The Saint Paul globe., 1898-09-13


of st. PauI-HIs Experiences
With the IndInns-HIs Life Once
Saved by His Wife-His Indian
Nickname.
The Minnesota State Historical So
ciety held the first Of it's fail meetings
last evening in the capitol building
when a paper was read by A. L. Lar
penteur on "RecOlections of the City
and People of st. Paul 1S4S-1S9S."
AS one of the first white people In
Minnesota, Mr.. Larpenteur enjoys the
acquaintance of all the old settlers,
having resided here for flfty-five years.
Many of the speakers friends from
both cities attended the meeting, and
the society rooms were well filled with
people.
Hon. Alexander Ramsey presided
during the evening.
At the council meeting, which pre-
Peded the general meeting, A. j. Hall
and D. H. Lewis were elected life
members.
Secretary Upham reported donations
of over 1900 volumes of books, pam
phlets and manuscripts, which were
presented the society since the last
meeting. Perhaps among the most
generous Ol the DeuGuCldI1SS were LII.
William Davis and Mrs. S. j. r. Nc
MILAN. Mr.. Larpenteur in his address
said
I left st. Louis on the steamer Iowa with
an outfit Sept l, 1S43. At Galena. which
was one OF the most important points be-
tween st. Louis and Fort Smelling. in conse-
quence of its great lead mines, which were
at that period attracting as many prospectors
as California was at a later day, we re-
shipped on board the steamer Otter all our
outfit. Capt. Scribe Harris was in command,
Capt. ThOs. Owens clerk and supercargo, for
our destination, which was St. Paul, reaching
here Sept. 10, 1S43, just fifteen days from
our departure from st. Louis. This was con-
sidered quite quick trip. Just think of the
difference in time now. The Otter a
small side-wheel steamer, propelled by a
single engine. She had a very loud voice.
and you could hear her escape for miles.
| found upon my arrival the partner Of
my employer, Henry Jackson, and his estima-
bic wife, with whom l soon made to feel
a. home, and for many years l was pleased
ciety was crude but pure and devoid of at
fectation The white population, taken al
together at that date, in the territory out
of which were afterward formed the great
state Of Minnesota, the two Dakotas, part of
Wisconsin and Iowa, and all across the Mis-
souri, river to the Pacific coast, did not ex-
ceCd 900. Today We count them by the mil
lions. The Indian and the buffalo have dis
appeared and given place to habits of cvliza-
ton with its railroads and electric cars.
We found this country new. We were be-
yond the bounds Of civilization and the from
tier. The former we enjoy today with all
It's advantages, but the latter-where is It?
Can any man tell? 1t has disappeared fer-
ever.
Our trade was with the natives, and with
them became exceedingly interested. I ac-
quired in a very short time a sufficient
knowledge of their language to get along
nicely with them in their trade, and in a
couple of years became quite proficient. In
study up the language, because l began my
duties IN the Indian trade as the
fur season commenced, which was in Novem-
ber. In that month all furs are considered
in their prime, mink otter and coon In par
ticular. was usually sent out to their hunt
ing grounds with various articles for trading.
The country abounded in game, and | soon
became an eXnert in the chase.
Competition was great in those days. One
had to keep on the alert, for the American
Fur company regarded the fur trade as ex-
cusively their own, and when Louis Robert.
J. w. Simpson and Hartshorn and Jackson
came upon the scene they were looked upon
as in-ruders.
KNOWN AS WANDUsKA.
I remember on one occasion. 1t was a
Christmas eve; We wede all enjoying ourselves
at Citizen Roberts. I believe it was on the
occasion of the celebration of the marriage
Of his niece to James w. Simpson. About
10 O'Clock l withdrew, having my train load
ed already and started out with Scott Camp
bell for my interpreter, and Askawasta for
my guide. reached Little Canada about
midnight, and camped by the side of that
beautiful lake, with nothing but a Mackinaw
blanket for my covering. Old Scot Campbell
was very fond CT his nips, and he and the
old Indian were having a jolly good time
while l was attending to the domestic af-
fairs necessary. for our comfort After had
feled a good-sized burr-oak tree preparatory
TO making our camp fire, the old man Camp
bell rose up IN order to help me, when he
most, into three feet Of snow, and before I
could dig him out 1 thought he would
smother.
bod
II became necessary that l should have q
name, and one day 'Techa," Old Bets Sroth-
er, came into the store, and he, being quite
a wag, and from some act of mine baptise6
me "Wanduska," the serpent. and bv thai
name have been known fran St. Paul to
the British line and wherever there was a
their language duently, and have ALWAYS re-
tanned their confidence and good Will
The Indians received their ahnuities with
commendable regularity In those days, and
for many days thereafter the old traders
and their visitors would enjoy to their hearts
content lively game OF poker, and a
stranger who would happen to come around
then was sure to be amused. Such old fel-
lows as Donald Mcdonald. William Aitkin
ana others, the names Of whom I have row
forgotten, could entertain The most adept.
and give them percentage besides
In the year 1845 l married my wife the
sister OF the late Bartlett Presley. She came
up from st. Louis for that purpose. as this
was to be our future home, and not hay
Ing the means to make the trip to st. Louis
to bring her up. You see it was econo
70 have her come up here and have the
hymeneal knot tied, and also showed a good
example TO our friends Aereabouts. Moving
into our new log cabin we soon began 10
make our little home as comfortable as cir
oumstances would permit. Many times r
pecame very monotonous and lonesome for
this young wife. The nearest neieLhora NC
pad were Mrs. John r. Irvine IN the south
scott Campbell on the east then camo the
family Of Vital Guerin. Benjamin Jaryals 7
w. simpson, then a bachelor, and iinaJly.
on the extreme edge of the duff on Jactstn
and Bench streets, were Henry Jackson and
his estimable wife. Mr. and Mrs I'm
were our nearest and most congenial neigh
bors, and my wife would spend much cf For
leisure time with them their house teing in
sight and within a stones throw Cf onrs
Let me say right here we owe q dehf of
gratitude to the wives and mothers ~ the
oId settlers and pioneers of Minnesota II
lE TO them many of US owe the blessings
We now enjoy in this North Star state. Mn
neSota. Many Of them left the corlf1rts of
home and friends, loving mothers ami 60ting
fathers, to follow us adventurers into an uno
known land; and how well they have done
:hcir part! Many Of us would have faiIen nv
the wayside but by their prayers and hen
Ing hands they bade US rise again and
thus we were enabled to face the stern rea1i.
ties Of life Such were the wives II the cId
settlers, and to them Is due all praise FOR
t.S BENEFITS we all enjoy here today
SAVED BY HIS WIFE.
~ consequence of one Of these Instances
of I'D ! may say that am enabled In he
With you this evening. 1t was a dark and