The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

wonderful work has since been
wrought in the Dakota reservations.
The missionary had a hard struggle
against the combined obstacles thrown
In his way by the medicine man, the
dissolute soldier, the trader and whis-
ky, but he held on with a persistence
grounded on an invincible faith.
Beginning of the Lumber Trade.
Du Luth in 1880 reached the Mis-
sissippi from Lake Superior by way
of the Bots Brule and the ST. Croix.
This was afterwards a, much travelled
route. In consequence the ST. Croix
valley, with it's splendid growth of
pine, was early known to white men.
The thickening settlements in the lead
mining regions below opened a mar
ket for pine lumber. A demand arose
for access to the st. Croix pineries.
On July 20, 1887, Governor Henry
Dodge, acting as Indian superintend-
ent, negotiated a treaty at Fort Shell
ing with the Chippewas, by which
they coded their lands lying between
the st. Croix and the Mississippi as
far north as the mouth of Crow Wing
river. At noon of the day the treaty
was making, Franklin Steele and three
other gentlemen left Smelling in
birch bark canoe, with eight paddlers.
hours later they had
reached Taylors Falls and were build
ing a. log cabin. In September of the
same year Major Taliaferro went to
with delegation Of Sioux
chiefs, who sold to the United States
all their lands east of the Mississippi.
AS they had little use for these lands,
by virtue Of the Chippeway war par
ties they drove a very good bargain,
getting a half million dollars, of which,
however, they had to surrender 100000
to pay their debts to the traders. These
two treaties were confirmed by the
senate in June, 1888. A month later
the first steamboat for the season
brought the news to Fort Smelling. On
the night following took place the IA
nous foot race of Major Phympton
and Franklin Steele, which resulted in
which ripened into title to the
water power of the Falls Of
st. Anthony east of the middle of
the main channel. Joseph r. Brown
was busy at the same time, stalking out
a city. which Is now included in Still
water. The ten counties lying in the
angle between the Mississippi and the
st. Croix were now white mems coun-
try. This was still included In the ter
ritory of Wisconsin,, and in 1S41 was
organized as st. Croix county. J. R.
Brown represented it in the Wiscon-
sin assembly.
Settlement of St. Paul
During the forties settlers drifted In
In constantly increasing numbers. lun-
bermen on the ST. Croix and Rum riv-
ers, traders and artisans and at length
farmers. In the spring of 1889 the
Red river refugees, ousted by the
United States marshal from the Shell
ing reservation, spread themselves over
the site Of st. Paul and formed the
nucleus of the capitol city. The next
year Father Galtier, a missionary
priest dwelling at Mendoza, built and
dedicated the log chapel which, as he
expected, gave a name to the settle
ment. In 1845 there were thirty fam
lies in st. Paul, about half of them
whites, and English spoken in three or
four. The first postoffice was not
in st. Paul, but at Point Douglas. and
was known as the Lake st. Croix post
office. Saltwater had a fair beginning
in 184S. being behind Taylor's Falls
and Marine. ST. Anthony, slow in the
start, was booming in 1846-47, when
the first great sawmill was built
About the time when, in 1S46, the
Wisconsin enabling act was passed, a
bill was introduced to organize the
territory of Minnesota, which passed
the house, but for q reason not known
was hung up in the senate. wisconsin
was admitted May 20. 1S48, with her
present western boundary, leaving her
old st. Croix county in a novel politi-
cal predicament. There was county
organization. and the people had elect
ed representative to the Wisconsin
territorial legislature. The question at
once arose, did Wisconsin territory,
<aSs ,fs
survive 2" At a mass convention.
which met at saltwater Aug. 26, this
question was answered In the affirma-
tive.
Territorial Organization Formed.
This meeting of the people in
their primary capacity proceeded to
adopt a memorial to congress, praying
for territorial government, and elect
ed Mr.. Sibley their delegate to present
the same. The leaders did not feel
quite sure about their procedure, and
presently took advantage Of the acct
dent that the Wisconsin territorial del
egate to congress had resigned his Of
flee. Thereupon the Hon. John Catlin,
secretary of the territory, was called
on to assume the office of governor
of Wisconsin territory and to order
special election to fill the vacancy. The
election was held on Oct. 80, and Mr..
Slbley was chosen. Under this color
of legitimate election as a territorial
delegate he proceeded to Washington
and filed his credentials. He was on
the right side Of politics, a great figure
in the American Fur company, a mag
nificent specimen Of young manhood,
and he made a telling speech before
the house committee on territories, Sc
curing a favorable report. On Jan. Is,
by a decisive vote, the house resolved
that Henry H. Sibley be admitted to
seat on the floor Of the house of
representatives as delegate from the
territory of Wisconsin" He took his
seat and proceeded at once to the prin-
cipal business for which he had been
elected, that Of obtaining the erection
of new territory. His bill, introduced
in the senate by Senator Stephen A.
Douglass, was passed by that body
CONTINUED on Sixth Page, Historical
Section.)