St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-12
DEATH OF JOSEPH ROBERT.
One of st. PauIss Oldest Citizens
Dies i'm 81. Louis.

Dies i'm ST. Louis.
A telegram from ST. Louis yesterday
morning announced the death in that city
Of Joseph Robert, one of st. Paurs oldest
citizens. Mr.. Robert lost his wife by
death only a short time ago, and since then
had himself been aIling from an affection
of the stomach. He was 50 years of age.
Maj Newson in his pen pictures thus
speaks of him:
Mr.. Robert is a brother of the late Capt.
Louis Robert, and was born in Missouri in
1s27;worked on a farm up to 1874 removed to
Prairie du Chen; came to ST. Paul in IS45.
end was for short time engaged with his
brother in store; the same year went to the
Red River of the North with three carts
loaded with goods, and an Indian pony;
traded there until 1919, when he returned to
st. Paul and took charge of the transporta-
ton of the goods of the Winnebago Indians
TO Long Prairie; bought a store at Swan river
and commenced trading; ran it for two
years; began freighting in 1854 and in 1859
took contract to carry goods and emigrants
from st. Paul to st. Anthony, Crow Wing and
other points in the territory; then bought
lands in various parts Of Minnesota, having
made no money in the Indian trade, probably
being too honest; in 1850 was connected with
his brother in the Indian business He was
on his way TO one of his brothers trading
posts when he was Informed that the Indians
had broken out and were killing the settlers
He rode out from New Ulm near enough
to satisfy himself that this was the
fact, when he turned and gave the settlers
warning; re-entered New Ulm; was bearer
of dispatches to Gen. Sibley: returned and
was in and about New Ulm seventeen DAYS
and engaged in the fight there two DAYS
In the fall of 1862 Speaking the Chippewa
language readily,) he commenced trading
with that tribe at Mile Lac. He continued
there up to 1882, when he returned to St.
Paul. where he has remained ever since. In
1865 he went through 10 Vermillion lake for a
New York company, with seven teams. He
has
ALWAYS RESIDED IN ST. PAUL
with his family, from 1S49 up to 1885, though
he has at different times been absent on husi-
ness, and spends his summers at his country
residence on the shores of Bald Eagle lake
In lS45, or forty years ago,Mr. Robert plowed
a field of about twenty acres then fenced
running from Third street back to nearly
Sixth street, and from halt way to Minnesota
one way and half way to Jackson the other
and in this field he planted oats and raised n
good crop. The street where he raised the
oats has just been paved. The twenty acres
cost his brother about $500; worth now
upward of $4,000. 600. At this time there
were about ten families in the place, and not
to exceed fifty white people. Mr. Robert has
been an important interpreter for the Chin
pewa Indians; was elected alderman of ST
raul III 1901 anu Ie-elecIeu IN 1885. serving
two terms; was on the park committee and
was also on the committee appointed to re-
ceive Willard and President Arthur He is n
tall. muscular man, somewhat commanding
in his appearance, well preserved physically
and differing from an ordinary Frenchman In
that he is moderate in h $ conversation and in
his manners. and yet he is a man of activity
and great endurance, as q checkered life of
some forty years in Minnesota clearly shows
He Is social pleasant, honest; great friend
of the Indians and great friend of humanity
generally