The Mankato free press., 1903-08-07
SHOULD MARK The SPOT
Historic Ground Where Occurred Treaty
of Traverse des Sioux.
Party of Gentlemen Visit the Famous
Place Yesterday Afternoon.
Relics of the Past Are Still Standing
BY the Roadside.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
Standing upon the spot where the
treaty of the Traverse des Sioux took
place more than half a century ago, one
cannot help but bring to mind what that
historic event meant for the future of
| this great northwest. By the signing of
that treaty millions of acres of the
choicest land the sun ever shone upon
were ceded to the United States govern
ment, and within the fifty years it has
been settled upon by an energetic peo-
pie and from the soil has been extracted
wealth in abundance. Such historic
ground should be marked by an appro-
pirate monument. Comparatively few
people realize what that treaty did for
the northwest. 1t opened to settlement a
vast domain-an empire. 1t paved the
way for advancing civilization and made
possible the greatness of the common
wealth of Minnesota. History does not
record such another picturesque scene as
that which was enacted at Traverse des
Sioux in 1851. 1t was the mapping out
of a new era for the territory west of the
Mississippi, the throwing down of the
bars to the rugged pioneer who came
from the east to open up new country
to those who had faith in its future
Fifty years and more have passed away
since the treaty was signed by the rep
resentatives of the government and the
several chiefs of the tribes of redmen
who roamed over this expanse years be-
fore paleface ever set foot upon the
virgin soil. Within that half century
this commonwealth has achieved much of
which it has right to be proud. 1t has
become great state-one of the great
est in the sisterhood of states. Yet dur
ing all this time, while her people have
been polishing out of the rough the star
which shines so brightly in the grand
galaxy of stars, they have overlooked the
marking of spots which are hallowed by
events and scenes, picturesque in their
grandeur and of more than passing i'm
portance in their character. But it is
not too late to pay the debt.
The exact spot of the Traverse des
Sioux treaty is not difficult of identified
ton. Yesterday party of gentlemen from
Mankato and st. Peter stood upon the
ground where Governor Ramsey and the
other government representatives met
the Indians and where for several days
the negotiations were under way and
finally carried to completion. In those
days when civilization met savagery the
land was untitled, and to the south of
the place where the great pow WOW oc-
Cured was an Indian and French burying
ground. Today the corn waves and
bends to the breeze which sweeps over
the knoll not quarter of a mile from
the Minnesota river. 1t is an ideal spot
for monument that could be surround
ed by Natures rich green mating, shrub
berry and artifces which go to beautify.
The party that visited the place yes
terday was made up of Gen. j. III. Baker,
Senator A. o. Eberhart, Thomas Hughes
and j. E. Reynolds of Mankato; Sena-
tor johnson, Hon. John A. johnson, III.
Roundsville, Lewis Robert and Judge
Henry Moll of st. Peter. In order to
reach the location one must pass through
historic Traverse des Sioux, and here
he is reminded of Goldsmith's deserted
village" Once upon a time Traverse
des Sioux was of some Importance on
the rude map of early Minnesota. Now
it is but memory. In driving along the
road your companion, who is more ia
miliar with early history, points out the
relics of an unforgotten past. They are
not derelicts among the sands of time,
but are interesting objects because of the
long-ago memories that cluster about
them. Your companion grows reminis-
cent, the mind is allowed to stray back
into years and he relates incidents out
of quaint and curious volumes of lore.
To the right is the old mansion formerly
owned by Judge Flandreau, built in the
early COS. 1t is unpainted, a mute wit
ness of by-gone days. There are those
who recall with what oratorical flour
ishes Mr.. Flandreau did tell all who came
that way of the promising future OF
Traverse des Sioux. Wiser heads were
shaken in dissent and passed on. Pres
emily the old mission school house is
reached A one-story building erected
long before the writer saw the light OF
this blessed world This school house
served well its purpose as far back as
in 1916. In later years Gen. j. II. Baker
delivered political speeches in 1T, and
made the four walls resound with his
fervid eloquence. OFF on another road,
but vet a step across the field, stands
the old Presbyterian church where Rev.
Adams in those long-ago times preached
the word of the Lord. Now 1T is used
for slaughter house. To what base
uses is the house of God put. A little
further on, not far from where the
Minnesota river winds its way among
the trees, lies all that remains OF what
was once the three story brick building
in which Nathan Myrick conducted
store and where the Indians did their
trading before the treaty became reali-
tv. Here and there can be seen house
of ancient lienage. Probably the oldest
of them all is that one built by Mr..
Spencer. 1t is fashioned after the
style of southern plantation dwellings.
Arriving at the spot of the treaty
YOU at once feel a sort of reverence for
it. From the river the land gradually
rises and upon the second and third
benches were pitched the tepees of the
Indians. The platform where the nego-
tiations were held was built on the
second, and here can be secured an ex-
cellent view of the Minnesota below and
the high bluffs in the distance. 1t
is a pretty spot, and romantic. The
view obtained is excellent, furnishing
rich material for the canvass, could the
artist paint in colors. The south end of
the ground is fringed with sumacs and
these furnish the guiding line to a ravine
which stretches its way to the river. The
party made thorough inspection of the
place, and while they were walking about