Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-12
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Regular Meeting Last notwithstanding
Papers Read---GOod Prospects for the
New Building.
The Minnesota Historical society held
regular meeting last evening. Gen. Sib-
ley, president, occupied the chair. while
most of the old and active members were
in attendance.
MEMOIR OF ALEX. FARIBAULT.
Gen. Sibley made the following an
nouncement of the death of one Of the
Oldest pioneers of the state:
Gentlemen of the Executive Council:
On the 2Sth of last month, at 2 o'clock p.
M, Alexander Faribault, the oldest settler
in Minnesota, departed this life at the
furnishing city of which he was the found
er, and which bears his honored name. He
was born in Prairie du Chen, Wis, in
1906, and had attained the ripe age of
seventy-six at the time of his decease.
Mr.. Faribault was the oldest son of Jean
Baptiste Faribault, of whom memoir has
been published in the collections of the
society. MI. Faribault, ST., removed his
family from Prairie du Chen to the
vicinity of Fort Smelling in the year 1920,
SO that his son Alexander was continuous
resident of what is now the state of Min
nesota, for sixty-tw years. I had been in
innate with him from the time
of my own advent to this region in 1884.
His business connection with me as my
clerk, and subsequently, as a trader with
the Sioux Indians on his own account,
extended through a period of a quarter
of century. He was my constant COM
panion in my annual hunting excursions
for buffalo, elk, deer, bear and other wild
animals, sometimes IN company with
bands of Indians, but more frequently at
tended by but two or three Canadian voy-
ayers, in charge sof horse carts for the
transportation Of camp equipage and 9TH
er ianpedinenta. The adventures incident
to this mode of life were exciting, and at
tended with more or less danger from wild
beasts. and from rowing parties of Indians
who were at war with the Dakota Or Sioux
bands. The country We frequented was
the battle ground Of the hostile tribes, and
war parties of savages were by no means
respectors of persons.
Long companionship amid such perils
bring men closely together, and tends to
develop their several characteristics more
prominently, than would years OF ordinary
acquaintance. My friend was cool, self
possessed, brave man, who could be relied
upon with perfect confidence in any emer-
gency that might arise.
Mr.. Faribault had made the best use of
the limited opportunities for education Of
ferred him in his youth, and being natur-
ally observant, and quick of apprehension,
he proved himself a most Interesting as
sociate. He was devoted member of the
Catholic church, and an upright and pub
lie spirited citizen. His influence with the
Dakota bands. especially those to whom he
sustained the relation of trader, was almost
without limit. The moderate fortune he
had at one time accumulated by years of
honest labor, was mostly spent in minis
tering to the wants of this wretched race,
in whose welfare he manifested pro-
found interest to the end of his life. Bust
ness misfortanes also overlook him in his
latter years, and reduced him to absolute
poverty, but he retained to the last the
esteem and respect of a large circle of
friends, including the entire community of
which he was the pioneer and founder,
and his death was mourned by all as
public calamity.
I have deemed it proper to thus briefly
notice the demise of one who has played
no unimportant part in the early history
of Minnesota, and respectfully to suggest
that a memoir of this worthy man be pre-
pared by the committee on obituaries, of
the society, for publication in its col
lections.
I take this occasion also to announce the
death of another old and prominent citi-
zen, Major John Kennedy, OF Hastings, in,
Dakota county, who died on the first of this
month, after long and painful illness.
Major Kennedy came to this region from
Canada, in the year 1853, and WAS en-
ployed by me at Mendoza as clerk and
bookkeeper. He subsequently removed to
Hastings, was elected register of deeds and
county auditor SUCCESSFULLY. He Joined
the Seventh regiment, Minnesota volun-
teers, and was chosen captain of a COM
pany, in which capacity he served with
credit during the campaigns against the
hostile Sioux, after tho outbreak of 1928
and in the South, where the regiment
greatly distinguished itself. Captain Ken
nedy was breveted major for gallant con-
duct. Several years since he was appointed
postmaster at Hastings, which position he
held during his life. The major was a
genial, hospitable gentleman, and most
useful citizen. Ihe poor Will lose In him
a sympathetic and active friend.
The thanks of the society were returned
to Gen. S. for the above interesting sketch.
R1x1N1sCHNoE OF He INDIAN WAR.
Capt. Edwin Bell, pioneer steamboat
man of this region, contrib uted the fol-
lowing incidents of the Indian outbreak of
1882:
It was on sultry afternoon IN August,
1S62,the 10Th, when the steamer Pomeroy,
Minnesota river packet, landed at Fort
Smelling. Two armed soldiers were await
ing US at the levee. AS we made fast to
post one of them placed his foot on the
line and the other stepped on the boat. I
descended to the boiler deck, when he
asked if was the captain. On receiving
an affirmative answer, he said: 'sYou are
wanted at the fort at once" asked: ''For
what?" He replied: ''My orders are to
bring you to the fort at once" So &C.
companied my captor up the steep road,
but not without wondering what could
have done to subject me to such
summary military arrest. When we ar
rived at the Office ] was met by Capt.
Arnold who said. 1CaDt Ra1I thav ara