History of
Renville County,
Minnesota
Illustrated
In Two Volumes
By Franklyne Curtis-Wedge , 1916
675 + 701 pages, Illustrated, Indexed, Searchable
- Bonus Book –
Our Minnesota
A History for Children
By Hester McLean
Pollack, 1917
373 pages, Illustrated, Indexed, Searchable
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Digital CD Requires Adobe Reader 7.0 or higher to View (or MAC Preview Ver. 3)
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Renville County is named in honor of Joseph Renville.
The county was the site of several engagements in the Dakota War of 1862.
Renville County also is the birthplace of the Geier
Hitch, a widely known technique of livestock management. For a number of years
the Geier family farmed in Boon Lake Township as well as in Lynn Township in McLeod
County.
TABLE OF CONTENTS – Volume I
CHAPTER I. NATURAL PHENOMENA.
Advantages — Situation and Area — Natural Drainage —
Topograpliy — Altitudes — Soil and Timber — Arehean
Rocks — Gneiss and Granite — Cretaceous Beds — Glacial
and Moditied Drift — Underground Waters — Natural
Resources 1
CHAPTER II. PREHISTORIC INHABITANTS.
Nature's Paradise — The Coming of Man — The Eskimo —The
Mountl Builders — Purpose of the Mounds — Life and
Habits of the Mound Builders — Location of the Mounds
— Excavations and Discoveries 20
CHAPTER III. INDIAN OCCUPANCY AND TREATIES.
The Dakotas — Life. History and Is — Wapetons — Sisse-
tons — Treaties — Visit to Washington — Trealies of Prairie
du Chien — Doty Treaty — Preliminaries to the Pinal
Session — Treaty of Traverse Des Sioux — Ramsey Inves-
tigation — Treaty of 1858 — Agencies and Forts
CHAPTER IV. CLAIM OF TITLE.
Spain — France — England — United States — Louisiana Pur-
cha.se — Louisiana District of Indiana — Louisiana Terri-
tory — Missouri Territory — Michigan Territory — Wiscon-
sin Territory — Iowa Territory — Minnesota Territory —
Minnesota State .. . . 52
CHAPTER V. EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS.
Grosseilliers and Radisson — Hennepin and Duluth —LeSueur
— Carver — Long. Keating and Beltrami — Pembina Ref-
ugees — Catlin — Nicollet and Fremont — Allen — The Mis-
sionaries — The Fur Traders — Chronology — Surveys....64
CHAPTER VI. JOSEPH RENVILLE.
Of Freueh and Indian Blood — Ediu-atcd in Canada —Starts
Life as a Courier — In War of 1812 — Serves as British
Captain — In the Fur Ti-ade — Brings First Seed Corn to
Minnesota — Literary Work — His Triumphant Deatli. ...82
CHAPTER VII RIVER NAVIGATION.
Indian Days on the Minnesota — Maekinaw Boats — Early Voy-
agers — Period of Steam Navigation — Names of Boats
Whicii Reached the Upper Stretches of the River —
Gradual Reduction in River Traftic 88
CHAPTER VIII. LAND OFFICE RECORDS.
Original Claimants to Renville County Land — Roll of Honor
of Those Pioneers Who First Cleared the Laud and
Erected Cabins — Old Settlers Who Braved the Rigors
of Pioneer Endeavor 98
CHAPTER IX. CAUSES OF THE OUTBREAK.
Early Friendship — Dissatisfaction with Treaties —Unjust
Treatment — Inkpadoota Massacre — Officials Demand
that Indians Capture Renegades — Little Crow to the
Rescue — Delayed Payments in 1862 — Indians Starving —
Stupidity of Agent — Indians Turbulent — Marsh and
Sheehan to the Rescne 114
CHAPTER X. THE SIOUX OUTBREAK.
Day Dawns Calm and Beautiful — Church Services — The Rice
Creek Renegades Rob a Plen's Nest — Quarrel Among
Braves as to Their Courage — Killing Starts —Miscreants
Tell Their Story to the Chiefs— Little Crow Bows to the
Inevitable and Reluctantly Consents to Lead His Men to
Battle — General Iassaere Begins — Weeks of Horror —
Battles and Murders — Indians Subdued — Little Crow
Killed— Peace 139
CHAPTER XI. REDWOOD FERRY AMBUSCADE.
Captain ilaisli and His Company Start on Expedition —Fugi-
tives Met — Ferry Reached — Parley with Indian — Con-
cealed Indians Start Firing — Attemjjt to Swim River —
Captain Marsh Drowned — Casualties — Disastrous Result 155
CHAPTER XII. BATTLE OF BIRCH COOLEY.
Second Expedition Sets Out — Encampment at Birch Cooley
— Attacked of the Indians — Heroic Defense — Inaction
of Rescue Part — Relief by Sibley 162
CHAPTER XIII. CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS.
Reminiscence of Minnie Bose Carrigan — Pioneers Arrive
Dawn of Fatal August Morning — Parents Killed —Sisters
Murdered — In the Indian Camp — Meeting Playmates —
Scenes of Cruelty — Arrival of Soldiers — Release —Conclusion 169
CHAPTER XIV. CAPTIVE AMONG THE SIOUX.
Experiences of Mrs. N. I. "White, of Beaver Falls— Unrest
Among the Indians— News of the Uprising — Desperate
Flight. — Capture — Wedge Killed — Henderson Injured —
Mrs. Henderson and Children Burned — Scenes of Horror
— Eugene White Killed — Boy of Twelve Escapes — Cap-
tives Taken to Crow's Village — Life Among the Indians
— Removal — Incidents of the March — Rescue — Camp
Release — Scenes of Delight — Reunion — Retro.spection. . . 195
CHAPTER XV. EARLE'S REMINISCENCES.
Thrilling Experiences of a Boy During the Sioux Massacre —
Beaver Creek Settlement — Pioneer Incidents — Trouble
Brewing — Warned by Squaw — News of the Massacre—
Flight for Safety — Surrounded by Indians — Woman.Chil-
dren and Friend Killed — Women. Children and Wounded
Abandoned Eriekson, Andrew S 507