The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-09-10

The st. Paul Dispatch has been
running a series of articles on Min
nesota History under the heading OF
Gopher Trails" Ely is No. 73 In
the wnte-up. We attach the Dis
patch article as gEen by staff cor
respondent, with illustrations:
Ely, Mimi, Aug. 24-There Is a
wilderness in Minnesota that for UNI
counted centuries has been land of
peace. To tell its tale one need not
use the name of any man ner group
of men. For in the vastness of its
forest reach, by the very grandeur
of it's massive si1ences Nature has
shamed to insignificancs the puny
deeds of mankind.
1t is a tract that knows no boun-
Diary line of man-built empire. Two
million acres of its span lie within
the territory known by Minnesota's
name, and twice that area stands on
the Dominion side.
Within that space is lavished ev-
cry lQssst charm, lakes end to end,
whose placid waters murmur ever of
repose while on their banks grow
stately pines that measure age by
centuries.
1t has become an asylum and
refuge place for all the denizens of
the earth that live, and living know
of fear and trial and need for rest.
The forest beasts live in its fast
nseses, bear, deer and moose that
feel within it's glades security from
the huntsmen's guns. And even
man has sought its peace to tarry
for a time beyond the reach of bust
ness stress.
They come each summer from
East and West and South, men worn
with the strife of life to seek in the
vast cathedral of the pines COM
munion with a woodland deity, to
gain again an unwafped perspec-
tive of the worth of things.
And then when autumn comes
they leave refreshed, filled with q
vigor that is youth renewed, for in
the weeks beneath the wild's en-
chanting spell where grown up boys
play Indian, they have indeed been
lads again and found the magic
fount that was the quest in years
gone by of aging noblemen of Spain.
At Ely is the gateway to this
realm where reign the gods OF
Natures own serenity. Strangely
prophetic seems now the name which
was bestowed on the town, a name
borne by a man of peace whose mis-
sion was. almost hundred years
ago, to bring to Indians the story
of the Cross.
To Minnesota IN 1892.
Edmund F. Ely came to Mime
sofa in 1882. His was young en-
thusiast that questioned not that
the tale he brought would win the
tribesmen from their ways of war.
He Joined the year he came, another
missionary, William T. Boutwell,, in
striving with the Pillagers, then liv-
ing on the shores of Leech lake, fol-
the welfare of their souls.
What discouragements they met
among this tribe are half revealed
by Boutwel's abandonment of the
Leech lake mission in 1888. Ely
himself had left the Pillaeer station
in 1884 to take up school worl
among the Chippewas at Sandy lake
where he attempted to inculcat'
gospel doctrine principally by sons
services, a plan which met with con
Later Rev. Mr.. Ely was stationed
at Fon du Lac, and in 1888 becamt
a member of the mission group a
Pokegama lake in Pine county. l
was here within the next few year
that the efforts of the white mis-
sionaries among the Chippewas wer.
concentrated and hope was enter
taNed that permanent results woult
be achieved. The nucleus of /:
church was formed and a consider
able colony of Indians settled about
War Kills Hopes.
But in 1843 an upfaring of tn
old hatred between the Sioux AM
the Chippewas made battle seem
of the Pokegama settlement an,
after three years Of intermitten
warfare, the Chippewas abandonea
the place for a better defensive Ii ca
ton further north. The mission
was abandoned and Rev. Mr.. Ely,
is believed, went at that time to tn,
vicinity of the city which now bear
his name.
II he souah a place of peac
where he might preach to the Chip
pewas undisturbed by the battle
din, no more satisfactory site coul
have been found in Minnesota, &C
cording to the tribal legend whicl
is the history of the region.
For never, according to Indial
lore, has there ever been confiic