The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-22
OLD TRAGEDY.
MURDER or THE JEWETT
FAMILY IN 1865 {
Colonel George w. Mead Cor
reefs Some Statements Made
BY Joe Bookwalter

Colonel George w. Mead, veteran
of the Civil war, and man who took
part in the early expeditions against
the Indians in this immediate vicinity
in pioneer days, in the following ar
ticle corrects what he claims to be
some errors in an article which re-
Gently Appeared in Minneapolis
paper in regard to the murder OF the
Jewett family near the city of Man
kato f1fty-f1ve years ago.
my old time friend, Joe Bookwatler
has attempted through the columns
Of the Minneapolis papers to give an
account of the massacre of the half
breed, Campbell on May q 1866, in
the township OF Rapidan, BlNe Earth
county, this state. He Is in error,
where he states that q severe snow
storm was raging the day previous
to the murder, and that the town Of
man who would volunteer to fill their
quota for CONSUMPTION. Another error
is the statement that Mrs. Jewett's
brother enlisted from Rapidan and re-
ceived such bonus and sent 1t to Mr..
Jewett. Rapidan at that time was Fart
Of the Winnebago Indian reserva
ton, and was but thinly settled. and
never offered or voted bonus Of
S40O, or any sum whatever.
Blue Earth Gave Bonus.
BLUE Earth county did give q
bonus of $25 What would the soldiers
of the world war. think OF that? Now
the facts about the murder of the
Jewett family is as follows: Marshall
T. Fall, an officer in Company B,
Brackets Battalion, as had been his
suction, after pay days, sent to Andrew
j.. Jewett the sum of $500 to have
his old friend invest the money for
him. 1t is believed that the half breed
Campbell, who was member of the
same company, in some way learned
of the sending of the money, and soon
afterwards deserted Company B. He
later procured !. the assistance of a
PARTY of Sioux Indians, who accom-
panied him from some point in Dako-
ia, where the members Of Company B
were then stationed to the home of the
Jewetts. - ~.
The morning of May 2, 1865,
dawned bright and beautiful with the
birds singing their morning gladness.
The Jewett family arose as usual
and went about the work Of prepar-
ing breakfast. When this meal had
been prepared they gathered about
the table TO rartake of 1t with no
thoughts OF danger in their minds.
The peaceful family meal was distur-
bed,> however, by the blood curling
war whoop of the redskins under the
feadersip of the breed Campbell, who
bounced upon the happy family and
murdered ALI of it's members with the
exception OF the baby boy, (not Crib
The boy, William Jewett, was toma-
hawked and left for dead, but with
careful nursing recovered. He died a
few years ago III MankAto following an
cident." -.
Lieutenant Fall was not a brother
OF Mrs. Jewett, but was an old time
friend of Mr.. Jewett. They had both
known each other years before in
Boston. OF these things l have a per.
soma! Knowledge, and had q persons
ACQUAINTANCE with all Of the parties
with the excertion Of the breed
Campbell, and was personally ac-
quainted with several members of
Company B, Brackets Battalion. one
OF the boys Of that company being NV
own brother. / have talked with
Lieutenant>Fall on several occasions
Tor the murder of the Newett family
az Mankato by a, drum head court.
about this matter. Campbell was tried
found guilty and sentenced TO be
hanged by the neck until dad. The
rope for this purpose was purchased
before the court convened.-Geor1e
w. Mead. Mankato, Mimi"