The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-06-27
State Society
COnvenes Here
HISTORIC SOCIETY HOLDS
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING
HERE FRIDAY.
FINE PROGRAMS GIVEN.
7. CHRISTIANSON TALKS; DIR
FOLWELL'S PAPER READ. MANY
OTHER GOOD THINGS.

rOLW ELL > PAPER READ. MANY
OTHER GOOD THINGS.
The second State Historical Conven-
ti0n held under the auspices of the
Minnesota Historical Society opened
An Redwood Falls Thursday mornln, all
sessions held in the armory. The
meeting was opened by an address
of welcome given by DIR. William A
Brand of Redwood Falls. Guy Stan
ton Ford of the university of Min
nesota responded.
Lester Burren Shippee of the Uni
yersity read paper on the Fisk
Expeditions To The Gold Country. He
told of the several expeditions or
ganized to go west in search of gold
The first two were comparatively un-
eventful but the third which left Min
neapolis in 1864 was not so success
ful. About five hundred miles from
their starting point the wagon train
was halted because of repeated warn
1ngs Of danger from hostile Indians.
Captain Fisk and one of his party
pushed on farther west and discov-
cred vast quantities of gold, the exact
location of which is not known. Being
attacked by Indians they returned to
their party to find that they, too, were
having trouble with hostiles. The ex-
pedition returned home and the fabu-
lous "gOld mountain" described by
Fisk was never rediscovered.
Capt. Fred A. Bill of st Paul told
of the early navigation on the Red
River of the North. In 1857 Captain
Blakeiy was sent out by the Chamber
of Commerce of St. Paul to report on
the possibilities of water transporta-
tion on the Red River. He brought
back satisfactory report and after
many difficulties boat was launched
and freight service commenced. Num-
erous companies were organized but
the larger ones consolidated into the
Red River Transportation Company
and the smaller companies were crowd
ed out. River transportation between
Breckenridge and Winnipeg was an ac-
tive enterprise until early in the
twentieth century when it was discon-
tinued.
At this point the meeting adjourned
Tor an informal luncheon where a dis
cussion was held as to the feasibility
of organizing Redwood County His
torical Society.
The luncheon was held in the base
nent Of the Church of Saint Catherine
and the first feature of it was the
splendid three course menu served by
the women of the church. Following
the luncheon program of short and
Informal talks was given with H. A.
Baldwin of Redwood Falls acting as
toastmaster. The principal speakers
were DR.. Solon Buck of the State His
torical Society and Congressman
Frank Clague of Redwood Falls both
of whom spoke on the desirability of
Redwood County Historical Society.
Mrs. M. j. Bowling of Olivia, and
County Agent Lynn Sheldon and Mrs.
Bess M. Wilson of Redwood Falls gave
short talks. At the close of the meet
ing it was voted by residents of Red
wood County then present that H. A.
Baldwin should appoint committee
to organize a county society. The
names of this committee will be an
nounced later.
The luncneon was the only social
gathering of the meeting, taking the
place of the customary banquet and
proving an enjoyable meeting of
townspeople and the visitors. The
elaborate and delicious dinner served
made the ocassion a real banquet and
brought many comments of praise for
the women who had prepared it.
The afternoon session was opened
by paper on the subject of "Minne-
sota's Contribution to the Spanish
American War" delivered by Frank
lin F. Holbrook of the Minnesota War
Records Commission. He gave in part
the immediate causes of the war and
told how company was organized
at Redwood Falls under the leader
ship OF, Judge j. H. Bowers. The Min
nesota regiments were first drilled at
Camp Ramsey which is now the loca-
Won of the Minnesota State Fair
Grounds. Minnesota had the distinc-
tion of being the first state to have
its full quota mustered in Numer-
Gus welfare societies came into ex-
istence for the aid of the men at the
front. In this connection the Wom-
ems Relief Corps of Redwood Falls
raised funds through the aid of bene-
+ fit socials in order to give the Min
nesota soldiers some of the necessities
required. Mr.. Holbrook spoke of the
active part taken by Senator Davis of
Minnesota both during the war and in
the drawing up of treaty of peace
In this war 8,498 Minnesota men took
rart, 133 of them losing their lives
during the conflict.
The next paper was given by w
M. Babcock of the Minnesota His
torical Society on the subject of Claw
renee Taliaferro and Indian Affairs
at the st. Peters Agency, 1820-184O:'
. He mentioned the expedition of Lewis
Continued on last page)
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