New Ulm review., 1903-06-10
FAMOUS TRADER DIES.
Nathan Myrick, Noted Frontiersman, Pas
ses Away in st. Paul.

1 Nathan Myrick, famous as a from.
tiersman and one of the most promi-.
nent figures in the early history Of
Minnesota, died at his home in ST.
Paul last Wednesday night. Mr.. Ny.
rick was eighty-one years of age and
had beenin poor health for three years.
He suffered from enlargement of the
heart and the endwas induced by catch
ing a severe cold. Several times he
rallied, but during a sinking spell his
hold upon life relaxed and he passed
quietly and peacefully away.
Mr.. Myrick is said to have been the.
best preserved and most widely ac-
quainted of all the Minnesota pio-
neers. He was also among the earliest
of the pathfnders, having spend over
sixty years of a long and energetic life
in assisting to build up the west. De-
ceased was born in Westford, N. Y,
July 7, 1922, and when nineteen years
of age came west and settled in Prairie
du Chen, Wis. Several enterprises in
which he embarked proved unpro-
ductive but when his money was almost
exhausted he hit upon the plan of
trading with the Indians and thereby
paved the way to successful career.
His first venture was made opposite
the site of the present city of La Crosse,
Wis, and in 1912 he erected the first
cabin in the town. He laid out the city
practically as it is today, caused it to
be named La Crosse and was appoint
ed its first postmaster. For six years
he made his home there ahd then, in
l848, moved to St. Paul, making that
place the headquarters for a chain of
trading posts which he established at
the Redwood agency, St. Peter, S aux
Center, Sauk Rapids, Itasca, Big Stone
Lake, Fort Seward, Fort Ransom,
Yellow Stone, the Winnebago agency
and other points.
During the Sioux outbreak of 1862
Myrick suffered heavy financial loss
and one of his stores, that at the Red
wood agency, was literally the scene
of the opening of the uprising. AT that
time bewas associa ated with his brother,
Andrew J. Myrick and S.. B. Carrie,
A. J. Myrick managing the Redwood
post in person. The latter had assist
ing him as clerk Hon. James w W.Lynd,
then member of the senate and one of
the leading men of the new state.
When the savages had completely
mapped out their bloody program,
one of their number entered the My
rick post and shot Senator Lynd dead,
he being the first man slaughtered. A
few moments later A. J. Myrick was
slain, his head being severed from his
body and the corpse being fearfully
mutilated. At this time Nathan My
rick was on his way to Fort Ridgely
from St. Paul, and he thus escaped
the carnage which followed. All of his
stores were destroyed, however, and his
losses aggregated fully 100000.
In New Ulm there are many of the
older settlers who had a personal
acquaintance with and distinct re-
collection of Mr.. Myrick. They know
him to have been a man of staunch and
sturdy character and of great force and
| strength of mind. He was a leader
among class of strong men and a
typical representa- of the hard-work-
ing, ,hard-fighting pioneers who braved
hardship and wrested their homes from
the wilderness. Three children, Will
lam Myrick, Mrs. J. N. ShepardAand
Mrs. Champion Brown, all of st. Paul,
survive him.