Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-02-11
IN PIONEER Days
"How I Came to Morrison
County,"
BY C.A, A. COE
Continued from January % }

(COntinued from January - }
1t was III the year OF 1853 that our
noble state was admitted to the Union;
though our state was greatly in debt,
and the prospects for our success as
state were doubtful, we we're determined
to carry it through. In the next three
years affairs went on the same as the
past. every one working, trying toget
home, and to advance the country
around them. At the end OF that time
the civil war broke out, and that caused
a great deal Of excitement.
1t was on the Goth day OF April, 1861,
that the First Minnesota Regiment was
mustered into service with ex-gov. Cor
man as Colonel. 1t was in this company
thai large number Of young men from
our county enlisted. But few that en-
listed in the Immortal First" ever re-
turned.
Everything was war. All you heard
people talking about was war.
In the summer OF 1860 the Sioux In
y. dians sent tobacco, pipes and trinkets to
the ChippeWas trying to .pursuade them
to join them in making a raid upon the
whites. They claimed that the whites
had cut and robbed them of their timber
anu grass. caught their fish, killed their
wild game-they had long accused the
fur traders OF robbing them. But every
thing at last quoted down until the next
= year.
But little was done before the summer
OF 1868 when the Sioux started the re-
bellicn by attacking the soldiers at Red
wood Ferry. Then followed the massa-
sacres OF New Tim and Fort Ridgley in
the week OF blood
When We heard OF the outbreak all was
excitement in this county. Two old
settlers and [ had taken our teams and
\ had started for Crow Wing when we
y heard that the Indians from Leech Lake
were on their way down here. We decided
it would be best for us to go back TO our
homes and meanwhile alarm the whole
country. Temporary forts were built at
Little Fails amidst. Cloud. ~. The old
court house at Little Falls was barri-
caded and used as fort for some time.
All families being near there moved in
taking all their provisions and ammuni-
tion with them. There was quite an
amount OF ammunition brought there
from Fort Smelling.
Those who did not go there went to
Fort Ripley, where there was more
room. Troops We're sent to Crow Wing
and Fort Ripley. crops and everything
were deserted.
Hole in-the day had his Interpreter
Roger Akin, read him the newspapers
every day. In that way he kept poste
on the affairs OF the government aud the
country around him and knew best
when 70 strike
There was Il German missionary sta
toned at Rabbit River, who had most
OF his property destroyed by the Indians.
He and his hired man hastily made a
raft OF pine logs and putting their family,
teams and provisions on the raft started
| 'or Crow Wing. With great deal OF
, trouble and after suffering great many
hardships they succeeded in reaching
Belle Prairie and stayed with me three
weeks. The Indians had destroyed fine
old German musical instrument OF theirs.
Soon after this the Indians took two
families as prisoners at Leech Lake, but
there was an Indian who Was friendly to
the men, and he helped them to escape.
He took them off from the rest, told
them where they would find a canoe,
which they did. Leaving their families
behind them they reached Crow Wing in
safety. Why they left their families was
that they were related to the Indians
therefore they were safe.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK