80, 1s48, Mr.. Sibley was elect
ed delegate to Congress from what was
then considered as Wisconsin Territory-the
residue of the old territory of that name,
after carving the State out of it-with the
understanding that he would urge the organ
cation of Minnesota Territory. It was q
trust of much delicacy and responsibility,
for failure would have been very discour-
aging and unfortunate at that juncture,
when success was so vital to the interests of
the people. He proceeded to Washington,
and. after much effort, was admitted to a
seat. During the session, he was enabled,
by hard work and personal influence, to pro-
cure the passage of bill to organize the
he was again elected for two years, and re-
elected in 1850, serving over four years in
all.
This was very difficult and trying period
for any one to represent new territory like
Minnesota, whose needs were large, and yet
with little population, and believed to be, as
one member in Congress declared, ga hyper
borean region" unfit for settlement. Mr..
Sibley soon exploded that prejudice by we'll
written articles for the press, on the climate,
advantages and resources of Minnesota.
There were large appropriations nseded for
various purposes, and these could be secured
only by persuasive appeals to the members,
by tact and vigilance, and patient urging, so
that Mr.. Slbley was enabled to secure for
the territory more generous appropriations
and liberal legislation than could have
been obtained by any one possessing less of
the esteem and respect of his fellow mem
bers, since nearly everything was secured by
personal influence.
In 1856, Mr.. Sibley was elected member
of the Minnesota legislature from Dakota
county, and, in 1857, served as member,
and president of the Democratic 'swing'' of
the constitutional convention. Ip the fall
of the same year, he was elected first govern
or of the State. Owing to the delay in the
admission of Minnesota, he was not inaugu-
rated until May "a, 1858. His term expired
January l, 1860.
On August 10, 1862, he was appointed by
Gov. Ramsey commander of the military
forces sent to quell the Sioux outbreak. He at
once took active measures to meet and de-
feat the Indians, and release the captives,
$50 in number, which they held, in both of
which designs his tact and intimate knowl-
edge of Indian character and mode of war
fare, enabled him to fully succeed also