davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

by military court, and S03 who had
been found guilty of murder and
massacre, were condemned to death.
Of this number, however, President
Lincoln, on personal examination of
the testimony, authorized the execu-
ton of but thirty eight. This event
occurred in Msnkato on Friday, Dec.
26th, 1869. These condemned Indians
had been transferred from Red Wood
Fails and New Ulm to Mankato, for
safe keeping. The prisoners We're con-
fined in log cabin, in a rear room
of Leech's stone building, securely
guarded by the provost marshal The
hanging of these Indians was the most
notable event which ever occurred in
the history of MankatO, and nothing
of its kind ever before, or since, has
occurred in the history of the United
States. When tue fatal hour arrived,
the provost marshal, Capt. Redfeld,
notified the condemned ones. Their
manacles were removed, they rose to
their feet and commenced to sing
their death-song, which was deep
toned chant, and marched ont between
two lines of. infantry to the scaffold,
which they ascended with firm step.
A detail of soldiers made by Co
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

Baker, covered their faces with muslin
caps. At the tap of the drum, as
ordered by the commanding officer,
Maj. Duly, with we'll sharpened
broad axe cut the cable rope, which
held the great platform on-.which they
stood, thus the thirty-eight miser-
able murderers of women and little
children as we'll as of men, were all
at one time, hurled to eternity. Col.
Bakers soldiers cut them down and
buried them in a shallow trench in
the sand, at place just in the rear
of the Saulpaugh House, between
that and the union depot But a
quick resurrection took place, for in
less than four hours every Indian
body had been taken up by the doctors
of the state and even from Chicago,
where orders came for the bodies for
dissection purposes. On that memoir
able day, Col Stephen Miller of the
7th regiment was in command, and
issued his orders from the old Mankato
House, where he was confined by sick
ness. Most of his orders were executed
by Col. Baker with his command, the
10th regiment, having more troops
there than any other military COM
mand.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

Gen. j. Fl. Baker, our fellow
townsman, whose portrait is here
presented, has long been identified
with the history of our city and
county. He had been very active &C
the outbreak of the civil war, in rails
ing troops for the Union army. he
was then secretary Of state, but re-
signed his Office to enter the military
service of his country. Gov. Ramsey
appointed him colonel of the 10th
Minnesota infantry. Col. Baker with
his regiment, had been ordered south
by Secretary Stanton and was rendez-
vousing at Fort Smelling for that pur-
pose, when the great uprising of the
Sioux Indians occurred which spread
CONSERVATION over the whole state.
Through the influence of Gov. Ram
sey, the order for Col. Baker to go
south was countermanded, and he was
ordered with his regiment to report
to Gen. b. g. Sibley for service
against the hostile Sioux. With his
regiment, Col. Baker was engaged in
the Indian compaigns, till the
power of the hostiles was broken,
and they were captured or driven
from the state After this capture,
many of the most guilty were tried
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

cipate1 in them were all completely
captivated by the beauty and fertility
of the country, and went everywhere
proclaiming it. St Paul went wild
about it. Her papers were full of
glowing accounts of its natural wealth
and splendor. Her citizens could talk
about nothing else and every visitor
was Immediately inoculated with the
idea that here was the land of promise
Having spied the land and found it
so good and so accessible by steam
boats, the whites became anxious 10
POSSESS it, and the result was the great
event of the following year, 1851,
namely: the treaties of Traverse des
Sioux and Mendoza, whereby the In
dams ceded to the United States all
southern and central Minnesota west
of the Mississippi, except a small res
ervation ten miles wide on each side
of the river, extending from point
near the west line of Brown county
distance of about 100 miles up the val
lev. Luke Lea and Gov. Ramsey,
the two commissioners appointed by
the government to negotiate this most
important Indian treaty in the history
of the northwest, left st. Paul with
their party on the steamer Excelsior,
June 2Sth, 1851, the anniversary OF
the first voyage of the Anthony Wayne
the year before. They reached Trav-
erse des Sioux early Monday morning.
June Both, but it took three weeks of
anxious waiting, before the scattered
bands OF Sioux could gather f rom the
far west. Many of the head chiefs,
Sleepy Eye especially, objected strenu..
ously to selling so large a section OF
their country, and it was only after
much patient and wise diplomacy and
with the united and efficient aid of all
the principal Indian traders that the
happy result was finally contaminated
on July %, 1851.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

Wayne. got up an excursion of her
own, and assembled not only to the
rapids but through them and planting
her single two or three miles beyond.
returned in triumph. The Anthony
Wayne not to be outdone by the
Nominee, got up another monster ex-
cursion, and on Thursday, July Is, as
cended the river to the big bend,
mile or two below our city.
Animated by spirit of emulation,
the Yankee I'M. K. Harris, captain
concluded to Guido all the other boats.
Getting up big excursion and with
the Fort Smelling band on board she
started July %, and passing the shin
giles of all the other boats, spent her
third night near where stood the old
village of Judson. The want of pro-
visions, the furious attacks of myriads
of mosquitoes and the thermometer up
to 1O4 degrees in the shade, were the
only considerations which even then
induced our excursionists to turn
back. They found at that time a
French trader living in log hut on
Sibley Mound, and when bits of coal
we're found in the sand at the mouth
of the Blue Earth, he assured the
party that few miles up that stream
there was a solid bed of the same,
three or four feet thick. Another
episode of this excursion was a moon
light dance on Kasota prairie.
These excursions fully demonstrated
the navigability of the Minnesota, and
the hundreds of people who had parti,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

present, Otsego is now Pleasant
Mound, Liberty is now Shelby, Maple
ton is now Sterling, Sherman is now
Mapleton. Jackson is now Danville,
Batternut Valley included all of its
present territory and Cambria. The
balance of the county is described as
the Winnebago reservation.
The minutes of this meeting were
kept by VIM. S. Sargent. register of
deeds. At this time kerosene was
ST. go per gallon and hanging lamps
81. 30 each. A bill was allowed for
carpenter work on a coffin for county
charge.
The next meeting was April 10th,
1858, and some changes were made in
township boundaries, Jamestown,
Mankato and South Bend getting their
missing south tier of sections. Ritch-
field was changed to Fox Lake and
attached to Ceresco." What is now
Rapidan was named Desoto and
"attached to South Bend. Decoria
was named and attached to Rice Lake
(now McPherson). Medo was attach
ed to Jackson (now Danville). What
is now Beauford was labeled Win
noshiek and attached to Mapleton and
Sherman. Lyra was known as Te-
cumseh and attached to Mapleton
Vernon and Ceresco were the same
as at present and Otsego was attached
to Liberty, the other towns being
left as previously mentioned.
John A. Willard was appointed
county attorney at a salary of $500 per
year and was instructed to collect
from certain justices fines which they
had collected and neglected to pay
over to the treasurer.
On June 1, 1853, much road work
was discussed, sundry bills allowed
and E. K. Bangs authorized to go tc
st. Paul and negotiate loan for the
county.
On July s, 1853, the commissioner
made an order addressed to the sheriff,
stating they had fenced the cour'
house square for the purpose of keep
ing out "horses, cattle, sheep ano
swine;' that he should forbid any
person from turning animals into th'
enclosure and if found therein should
rout them out instanter
On Aug. 6. 1858. county bonds t.
the amount of So, 900 were signed.
On Sept. IA, 1858, occurred the an
nual meeting of the board of count.
supervisors of Blue Earth county. Tn
following were presented: Samuel M
u Walker and Jas. Shoemaker, Mankato
I Dan'l Campbell, Lime: Timothy Sulli
van, Jamestown L. Mathews, Sout
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

Bend J. A. .Wiswell Wattonwan +;
Jasper G. Browning, Vernon David
Davis, Butternut Valley; D. R. Pat
terson, Judson; r. Crandall, Shelby
Vile; Lucius Dyer, Jackson. On
Sept. 16, the board authorized the
judge of probate to provide himself
with an Office at rental of 81. 30 per
month. Also Chas. A. Chapman
was authorized to copy the town plats
for the register of deeds
At their meeting on Oct. IA, 1858,
the name of Jackson township was
changed to Danville, Vernon to Mount
Vernon and amended to Vernon
Center, Otsego to Willow Creek and
Liberty to Shelby.
On Dec. 10, 1858, bill was allow
ed in favor of J. L. Jones for use of
three saddle horses loaned to sheriff
for chasing horse thieves $500. To
the same party, team and driver fur
nished sheriff to haul drunken Indians
to Jail, 81. 90.
To the same party, team and driver
furnished sheriff in search of women
dressed in mems clothes, and in TAX
ing Dutch Mary to jail $2.5O They
also allowed bills for 1 log chain
So. OIL paddock and 1 bed cord, 81. 90
yards ticking, $2.25; pair wooden
blankets, so. 90; steamboat "Jeannette
Roberts, freight on safe, $l5; gold
pen, s. (who got IT'D; 1 ream large
cap paper, Sc; 1 safe, $3.50.
The board adjourned to Jan. A,
1859, and the minutes are signed by
Isaac Indrus, county auditor.
On Feb. II, 1859, we find: "Or
motion, voted that the clerk be and he
is hereby instructed to notify the Win
nebsgo agent of the expenses neces
sarily incurred by the county in arrest
ing Winnebago Indian FOR Shooting
white man, and keeping him IL
Jail, and requiring the agent to pay
| the same The arrest was evidently
no easy matter as we hnd at the same
session DR.. w. r. McMaban wa
paid $40 for dressing the Indian
wounds after he arrived at the Jail.
From the Mankato Independent Jun'
Is, 1859: The Oldest piece of furnitur
is the multiplication table. 1t wa
constructed more than two THOUSAND
years ago and is yet as good as new.
From the Mankato Independent
June Is, 1859: A lady was taken b.
surprise in Mississippi the other day
At least we Judge so from the fac
that John B. Surprise was married t
Sallie A. Stock. They will probabl
have little Surprises OCCASIONAL
/ to keep up the "Stock.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30
EARLY RECORDS
A Few Items of Interest Taken
From the First Commits
Sioner's Records.

As the mi-centennial anniversary
of the founding of the city approaches,
we are reminded that the county Of
Blue Earth has been in existence for
practically the same length of time.
While there is much that is common
to the history of both have selected a
few little items from the records of
the county commissioners which may
show how they have busted themselves
during these years. Some of these are
mentioned merely because at the
present time they would seem ridicu-
lous, nd yet, even in these, we may
read between the lines. We may read
of hardships and priVation, of Indian
outrage and grasshopper plaques.
1t is the bravery and foresight of our
predecessors which has made this
county what it is, and we should re-
solve by looking we'll to our public
and private duties to pass it on to oul
succt ssors, a still more glorious heri'
tage.
The first book of commissioners
proceedings has mysteriously disap'
peared, the first one now remaining
commencing int1S5S From printed
slip posted in the front of this book,
we find that the total taxes levied fol
the year 1860 were 81, 507. a. A
similar slip for 1861 contains this in
formation: "No currency will be re
ceived." These are both signed 81
Du Buisson, county treasurer.
The first board meeting of which
we find a record was held at the Office
of the register of deeds at 9 a. M,
April 5. 1858, present, E. K. Bangs,
chm, S. NJ. Walker and N. L.
Jackson.
On April 9th it was "moved anC
carried that the board proceed t.
divide the county into towns pursuan
to the act of the Legislature passed A
D. 1868.
Lime was the same as at presen
but was attached to Mankato for towI
purposes, Jamestown had its presen
territory and all except the south tie
of sections of what is now LIE Raw.
Mankato township was the same a
at present except the south tier G
sections South Bend the same, Jud
son was the same as at present, Ritcf
field is now Lincoln, Wattonwan
Garden City, Montivedo is Verno
Center, Ceresco was the same as. as
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

A big freshet occurred in the latter
part of June of that year in the Mime
sofa river, just as the Anthony Wayne,
a Mississippi steamboat in command
of Captain Able arrived in st. Paul
with an excursion party of seventy
persons from st. Louis. They were
jolly crowd and had brought with
them a small band of music from
Quincy, ILL., Seeing so much water in
the Minnesota it occurred to the cap
tain and a number of prominent people
of st. Paul to attempt steamboat
excursion up that stream. The project
took we'll and purse of 1926 to defray
the expense was quickly raised. Ac-
cordingly on Friday, June 2Sth, 1850,
the Anthony Wayne, with over $50 of
st. PauTs prominent citizens and the
seventy st. Louis people on board,
turned her prov up the unknown
waters of the Minnesota. At Fort
Smelling the military band joined the
party. The season was propitious-
the day perfect-the abundant vege-
tation, freshened by recent showers,
was magnificent. The boat assembled
the river as far as the rapids near
Carver and returned to ST. Paul that
night without a single mishap. The
success of the trip and the beauty and
fertility of the great valley surpassed
all expectations. Other boats grew
envious of the sudden popularity Of
the Wayne. Two weeks later another
steamer, the Nominee, thinking she
could EEdo 'as much and more than the
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

Charles e. Flandreau has been so
long identified with the Minnesota
valley that his mnae has become a
household word in all that region. He
came as early as 1858 into this valley,
and located at Traverse de Sioux,
where, at that time was only some
Sioux Indians and few missionaries
In 1854 he built home in ST. Peter,
and resided there, practicing law for
several years. He was in the terri
torial council in 1866. In 1855 he was
state agent for the Sioux Indians of
the Mississippi. In 1857 he was a
member of the constitutional conven-
ton. In the same, year he was ap-
pointed associate justice of the su
preme court of the Territory of Mime
sofa. When the state was''.1 admitted
into the Union, =: ne .was--elected- to the
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

same Office, which he resigned in 1864.
Meantime he had removed to the
city of st. Paul.
But it was during the outbreak of
the Sioux Indians in 1862, that he rem
dered his most signal service to the
people Of the Minnesota valley. He was
chosen at the very outbreak captain of
a company of volunteers. He went to
New Ulm and was there mustered into
the state service, having gathered TO-
gether about three hundred men. 1t
was with this body of volunteers that
he made his memorable defense of
New Ulm against the attack of very
large body of hostile Sioux. TN ice
the Indians attacked him in full force,
but he tenaciously held his position
till the Indians were compelled to
evacuate the place. After the no.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30

table success, Gov. Ramsey sent him
commission as colonel with full
authority to take such measures for the
defense of this frontier as he deemed
best. In all this work on the frontier
he was eminently successful and won
the thanks of all the people through
out the valley of the Minnesota river.
Since those eventful days he has
been a successful practitioner of law in
ST. Paul. The firm was we'll known as
that of Bigelow, Flandrau & Clark.
Judge Flandrau has been lifelong
Democrat and was the nominee of that
party for governor in 1867. Judge
Flandrau still resides in st. Paul, and
takes great interest in the State His
torical society.
The sun., 1902-05-31
4 Miracle OF IuConsistency

The genius Of common sense shines
In many Of senator SPooNEn's speeches
Never. perhaps. has IL bean more APP
parent than in that part Of his remarks
~ Thursday which deslt with the anorn-
alous position occupied bv the adver-
saries Of the peading Philippine bill
Here are the opponents and ohstruo-
tionlsts of the bill dsnouncing Jhe mill
tary administration Of affairs IN the
Philippines "a outrageously harsh and
un- American.
Hero are these same critics 81 military
Administrator in the Philippines dong
their perverted best 10 defeat or delay
a measure which 10 intended 10 supplant
military control a. far as possible with
definitely established civil government,
and 70 confer upon the fillplnos further
civil rights and privileges
The sun., 1902-05-31
The Latest silver Bill.

The reports In Yesterday mornings
newspapers of the passac" hv the House
of the measure known "a the Hill hlll
w~re such ~ 20 cause popular mis-
apprehenslon e he character and effect
of the proposed act.
The sherman Silver Purchase act of
isp0 required tho Government 10 pur-
chase I.Sro.pOO ounces Il silver each
month and TO coin 1t into silver dollars
The provision for the purchase Of bullion
m this act was repealed in 1898. hut tho
coinage Il tho bullion in tho Treasury into
silver dollars has gone on "a before. There
"a now IN the general fund of the Treas
ury only $500 .ae7 SIS worth of silver bullion
and i7.ss5.2ii silver dollars. The Hlll
h.ll simply provides that tho remaining
silver bullion in the Treasury purchased
under the sherman ac, shall b" coined
into subsidiary silver coin. as the Score
,arv of the Treasury NAV find necessary.
and thereafter that, ~ public necessity
NAV demand. silver dollars NAV be re-
coined into subsidiary com.
OF course the Hill bill does not touch
at all the s4s7 ,ono 0D0 worth Of silver dol
lars md silver bullion now held in the
rrdemption division Of the Treasury
against outstanding silver certificates
and Treasury notes. nor does IL in any
way effect n recall of these Treasury
notes and silver certificates.
The sun., 1902-05-31

To NV Enron or IUP - Sr' Refer
rtrs 10 10 rublishei ''a'r~"r'- thu ha'"
heou engaged a. lsadins Juvsrl- hf MIS-
bingham for next seasor, ! heg 20 arnonn'~
,rat W., ~ engaged bv Mis. Riush'r's
ng,iues- rn.narer. Mi-s Bingham ha. taken
80 postion 'nlt Ner bu.ires. manager h,d
rn tl'Fc-'v - make - ergsssf~.ri N'n
No ~ oour'.. under - or T'ar'e'
I r.r,,, cor. fsI lrr 10 pe-rlit rr.to perform
v.'N lsr COMPANY ~ '.e r-rNNr time
sIal f,Ir s'sTs 20 .sf0Fi..N ~ ti-i~
Ia.s NIll eNrlain - aTres''0'- ~ state
r,.-f. 'Hs aroth.r gentleman has been en-
y,Esl Uv rer FOR ne rar'
/ ri - uror ~. sntsg.fr.t' IN GOOD ieltn
known tf-' vss rot - ] hsrtv. b"ior" was
IN forruri Of Nn,. R.-rI.~. attitude.
TrrN " AMAZON. IN
sorTu Y.HNor rU Mas. Mny -
The sun., 1902-05-31
VIII, woman Leave. the Car backward.

To Tur FpTrnR ~ nv 8 50 VII you kindly
g'v. me srace ~ e,plAiu vNy 10 IS tAst women a
most AlwAys set ofT a car facing DO" tehf enf'
Tho fact y not the revilt - l-no'an"' 80 ~ VII
,u oAstInarv - f~0st rsw'Napers r'pre'ent u
.Ib, ,,,frtn f. ort a.. victim - rirr''-lstAHe-s
sr,rsly hsynrd 'rt control Nut not. possibly
pgy-, t.r rl-fr.I - Nr g -s,aHf fNst srriea
- -. IN .,r, cArrv [, rhid or r.csAs- - .o--
g,t' 40 ihr,s tNr c,ftv iNsr lsft arm ~ n INC
I.ft tNrt 81 have th- rrHt 're" IN "a" ~ nrrf
IA b.r tf..,. rrt aT tfs stsr 4. irConNrr Entity hlrh
and th-, t.ks sold % ~. Or hand raj 20 steady
AZ levseI,s. wen u thsN lsrr No package ih-N
,,us, l,,L out for the skIr' whish goveVer short
III. o,.r ne step and o.. always rrhl- - eaieh sn
sor,s,hinr - 49, hri up \ nan. vith LONGER ler'
,,,,l u1 f,s.kng-, nd ~ sk.u 10 csirh. Walks
.,r,i,rt tovr ~. siep with No need ~ hsn - 20
NAN, 80 ~ women uns-~' NJ 'rfef Ard ch'ldren
IU1t ne uunsn VtN uaeN 10 sgpnn't tlcutrlNr' by
=, t-rt ..iur tHr.T or.N fT's hand Ard the ene
,r.v irf.st ths MOST forced to tHtn toward ihe
,.,, on nsin n di.iatAt'Ig 'hs vr.t You Will &C.
,h., 2 Tho rars were ran on t7s eft hand usrk
tnsr,,I - ~ rlt AU women ~ 81 s1re f-t =
IA ~ - 'r,-i - 80 c,~ g. iont a. they rrr
IN tn, pfs's va' thsv ~surni u
The sun., 1902-05-31
Fors,gn Mates cf Heal Interest.

Count Csro .lnisia coniar'nl who d'"' f''-T''
in Neaiee. - heH-Ned 10 have hr"h '"' '''
ds'rerssn' ~ re sr-N ''ntarnl ''T'.' ~. '.
srh ooes' and fofN iour frHcNf''"i. p.
pHhlr To tfN n'r-, poneh-o '.''f
,ro-, ,n, n 1917 Ard rebuilt ~ uark 'u .'s ...t
torn -. ls- Count vss r-uf'i - Pop N ''
ltsnsn Army and very poor. We o'H'i ' '
N rss throurh the Grand Csnslion
spisr I'D ralsr-. tnat ores belonFed tn b 'h'
A., .r.rpt ~ climb tn. highest MESA - V
,.-.S,. -. .,.,,.,,.,d, $50, rf Jar.'
s"rl.1n,a W. ar. ,rro-rsr.ss rv Su'N'
Guide. Th,y Will h.s,n .-th the Gofv'' Ar''''
The sun., 1902-05-31
Time for .l'nc,c Toms cabin" TO stop.

To rur Fpiror ov THr Srs-Sr N t
long while .ince Con Ice surrendered, and
We are trying 10 forgs, that We lad eneT -
iu the South.
Gen. Wheeler has beer doing his hest -
prove that he i.st Mon mar. Gen. ftishus
Lee i.a warm defender Of the 'onstr
lion and President Roosevelt has said 'ha'
,bsre 10 no more North or south Siil v"
are forever reminding not alone onf-"Nes
but our children. of the cause OF all tho ur-
fortunate srair by continually having p.
proiured thst old, vorn-out, yet "N't-lol.
Tar Uncle Tom. cabin. lusi because th'i"
.eerr. 70 he money in ~
enough 81 H. and p~rhsp. " vIll be topIrl
when there IL ne more money IN 10 or ~
cor rulsion.
about thiss Could ID b~ done legally
PAfgrsoS n J., NAYS rATEKsoNin
The sun., 1902-05-31

sr.,ioa. N lay N. Asnd u ;hs lao upoa
1rensior-
This s.d d~-lret ~ al .-n.ihl- n~n.
that - the sprs.d ~ 40 au'ouaoh,ls
snI The general r,'-'~ntmsnt With v,
viii b. accomplished 'h. Hsrr puickN
q le,tsr. lk. the ons 80 r~t"r 90 are
rar.tully and respectfully h~s'i"'l. m
spite of - unqu.-ti"nshly sNtraNasant
and too pr-Iud,ced views
Nut eur correspondent who writes
With even harshsr f..lins than Mr.
LAwRrSCy. u wrong IN HI. ldea that the
autonobls 10 merely toy ~ wealth. and
.ot q nsesesitv 4 machine that repre-
sents such an immense improvement IN
transportation - the antnnnohlls - not
toy or the luxury % any sps,-sl clsss of
people, but q necessity 81 all In thls
case, as In the common run of others
similar. the pleasure vehicle adapted
only to light loads " the pioneer OF the
heavier vehicles of commerce. our cor
respondent has been anything but sharp
In observation II he hasn't already seen
commercial automobiles.
THs srS of Yesterday reported two
cases Of aprsrently outrageous conduct
on the part of owners Of auton noeilcs, 81
which accidents were the result in both
'css~. Automobilists Of this character
must he punished. not only for the relief
of the public in general, but for tho h>ne-
NJ 81 others who de.irc 90 use the auto
mobile, and whose disposition and breed
ing enable them 40 10 do without losing
sight of other mems rights.