The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-07-14

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west were carried forward chiefly
by English-speaking explorers.
The first traveller and author visit
ing and describing Minnesota after
France lost her American posses
sions was Jonathan Carver, who was
born in 1882, in Canterbury, Connec-
ticut. He was a lieutenant, and
afterward a captain, in the French
and Indian War during the years
1857 to 1863. When peace was de-
clared and Canada coded to the Eng
fish, Carver began to consider" as
he says in the introduction of his
book of Travels, how he might con-
tinue still serviceable and contribute,
as much as lay in my power. to make
that vast acquisition Of territory,
gained by Great Britain, in North
America advantageous to it," He
resolved to explore the most un-
known parts Of Canada, as he fur
Their tells US, and hoped to cross the
continent to the Pacific oc can.
Starting from Boston in June.
1866, Carver travelled to the strait
of Mackinaw and Green Bay, and
thence, by the canoe route of the
Fox, Wisconsin and Mississippi riv-
ers. to the area Of Minnesota. He
spent the following winter in the
Minnesota valley, with tribes of the
Sioux near the site Of New Ulm, as
shown by his map. At his return
east, begun in the spring of 1857. he
made treaty, as it may be called,
with two of the Sioux chiefs, who
formally granted to him a large
tract of land on the east side of the
Mississippi river, including the area
of the present city of St. Paul.
On the Threshold, as it seemed,
of the attainment of his hopes for
discoveries in the far west, Carver
was obliged to turn back. His sup
ply Of goods, to be used as presents
to the Indian tribes among whom he
hoped to travel to the Pacific, must
be replenished. Therefore he jour-
neyed back to Prairie du Chen, and
thence, by the route of the Chippe-
wa river and the head streams of
the St. Croix, to Lake Superior and
/ to the Grand Portage on its north
west side. But he was unable to
purchase sufficient goods from the
traders and voyagers either at
Prairie du Chen or the Grand Port
age, and reluctantly gave up his
purpose of penetrating farther west.
He continued his return eastward
by way of the Great Lakes, and ar
rived in Boston in October, 1853,
having occupied nearly two years
and half in this expedition.
Soon afterwards Carver sailed to
England, where he spent the remain
der of his life. In accordance with
his petition, he received from the
British government a reimburse
ment of the expenses of the eXplora-
tons; but he was required to supply
for the colonial archives, at much
personal cost and without recon-
pense, all his original maps and man.
uscripts relating to these travels,
after they had been placed in the
hands of the publisher.
When this work was finally issued
in 1778, it brought to Carver little
or no financial benefit. Two years
later, overcome by sickness and by
anxiety to provide for his wife and
children, he died Jan. 81, 178O, in
the city of London.
Carver learned somewhat of the
language Of the Sioux. The great
prairie plains of this region Of south
western Minnesota, over which he
hunted with these Indians, he writes:
according to their account, are un-
bounded, and probably terminate on
the coast of the Pacific ocean"
From the Indians he learned of the
River Oregon, or the River of the
West, that falls into the Pacific
ocean at the straits of Amman"
This is the earliest record of this
river and its name, now borne by
the state.
LONGS EXPEDITION.
More than half a century again
rolled away, while hunters and fur
traders went up and down the Min
Il