The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1936-01-23
/ Third Historical Account
Deals With Events in
Settlement Period

The Sioux were identified al
most exclusively with Redwood
county after the settlement peri
cd. The first explorers had found
them in the northern part Of The
state, still living in the Stone Age
using stone axes, hammers, and
other implements and weapons.
Since Indian knowledge of gene
alogy is hazy, little is known de-
finitely of the post-Columbian
tribes that lived in this section. 1t
is known that the Iowas, among
other tribes, at one time lived in
this region.
In the years just prior TO 1850
| the Chippewa, armed with guns
obtained from the white traders,
invaded the northern part of the
state from the Lake Superior re-
gion and steadily pushed the
Sioux southwark. In the early
part of the nineteenth century the
Sioux still chung to areas in The
northern part of the state and for
| some years were able to force
Chippewa bands to pay tribute for
wild rice harvested. In 1925 the
government interceded in the feud
between the Sioux and Chippewa
and a boundary line extending I'M
evenly across the state some dis
lance north of the upper Mime
sofa valley was fixed.
But this line was not respected
by either tribe and clashes occur
red frequently. Hunting parties Of
Sioux venturing over the bound
airy frequently were attacked by
Chippewa and usually several
scalps were taken. The Sioux :e-
taliated and history records that
battles occurred in the first nalf
of the nineteenth century within
the present limits of Minneapolis
and St. Paul. The last battle Of
ecord between the tribes took
place near Shakopee, May &c,
1853. In that clash several were
killed on each side. The Sioux
and at Shakopee was forced 10
leave after the battle.
Until 1851 virtually all of Min
nesota was Indian country"
While various ''orders" and e
strictive measures designed to go
vern the conduct of the Indian
were promulgated at different
lines, it appears that authority
extended but a short distance
from the bounds of Fort Smell
ing. But after the signing of he
treaty at Traverse DIES Sioux by
he terms of which the Sioux red
! ID to the government vast area
IN Minnesota, including Redwood
county, one clause in the treaty
| provided for the segregation O.
large number of Sioux IN ne
state on a reservation along ne
upper Minnesota liver.
The Traverse des Sioux treaty
and another made the same year,
in August, at Pilot Knob, .prOvid-
ed for the reservation area which
originally comprised 10-acre
strip on each side of the Minneco-
ia from Big Stone Lake 20 he
Little Rock river near Fort
Ridgely. Although the Sioux on
the reservation were expected 20
learn the white mans ways end
gradually prepare himself for a
status at least approaching citi-
zenship many factors operated 20
interfere with the processes Of
transformation. Important among
these were corrupt practices OF
traders and some government Of
! icials.
The Indians were permitted 20
leave the reservation to nunt and
occasionally they encountered
Chippewa. There are records of
clashes between the tribes in Nc
Iced and Meeker counties IN he
late sos. But the failure Of gov
eminent agents to carry out the
treaty terms and adverse natural
conditions that caused the reser-
walton Indians to be threatened
with starvation were factors that
helped to bring about the upris-
ing of 1862.
Since part of the reservation
lay within the borders of Red
wood county the history Of The
uprising forms an important
part in the county's records. The
story of the administration of the