The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-10

1t has been truthfully said that III
the life of every man and woman
we meet in this journey of life, there
is a good story. If it can be brought
out. This fact was borne out yester-
day, when a representative of The
Free Press met Thomas Smith, a
resident of North Mankato, and a
pioneer of this state. In the course
OF pleasant visit with Mr.. Smith at
the Odd Fellows club rooms he in
cidentally mentioned that he came
to this state with his parents In
1856. This early date in the history
Of Minnesota suggested story, ana
the pioneer was asked several Ques
tions which gradually brought out a
thrilling story of the hardships
through which Mr.. Smiths parents
passed during the Indian trouble OF
1852.
The Smith family first settled
seven miles from Rochester in 1856
and one year later went to Logans-
town, which is now known as Ely
sian. From Elysian we moved to a
point sixty five miles west of New
Ulm. This was in 1857, and for a
time we lived at Dutch Charleys
creek, just following Incapaduta's
massacre Of the whites at Spirit
Lake. Iowa. There was not a store
or trading post nearer than New
Ulm. So you see if a fellow wanted
10 get a chew OF tobacco he. would
have to go sixty five miles for it.
I'm 1859 we moved back to a
point near Fort Ridgely. At that time
that post was one Of the principal
mi for 6rHNfn rfn In
tier. When l was a boy Major Nor
ris Of the Fourth United States Ar
tillery; was the commander at the
tort. Most of the officers at the post
were veterans of the Mexican war.
That was before the Civil War. An
other Of the commanders, Major
Pemberton of company F of the
Fourth, fought many a battle with
the northern soldiers against the
Indians, but when the Civil war
broke out Pemberton threw his for
tunes with the South and later with
the rank of General in the southern
forces was commander in the, battles
in the siege of Vicksburg on the Re-
bel side. Another officer at Fort
Ridgley at that time who threw his
lot in with the South was Lieuten-
ant Hill of Sherman's Battery which
did efficient work at the Minnesota
fort. AS a lad | knew all Of these
men and afterwards had occasion to
become intimately acquainted with
Major Morris then commander at
Fort Ridgley,, for when the Civil war
broke out despite the fact that l
was only twelve years of age went
south with him to Fort McHenry
near Baltimore as orderly. He en-
tered the service In the south with
the rank of general. l lived in Fort
McHenry nearly four years. coula
plainly hear the roar of the battle OF
Gettysburg while that terrible con-
fict was raging. H.
During my absence in the south,
dreadful things were happening back
at my old home In Minnesota. 1t was
during my absence that my father,
the late Thomas Smith, ST., took a
claim near the present village of
Franklin. Mimi, in 1862 He had
been member of the Second Mimi
esota Regiment, but was invalided
home on account of rheumatism and
was finally honorably discharged
claim near where Franklin now
stands. With a prairie schooner my
father took most Of our family effects
and my mother and five year old Sis
ter and brother On the seventeenth
of August 1852 to the claim. The
weather was terrible hot, and on
the trip out father left some live
stock near Three Mile Creek not far
from Fort Ridgley and planned to
return for them early next morning,
so that they could be driven to the
claim in the cool of the day Mother
and my five year old sister, were
left back on the claim, where they
used the covered wagon as a home
When a younger brother and my
father reached point about three
or four miles southeast Of the ferry
at the lower agency they were met
by a Frenchman who told them that
the Indians were killing all of the
people at the agency. My father and
brother Immediately started back
for the claim where my mother and
sister were left at the wagon. On thu
way back one of the Magner boys