The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-04-26
PIERRE BOTTINEAU.
A Brief History Of the Man for VIII a
Our County Is Namsd.

| mere are lew people, 10 WHO'LL Ihe
name Of Bottineau is so familiar and
which has become quite famous, who
know the characteristics of Pierre
Bottineau. F. j. Mead, in a recent
issue of the Minneapolis Tribune, has
written a thrilling sketch of Mr.. Bot.
tineau's history, and of a journey
made by him i'll the winter of 1867
from Winnipeg to Fort Smelling. We
regret that want OF space prevents us
from giving the article in full, but
that which we excerpt below will
prove very interesting.
Col. Newson, a we'll known citizen
Of St. Paul, in his book on the Indian
legends of Minnesota and Dakota,
says Of Pierre Bottineau that he came
to St. Paul in 1841 and purchased a
tract of land now known as Baptist
Hill. He was in the employ of Gen.
S;bley as guide and interpreter in
1887, and became famous in conduct
ing expeditions across the plains.
He lett St. Paul and made claim at
St. Anthony, and then established a
settlement at what is now known as
Bottineau prairie.
He is large man, with prominent
face and head, straight, black hair,
piercing eyes and swarthy COM
plexion, possessing the characteristics
of the bear combined with the gentle.
ness of a woman.
One of the best things to be said of
Bottineau the man, is that which
should be said of Bottineau the
county-Ahoays true to his trusts.
Nearly forty years ago, when Minneapolis
was yet unborn and the infant frontier vii
lage Of St. Anthony nestled costly among the
birch and maple groves on the eastern shore
at the falls Of the great river, Pierre Bot
tineau was a we'll known citizen of the
young community, says F. J. Mead in the
Minneapolis Tribune. He was typical re-
preventative product of the country, for in
his veins flowed the blood of the hardy and
enterp"ising French explore,,, uniting ION
the maternal side with the two antagonistic
aboriginal tribes, the Sioux or Dakotas, and
Chippewas or Ojibways. To put it clearly
and directly, Pierre Bottineau was descend
ed on the paternal side in direct line from
Huguenot family driven from France in
the 18th century. His father came to the
Northwest in the early part of the 10Th
century, and married an Indian woman
whose father was of the Dakota nation anl
whose mother was Chippewa.
Pierre first saw the light on the lst day Of
January, 1917, at place known rs Rat
Point, on Turtle river in Dakota, twelve
miles west Of where the fourlshing city Of
Grand Forks now stands. l desire to lay
special emphasis on this fact for the benefit
OF such Dakota tenderfeet as claim to be
"old Settlers and thus call attention to
truth of history that q native Of the great
territory was one Of the early founders of
the beautiful city of Minneapolis.
In 1856 or 1857, Mr.. Bottineau removed
from St. Anthony and opened farm near
the village of Osseo, in this county, where
he lived until few years ago, when he
pulled up the stakes Of his tepee and re-
moved to the northern part of Minnesota In
the vicinity of Red lake, in search. probably,
of cooler climate. MIR. Bottineau has had
varied and many-hued history. At the
age of II years his father died, aud the
young fellow being the Oldest child, assumed
the position Of head of the family and under.
took the task Of providing subsistence for
his younger brothers and sisters. As he
advanced in years he became the most ex-
pert guide aud voyageur in the Northwest,
and to-day has wider personal familiarity
with the country from Minneapolis west
ward to the Black Hills and Yellowstone,
and northward to Hudsons bay than any
man living In 1853 he was the guide Of
Gov Stevens party making the preliminary
survey from St. Paul to the Pacific ocean.
In 1856 he was guide and interpreter to Col.
Smith, who located the military posts
throughout Northern Minnesota anu Dakota.
since that time he has always been en-
ployed officially by the government when.
ever it became necessary to deal with any
Of the bands of Sioux or Chippewa Indians
in Minnesota or Dakota.
MIR. Bottineau has reached the ripe age Of
II years, but to the casual observer he
would be taken for a we'll preserved man Of
50 There is none of the stoop OF age in his
shoulders, aud his eye is as bright, and his
swarthy complexion as clear rs though he
were yet in his prime. The old man is full
Of memories Of his past career in the North
west, and his recollection of details Of the
happenings Of SO years ago are simply re-
| markable. Without difficulty he recalls
dates, names and incidents, tragic as we'll g
comic, and his voice win tremble with sup
pressed emotion as be recounts the one, and
his laugh ring out as clear and hearty as
that Of thoughtless school boy Is he re-
calls the other. Mr.. Bottineau is we'll
known to all the old settlers in this vicinity,
and throughout the Northwest, and to say
that he Is favorite with Gil who know him