Fifty Years In The Northwest
service of the American Fur Company at Mackinaw. In 1834 he came to
the mouth of St. Peter's river, to the post afterward known as
Mendota, as the agent of the American Fur Company. He made the journey
from Prairie du Chien, a distance of nearly three hundred miles, on
horseback. At that time there was but a single civilized habitation on
the way. In 1836 he built a stone house at Mendota, the first in
Minnesota, in which he resided twenty-four years. This house is still
standing. He continued to act as agent for the American Fur Company
until called to act as delegate to Congress for Wisconsin Territory
west of the St. Croix, in 1848. Mr. Sibley, when elected, was a
citizen of Mendota, Clayton county, Iowa, but the question of
citizenship was not raised. He was recognized as the ablest and best
representative that could be chosen for the difficult task of securing
the organization of Minnesota Territory. In this he was successful.
In the fall of 1849 he was re-elected as a delegate from the new
territory he had been instrumental in forming, and served in that
capacity until March 4, 1853, rendering the Territory important
services. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Minnesota territorial
legislature from Dakota county, and in 1857 was a member and president
of the Democratic wing of the constitutional convention. On the
admission of Minnesota as a state he was elected governor, taking his
seat May 24, 1858. His term expired Jan. 1, 1860. Aug. 19, 1862, his
successor, Gov. Ramsey, appointed him commander of the forces sent to
quell the Sioux outbreak. He marched with his command in pursuit of
the Indians, defeating them in several skirmishes and battles,
releasing 250 captives held by them and capturing about 2,000
prisoners, over 400 of whom were tried by court martial and sentenced
to be hanged. Of this number thirty-eight were executed at Mankato,
Dec. 26, 1862, President Lincoln having pardoned the remainder. Col.
Sibley was commissioned brigadier general for his gallant services,
and retained in command of the frontier. In 1863 he led another
expedition into the Indian country, driving the hostiles across the
Missouri river, and returning to Fort Snelling in September. The years
1864 and 1865 were employed in securing the defense of the frontier.
Nov. 29, 1865, Gen. Sibley was commissioned major general for
efficient and meritorious services. He continued in the service until
August, 1866, when he was relieved of his command and detailed as a
member of the commission to negotiate treaties with the hostile Sioux
and other bands on the Upper Missouri river.
In 1871 Gen. Sibley was elected to represent the Fifth ward, St. Paul,
in the legislature. He became a resident of St. Paul in 1862, but, in
company with Louis Robert and A. L. Larpenteur, had entered land for
the town site there as early as 1854.
Gen. Sibley has been for several years president of the Gas Company,
director of the First National Bank, director of the Sioux City
railway, etc. He has at different times filled other responsible
positions; has been park commissioner, president of the Historical
Society, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and was once the
candidate of his party for Congress, but unsuccessful. He has
contributed many valuable papers to the State Historical Society and
has written much on topics relating to the welfare of the State, of
which, with the exception of his personal friend, W. T. Boutwell, he
is now the oldest resident.
Gen. Sibley, for his integrity, persistent devotion to the welfare of
the State, for his indomitable persistence in upbuilding its
interests, has won a lasting place in the confidence and respect of
the people. His history is inseparably interwoven with the history of
the State, and he is justly regarded as one of its first and best
citizens. The town and county of Sibley bear his name.
He was married May 2, 1843, to Sarah J., sister of Frank Steele. Mrs.
Sibley died May 21, 1869, much respected for her many virtues and rare
accomplishments.
ALEXANDER RAMSEY, the first territorial governor of Minnesota, was
born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1815. His paternal
ancestors were Scotch-Irish. His mother was of German descent. His
parents were Thomas and Elisabeth (Kelker) Ramsey. His father was an
officer in the war of 1812, and died when the son was but ten years
old. Frederic Kelker, an uncle, assisted in the education of the son,
who in turn assisted as salesman in the store of his uncle. At the age
of eighteen he entered Lafayette College; at Easton, Pennsylvania;
attended college but a short time, when he commenced the study of law
with Hon. Hamilton Alricks, of Harrisburg, graduating afterward in the
law school at Carlisle, and commenced the practice of law in 1839. He
commenced his political life in 1840, the year of the Harrison
campaign, and was made secretary of the electoral college. In 1841 he
was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania house of representatives. He
was in the lower house of Congress from 1843 to 1846, and was
renominated for a third term, but declined. In 1848 he was made
chairman of the Whig state central committee, and the following year
was appointed governor of the newly formed territory of Minnesota by
President Taylor. He entered upon his duties as governor in May, 1849.
The territorial government was organized in June, and the governor
issued his proclamation establishing three judicial districts, and
providing for the election of members of the first legislature. He
served as governor four years. In 1855 he was elected mayor of St.
Paul. In 1857 he was candidate for governor of the State, but was not
elected. He was elected to that office in 1859, and re-elected in
1861. In 1863, before the expiration of his second term, he was
elected to the United States senate, and re-elected in 1869. March 4,
1875, he accepted the position of secretary of war in the cabinet of
President Hayes, and for a time was acting secretary of the navy. In
1883 he was appointed chairman of the Utah commission under the
Edmunds bill.
In the various departments of public service to which he has been
called, Gov. Ramsey has acquitted himself well, displaying rare
qualities of statesmanship. He is remarkable for his caution, which
leads him sometimes almost into conservatism, but results have
generally proved the sagacity of his apparently tardy movements. He is
a master in the exercise of a wise caution in the conduct of public
affairs. He has, in fact, great political sagacity. He has made
several favorable treaties with the Indians, being empowered during
his term as governor to act also as superintendent of Indian affairs.
During his two terms as state governor, he rendered the country great
service by his prompt response to the calls for volunteers and his
decisive and unwavering support of the general government. He also
acted with great promptness and resolution in the suppression of the
Indian outbreak. As a senator he supported all measures for the
prosecution of the war for the preservation of the Union; advocated
the abolition of the franking privilege and assisted in procuring aid
for the building of the Northern Pacific railroad, favoring the
project of three trunk lines between the Mississippi and the Pacific
States and the general plan of aiding these roads by the donation of
alternate sections of public land, and was also active in promoting
the improvement of the Upper Mississippi and navigable tributaries.
In person Gov. Ramsey is a hale, hearty, and well preserved gentleman,
who is passing gracefully into what with many is the season of the
sere and yellow leaf. He is genial and pleasant in his manners, and
would impress the ordinary observer as one whose "lines have fallen in
pleasant places," and who is the happy possessor of a good digestion,
a serene temper and a clear conscience.
On Sept. 10, 1845, he was married to Anna Earl Jenks, daughter of Hon.
Michael H. Jenks, for many years judge of Bucks county, Pennsylvania,
a lady of rare accomplishments, and in every way fitted to shine in
the society into which she was introduced as the wife of a governor,
senator and cabinet officer. In private life she was not less noted
for her kindness of heart, amiability and christian virtues. This
estimable lady died in 1883, leaving a daughter, Marion, the wife of
Charles Elliott Furness, of Philadelphia.
MAJ. WM. H. FORBES was born on Montreal island, Canada, Nov. 3, 1815.
His father was a Scotchman by birth, and was a member of the Hudson
Bay Company as early as 1785. Maj. Forbes was educated at Montreal,
where he also served an apprenticeship at the hardware business, and
afterward became junior partner in the same establishment. At that
time Montreal was the chief depot of supplies for the Indian trade of
the Northwest, and the reports which continually came to him of that
romantic region, together with the sight of the Indians and voyageurs
returning with their furs, so excited his love of adventure that he
resigned his position as partner in the hardware business and accepted
a clerkship with the American Fur Company. John Jacob Astor was then
president. The conditions were that the clerk should speak and write
the French language, which Mr. Forbes could do with facility. Having
engaged as clerk, his outfit was conveyed in bark canoes from
Montreal, in charge of fifty men enlisted for a three years' cruise.
Their route lay by way of the lakes to La Pointe, on Lake Superior,
and up the Brule river, from which the canoes and baggage were carried
across to the waters of the St. Croix, and descended thence to the
Mississippi. From the Sault Ste. Marie to La Pointe they were
transported on one of the company's schooners. They arrived at Mendota
in 1837. Gen. Sibley was then in charge at Mendota. Mr. Forbes clerked
for him ten years, and in 1847 took charge of an establishment
belonging to the company (called the St. Paul Outfit), and became a
resident of St. Paul until his death, twenty-eight years later. Mr.
Forbes was a member from St. Paul of the first territorial council,
and served four terms. In March, 1853, he was appointed postmaster at
St. Paul by President Pierce, and held the office three years. In 1853
he also formed a business partnership with Norman W. Kittson for the
general supplying of the Indian trade. In 1858 Mr. Kittson retired
from the firm, but the business was continued by Maj. Forbes until
1862, when the Indian outbreak put an end to the trade. During the
campaign he served as a member of Gen. Sibley's staff, and acted as
provost marshal at the trial of the three hundred Indians condemned to
death. At the close of this campaign he was commissioned by President
Lincoln commissary of subsistence in the volunteer service with the
rank of captain. He was elected auditor of Ramsey county in 1863, and
served two years, though sometimes absent on military duty. In 1864 he
was ordered to the district of Northern Missouri as chief commissary,
remained two years and was breveted major. In 1871 he was appointed
Indian agent at Devil's Lake reservation, which position he held at
the time of his death, July 20, 1875.
Maj. Forbes was twice married; first in 1846, to Miss Agnes, daughter
of Alexander Faribault, by whom he had one daughter, the wife of Capt.
J. H. Patterson, United States Army; again in 1854, to Miss A. B.
Cory, of Cooperstown, New York, by whom he had four children, three of
whom are living.
HENRY M. RICE.--The family of Mr. Rice came originally from
Hertfordshire, England, to Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1638. Members of
the family figured conspicuously in the struggle for American
independence. His parents were Edmund and Ellen Durkee Rice. His