The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-01-28
WHEN AND HOW 1T WAS
NAMED.
Was Named After Gen. Sibley, Who
Intended 1t for the Location of a Trad
ing Post-..Bunker Hill Named After a
Former Sheriff.. Stirring Times With
the Indians Rec allied at the Territorial
Settlers Meeting.

The meeting of the Territorial
Settlers Association at the city hall
Friday night was we'll attended, and
the stirring times Of the early days
were recalled in manner which in
terested all. President James Shoe
maker presided, and Secretary A. G.
Barney took down the proceedings.
W. b. Torrey read lengthy and in
teresting paper, in which he gave
thrilling description of his trip to
Minnesota and many other trips
which he made while Minnesota was
territory, and Immediately after
wards. He said that early in Septem-
Der, 1S47, he, with his mother and three
sisters, left Crawford, N. Y. and ar
rived at Buffalo in nine days. They
finally settled at Beloit, Wis, but
April 3Oth, 1852, Mr.. Torrey started
for Minnesota. Two rival steam
boats were plying between Galena,
ILL.,, and St. Paul, and the trip was
the fastest made before or since. Mr..
Torrey was on the Nominee. Barrels
Of water were kept by each smoke
stack to'wet down around them, as
theyt were red hot for six feet above
the passenger deck. Whole sides of
bacon and barrels of rosin were
shoveled =. into the furnace. The
river was up, every village along its
course was flooded, and what there
was of Winona was four feet under
water. The trip was made in 81
hours aud 20 minutes, beating all re-
cords ever made by several hours. ST..
Paul was at that time a hilly,
swampy, struggling town of 1000 in
habitants. st. Anthony, ten miles
up the river, shad 1000 people, but
was strong rival of St. Paul. The
people at st. Anthony were mostly
from Maine, and nobody else could
get job so long as man from that
state wanted one. Mr.. Torrey
squatted on claim near by, but the
mosquitoes were so thick that he left
it, and it was jumeped by another
man, who remained until the river
opened, when he sold out for $4,000
and skipped down stream.
Mr.. Torrey gave his experience as a
government mule whacker. It was
necessary, first, to break two wild
mules. The expedition established a
route to the Pacific at Puget Sound,
starting June 10th. 1853. There was
not a white mans habitation west of
the Mississippi river above the falls
of St. Anthony at that time. Rains
had made every low place a marsh,
and progress was very slow. Mr..
Torrey's description Of this trip was
detailed and highly interesting. The
expedition was so lily managed that
great dissatisfaction arose among the
men. Mr.. Torrey, who drove the
lead team, was abused so roundly by
an insolent sergeant that he was
obliged to resent the treatment
When threatened with arrest, he
pointed out that the men would
rebel and ruin the expedition. He
was allowed to return, but as the
other drivers all wanted to return
mi n hin, 10 norcnoAoa than cfau
by securing them the promise of
better treatment. The trip back, in
company with two astronomers, was
a difficult one.
The following resolutions were
adopted:
WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty
God in his special providence to call
from our midst our beloved brothers,
Jno. f. Meagher and Daniel Barney.
WHEREAS, They have been true and
devoted members of the Mankato Old
Settlers Historical Association, al.
ways kind and faithful to their duties,
therefore be it
Resolved, That although we deeply
feel the loss of our beloved brothers,
we bow in humble submission to Him
who doeth all things well.
Resolved, That whilst a kindProvi-
dence has mercifully heightened our
days we may also endeavor as did
these friends to do deeds of love and
kindness.
Resolved, That we tender our
deepest sympathy TO the families and
many friends of the deceased brothers
and that we commend them to Him
who is able to sustain and comfort
them In their sad bereavemen Mt.
Resolved, That copy of these reso.
lutions be presented to the respective
families Of the deceased, and that
they be spread upon the records OF
this association and published in the
city papers.
JAMES SHOEMAKER,
CHAs. YATES,
HENRY GOODRICH,
HENRY HIMMELMAN,