St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-08

| gratuiaiions 10 The guest Of tie evening.
/ 4 Sketch Of Gen. s'btev.
From the history Of Minnesota, by Rev. Z.
| D. Nei.i and from ). j. Williams, secretary
Of tie historical society. history OF Ramsey
county, the G-osE collects the following
sketch:
! Henry y. S.bley was born at Detroit,
! Michigan, February 20, 1911. His father.
Judge solomon Sibley, native Of Massa-
/ chusetts, was one Of the most prominent
/ pioneers OF the northwest, settiingin Ohio 10
! 1875, and in Michigan Ia 1897,
! from which he was a member Of the
first legislature of the NORTHWEST Territory
in 1899; delegate 10 congress in 1920;
| judge OF the supreme court from 1924 TO
| 1886; United States district attorney, etc.
! He died in 1886, universally lamented
Judge Sibiey married at MARKETS., Ohio. in
/ 1902, Miss Sarah W. sporat,
daughter OF Col. Ebenezer Sporat,
a distinguished officer Of the revolution, and
grand daughter of Commodore Abraham
Whipple, OF the revolutionary navy. Her
parents and grand parents are all pioneers
! OF Ohio, so that the subject Of this sketc h
was, 10y ancestral influence, predisposed to
such life of pioneer adventure as be was
destined 10 lead.
Mrs. Sibley died at Detroit, jan 90, 1851,
MIS-. Eliet in her work Pioneer Women of
the West" remarks that she was a woman of
unusual beauty, and rare mental accom-
/ pnshments.
concise history OF the life of Mr.. sibley
would I'll volume with his adventures
among the Indians, in the chase and on the
] field OF battle. AT the age of seventeen be
went TO Ssult Ste. Marie, where he was en-
! ployed in a store. The next year be was
connected with the American Fur company
at Maekinac. In 1884 he became a member
OF company consisting of Ramsey Crooks.
IL. l.. Dousman, Joseph Roulette, Jr., and
! himself.
Gen. Sibley arrived at Mendoza Nov. =,
1884, having rode on horse back from Prai-
RE du Chen, distance OF nearly 300 miles,
/ there being but one human habitation on the
way. Then in all the region now known as
/ Minnesota, there was. excepting the garrison
al Fort Smelling, only a handful OF white
men, mostly fur traders and Canadian yoy-
ayers. Gen. Sibley is now the Oldest living
settler, save one, in our population OF one
million people, aud it has been his fortune 10
take more active and prominent part in the
history OF the past fifty years than any other
living man.
! Gen. Sibley has seen germinale from that
small beginning state containing over a
million inhabitants, and he among the most
honored of them all. The first two years
after his arrival be lived In log house Al
the end OF that time, in 1886, he built the
/ first dwelling o. stone in the state. II stands
to-day as a monument TO the early enter
! prise Of Dir. Sibley, and is the oldest house
in Minnesota
Previous 10 his leaving Mackinac, Gov.
] prfa Of
/ Sibey justice OF the peace. tie was reap
! pointed in 1883 by Gov. Chambers. of Iowa.
Minnesota being in that territory. After
ward be was appointed, by the latter official,
captain of the first company OF the Iowa cav
airy, and he raised and drilled company OF
seyeniy-hve men. At that time the Missis-
sippi river was the dividing line between
| Iowa and Wisconsin territories Mr.. Sibley
was chosen as delegate from Wisconsin.
although living.in the resideuum Of Iowa ter.
ntory. After some discussion he was al
lowed 70 take his seat de acted IS such dele
gate one term, during which he secured the
passage, March Sd, iS49, Of the act organiz-
ing tue territory Of Minnesota, and was
elected delegate the same year to represent
/ 1t, and reelected in 1851, serving in all
about i've year. IN 1855 he represented the
county Of Dakota in the territorial legislature.
branch Of the state constitutional convention.
During the same year he was elected gov
crnur, but did not take his seat until Nav q.
1858, on account OF the delay in the Admis-
sion OF the territory as state. His term Of
Office expired January lsi, 1860.
On August 10, 1862, he was appointed BY
/ Gov. Ramsey commander Of the military
forces sent to quell the Sioux outbreak. He
al once took active measures to meet and de-
! feat the Indiana, and release the caoiives.
$50 in number, which they held. in both Of
which designs his tact aud intimate knowl-
edge OF Indiana character and mode of war
fare, enabled him fully 10 succeed-also
taking about 1000 Indians prisoners. Over
400 Of these were tried by eourt-mart.Al. and
303 condemned 10 death, only thirty-eight OF
waom, unfortunately, were finally executed.
President Lincoln having been persuaded
by mistaken bumsOiiarians 70 interfere In
their behalf.
Col. Sibiey was commissioned brlgadier
general for gallant services, aud during the
winter remained IN command Of the military
forces in this state. Congress, meanwhile.
reduced the number OF brigadier generals
but be was reappointeo by the president In
March. 1868, and accepted. at the request OF
large number cf leading citizens. who
addressed 10 him petition 10 that effect
During tie SIMMER be organized and CON-
mapded an expedition 10 Devils lake and
the Missouri river, for the purpose OF
routing sni driving of lie hostile
Sioux lowering on the frontier.
Tie expedition was successful, and defeated
them il several battles ard sklrmishes. re
turning 10 Fort Smelling in September. The
years 1854 and 1855 were employed in seeur-
ing the defense OF tie frontier, and with the
single exception Of the Gardner family. no
murders or Expectations by Indians took
place IN the state
On Nov. 29, 1865, Gen. sibley was com
missioned as major general. for efficient and
meritorlous services. He was relieved from
the command Of the district OF Minnesota IN
August 1866, and was detailed as a member