The Life and Times of Cloud Man a Dakota Leader Faces His Changing World
RAMSEY COUNTY All Under $11,000— The Growing Pains of Two ‘Queen Amies’ A Publication o f the Ramsey County Historical Society Page 25 Spring, 2001 Volume 36, Number 1
The Life and Times of Cloud Man A Dakota Leader Faces His Changing World
George Catlin’s painting, titled “Sioux Village, Lake Calhoun, near Fort Snelling.” This is Cloud Man’s village in what is now south Minneapolis as it looked to the artist when he visited Lake Calhoun in the summer of 1836. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr. See article beginning on page 4. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Executive Director Priscilla Farnham Editor Virginia Brainard Kunz
RAMSEY COUNTY Volume 36, Number 1 Spring, 2001 HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Howard M. Guthmann CONTENTS Chair James Russell 3 Letters President Marlene Marschall 4 A ‘Good Man’ in a Changing World First Vice President Cloud Man, the Dakota Leader, and His Life and Times Ronald J. Zweber Second Vice President Mark Dietrich Richard A. Wilhoit Secretary 25 Growing Up in St. Paul Peter K. Butler All for Under $11,000: ‘Add-ons,’ ‘Deductions’ Treasurer The Growing Pains of Two ‘Queen Annes’ W. Andrew Boss, Peter K. Butler, Norbert Conze- Bob Garland mius, Anne Cowie, Charlotte H. Drake, Joanne A. Englund, Robert F. Garland, John M. Harens, Rod Hill, Judith Frost Lewis, John M. Lindley, George A. Mairs, Marlene Marschall, Richard T. Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from Murphy, Sr., Richard Nicholson, Linda Owen, Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H. Cowie, Jr. Marvin J. Pertzik, Glenn Wiessner, Laurie Zenner. and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon EDITORIAL BOARD John M. Lindley, chair; James B. Bell, Henry Blodgett, Thomas H. Boyd, Thomas C. Buckley, Mark Eisenschenk, Pat Hart, Thomas J. Kelley, Tom Mega, Laurie Murphy, Richard H. Nichol A Message from the Editorial Board son, G. Richard Slade. his issue of Ramsey County History opens with a groundbreaking biography and analy HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Tsis of the Mdewakanton Dakota leader Cloud Man (Mahpiyawicasta). Written by Mark Dietrich, an author and historian who has published extensively about Native American Elmer L. Andersen, Olivia I. Dodge, Charlton Dietz, William Finney, William Fallon, Otis peoples in Minnesota in the nineteenth century, this study provides as detailed an account as Godfrey, Jr., Robert S. Hess, D. W. “Don” is possible of Cloud Man’s life and his work with the Dakota in encouraging his kinsmen to Larson, George Latimer, Joseph S. Micallef, adopt the farming practices of the white pioneers in the 1830s. Robert Mirick, Marvin J. Pertzik, J. Jerome Although the records that survive from this time are fragmented and not as extensive as Plunkett, James Reagan, Rosalie E. Wahl, we would like, Dietrich gives us a compelling portrait of Cloud Man as a leader who truly Donald D. Wozniak. labored for the best interests of the Dakota people, as he understood those interests. Con RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISIONERS fronted by the dwindling game population in the area around Fort Snelling and the possible Commissioner Rafael Ortega, chairman starvation of the Dakota living near Lake Calhoun, especially during the winter months, Commissioner Susan Haigh Cloud Man was willing to try the whites’ method of farming. For a brief time between 1829 Commissioner Tony Bennett and 1839, this effort achieved limited success, but Cloud Man’s leadership role in this ex Commissioner James McDonough Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt periment has gone largely unacknowledged. Lieutenant Lawrence Taliaferro, the U.S. gov Commissioner Janice Rettman ernment’s Indian agent at Fort Snelling, called Cloud Man a “good man.” Running through Commissioner Jan Wiessner Mark Dietrich’s study of Cloud Man is the evidence that confirms that judgment of Cloud Paul Kirkwold, manager, Ramsey County Man’s character. The Ramsey County Historical Society thanks the members of the Society’s Native Ramsey County History is published quar American Advisory Board (Gary Cavender, Gavrielle Strong, David Larsen, Linda Owen, terly by the Ramsey County Historical Society, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Roger Buffalohead, Patty Thompson, Yvonne Leith, Lisa Owen, Dale Weston, Michael Street, St. Paul, Minn. 55102 (651-222- Scullin, Angela Cavender, and Leonard Wabasha) for their guidance in publishing Dietrich’s 0701). Printed in U.S.A. Copyright, 2001, manuscript and the helpful comments and observations they made prior to its publication. Ramsey County Historical Society. ISSN Rounding out this issue of our magazine is Bob Garland’s delightful account of the Number 0485-9758. All rights reserved. No “growing up” of two adjacent houses that two members of his family, the brothers William part of this publication may be reprinted and Field Garland, built at 856 and 846 Fairmount in St. Paul in 1890-91. Using architec or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Soci tural plans, building permits, contractors’ invoices, and family papers, Garland takes us ety assumes no responsibility for statements through all the changes, both in additions and subtractions, from the original plans that oc made by contributors. Fax 651-223-8539; curred during construction and how these changes affected the final layout and cost of the e-mail address [email protected].; web site homes. Today both houses are mature members of the city’s housing stock, but they con address www.rchs.com tinue to demonstrate the high quality of construction that was routinely done in the 1890s. John M. Lindley, Chair, Editorial Board
2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY A ‘Good Man ’ in a Changing World Cloud Man, the Dakota Leader, and His Life and Times
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article illuminates, perhaps for dependent, and ignorant people. Accounts of white attempts to intro the first time, the life and times of Cloud Man, an almost-forgotten duce European-style farming into Indian culture often ignore the fact leader among the Dakota, who played an important role in the that the Dakota probably were aware of well-developed Indian agri history o f the Twin Cities region where many o f his descendants still cultural communities in the Ohio River valley long before European- live. In consulting a wide range o f sources, author Mark Dietrich has Americans arrived at Fort Snelling. Despite such shortcomings in the drawn together much o f the scattered information that has remained available written sources, Cloud M an’s story, as it is told here, is unknown to the general reading public. It should be remembered, an important contribution to the record of a special time, place, and however, that throughout Cloud Man’s lifetime the Dakota did not people in the region’s history. possess a written language. Dietrich and other writers have been Ramsey County History is much indebted to the foilwing members forced to draw upon the accounts of European-American traders, o f the Ramsey County Historical Society’s Native American Advisory army officers, politicians, missionaries, and others who began to pen Board who, at RCHS’s request, read and commented upon Mark etrate the Minnesota region early in the nineteenth century. Cloud Dietrich’s manuscript: Roger Buffalohead, David Larsen, Patty Man’s story, told here from their point of view, inevitably reflects Thompson, Mike Scullin, Dale Weston, Leonard Wabasha, and some o f the prejudices, misperceptions, and ignorances of that time. Babara Feezor Buttes. Their suggestions, incorporated into the story For example, paying scant attention to a vibrant culture and spiritual of Cloud Man, help illuminate the life and times of this important ity, many o f these early writers chose to portray the Dakota as a poor, Dakota leader. Mark Dietrich
n 1829 when Cloud Man (M a h - across the Mississippi from present-day When the always-tentative peace be piyawicasta), a Mdewakanton South St. Paul, asked Taliaferro for a tween the Dakota and Ojibwe bands in Dakota leader, settled with his plow but the agent failed to respond and central and northern Minnesota broke I the first furrows were not plowed there down, Cloud Man’s son-in-law, brother- band at Lake Calhoun in what is now south Minneapolis, he did so as part of a until 1834. in-law, and nephew were killed in the en well-intentioned effort to encourage the In the meantime, in 1829, Cloud Man suing conflict. Finally, in 1839 the Lake Native American people of the Minnes joined in the establishment of the experi Calhoun experiment failed, due in part to its proximity to Ojibwe territory and the ota region to turn to farming as a stable mental farming village at Lake Calhoun that Taliaferro named Eatonville after threat of attack. Cloud Man moved his means of feeding their people. John H. Eaton, Secretary of War in people to a village he established in Oak Cloud Man’s farming experiment was Washington. For ten years, almost alone Grove, now part of Bloomington. That sponsored by Lawrence Taliaferro, the among the Mdewakanton Dakota leaders, same year, Taliaferro resigned as Indian United States government’s Indian agent Cloud Man maintained the community agent, and Stevens abandoned the Lake for the region whose headquarters lay for his people. He learned the use of the Harriet mission. Nothing remained of just beyond the walls at Fort Snelling. It plow to help them increase their yields of Eatonville. came at a time when the game that had com and other crops to prevent starva In 1851 Cloud Man was one of the sustained the Dakota’s hunting and gath tion. He was one of the few Dakota chiefs signers of the treaty at Mendota ceding ering culture was disappearing under the (a title assigned Dakota leaders by their Mdewakanton lands to the federal gov pressure of continued fur-trapping and earlier British allies) to open his village ernment, followed by the resettlement of the arrival of squatters on Dakota lands. to Protestant missionaries—Gideon and the Dakota people on reservations along The small crops the Indian women grew Samuel Pond and Jedediah Stevens. Al the Minnesota River in western Min were not enough to supplement their though he forged ties of kinship with nesota. Cloud Man, now more than sixty diets and banish hunger from their vil Americans in the region, his personal re years old, spent the next years on the lages. Under Taliaferro’s guidance, a lationships often were marred with sad Dakota reservation near Shakopee. How few of the Dakota saw farming and the ness. Each of his three daughters married, ever, when the Dakota Conflict of 1862 use of the plow as the way to increase according to Dakota custom, traders and brought about the removal of the Dakota their food supply. In 1821 and again in soldiers who later moved on, leaving from Minnesota, Cloud Man was interned 1826, Black Dog seems to have ex them and their mixed-blood children be by the Americans at Fort Snelling. While pressed some interest in acquiring a plow. hind. Thus Cloud Man’s grandchildren there, he died and was buried near the In 1828 Little Crow (Cetanwakanmani), carried such names as Lamont, Eastman, junction of the Minnesota and Missis the Dakota leader at Kaposia, his village and Taliaferro. sippi Rivers south of the fort.
4 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Fort Mackinac in 1839, as sketched b y C. F. Davis. From Mackinac Island—Its History in Pictures by Eugene T. Petersen, published by Mackinac State Historic Parks in 1973. Cloud Man might have been with the British-lndian force that captured the American-held fort for the British in 1812.
Cloud Man’s Early History area around Mendota. In the 1750s the was the daughter of a Mantanton chief Cloud Man was not the only Dakota leader band was mingled with the Mdewakan and a descendant of the seventeenth cen to bear that name. As historian Rhoda ton Dakota, who moved from Mille Lacs tury chief Fills the Pipe Again (Akepagi- Gilman noted in the Fall, 2000, issue of to St. Peter’s, the confluence of the dan). Their main village in the late 1700s was at a site known as “White Rock”— Ramsey County History, “There were actu St. Peter’s [Minnesota] and Mississippi Rivers. Together they numbered not present-day St. Paul.1 ality two Dakota leaders of the same name. more than 2,000 people. At this time the Cloud Man’s name has been variously They lived at about the same time and both Dakota were often in conflict with the translated as Cloud Man, Man in the were involved with Lawrence Taliaferro Ojibwe, or Chippewa, who were moving Clouds, Man of the Sky, or Sky Man and the missionaries. The [Cloud Man] into central Minnesota from their major (marpiya usually is translated as cloud; who headed the farming village at Lake villages on the southern shores of Lake wicasta means man). His birthdate, too, is Calhoun was Mdewakanton; there also Superior. Cloud Man’s father and uncle a mystery. Cloud Man himself guessed was a Sisseton Cloud Man who lived near were renowned warriors. His father that he was bom around 1795. However, Lac Qui Parle.” She added that when probably was living with the main rem other accounts indicate a birth date a the Mdewakanton Cloud Man signed the nant of the Mantanton band, led by decade or more earlier. Perhaps an esti treaty at Mendota, his name was translated Chetanwakanmani (Hawk that Hunts mate of 1785 would be credible. Of his im as “Man of the Sky.” At that time, she Walking), better known as Little Crow, mediate family, little else is known; his noted, Cloud Man was living at Good grandfather of the Little Crow who led the wife’s name was Chasapawin, according Road’s village near Shakopee. Dakota Conflict in 1862. Chetanwakan to Ellen H. Weston, whose source was The Mdewakanton Cloud Man was mani undoubtedly was not a “French Amos Omar Weston, David Weston’s son descended from the Mantanton Dakota, nobleman,” as Charles A. Eastman later and Cloud Man’s grandson. He had a sister who had left the region of Lake Mille thought, but Eastman might have been who eventually married Wakute (Shooter), Lacs in the late 1600s and occupied the right in saying that Cloud Man’s mother the stepson of the great chief Red Wing.la
RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 5 A Skilled Hunter endurance and courage! Stripping off his in 1820, his son succeeded him as chief Like most young Dakota men, Cloud clothes he began performing a feat which he of the band of about twenty-five people. Man was raised to believe that his pur knew would be greatly respected by his peo Black Dog married Little Crow’s sister, pose in life was to be a good provider for ple. Cloud Man pursued the bear and suc joined White Bustard’s band, and be his family, mainly through hunting. The ceeded in catching up with it. When the bear came their leading civil chief—in spite customary work of the Dakota women began to tire, it headed for an area of scrub of Drifter’s claims and the fact that White was to raise com and vegetables, and the trees, where further pursuit would be diffi Bustard was not a hereditary chief. (This roles of the two sexes'were rigid. A man cult. Cloud Man, being skilled in long dis was a British concept. Neither before nor who dug in the ground was seen as “a tance running, picked up the pace and after British influence did a chief assume woman” by other men. Cloud Man there headed the bear off and kept it from getting his leadership post through heredity.) fore was trained to become a skilled into the woods. After a further period of Black Dog’s band consisted of about hunter. At the age of seventeen he proba chase around the prairie, the bear finally suc forty families, or thirty lodges, with Cloud bly obtained his wotawe—his weapons cumbed to exhaustion and Cloud Man shot Man’s among them. Black Dog soon ap and a medicine sack containing his sa it. He took the carcass to his village where it pointed Cloud Man his head soldier. It cred items for maintaining contact with was used in a festival, and religious rites was a respected position in Dakota so the spirits. With these he was ready to were paid to the bear’s spirit, the Dakota be ciety, which he apparently held for a join the arduous and dangerous expedi lieving that every animate and inanimate ob decade, and it reflected his standing as a tions into Ojibwe country. ject had a spirit which must be propitiated to warrior who had been decorated by the The Mdewakanton particularly com avoid some retribution.3 British. As a head soldier, Cloud Man peted with the Mississippi, Mille Lacs, Cloud Man also talked of his service, and was the second most prominent man in Snake, and St. Croix River Ojibwe, who that of other Dakota patriots, with the his village. He would use his office to often intruded into Dakota hunting terri British during the War of 1812. The keep order in the village, police commu tory. In 1836 Cloud Man described some Dakota were asked by other Eastern nal hunts, support Black Dog’s civil poli of his experiences for Gideon Pond. tribes to join the Menominees, Winne- cies, and help carry them out.5 After his uncle was fatally wounded in bagos, Sac, and Fox in protecting British A Changing Society battle, Cloud Man said, he determined headquarters at Prairie du Chien, Wiscon to avenge him, and due to his bravery sin. Cloud Man, along with Hawk That Life for Cloud Man and other Mde he was raised to the rank of a “head Hunts Walking and Black Dog, probably wakanton people began to change after soldier”—the virtual general of his participated in the subsequent British- 1819 when the United States government band. Once, he said, he and ten others Indian capture of Fort Mackinac from the sent Colonel Henry Leavenworth and 100 fought off a band of 100 Ojibwe without Americans in the summer of 1812. The men to build a fort at the confluence of losing a man. “There,” he commented, following year the Dakota traveled to a the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. “the Great Spirit fought for us.” He said campaign against the American forts Camping initially at Mendota, Leaven too that times of conflict made their Meigs and Stephenson in the Ohio coun worth crossed the river the following hearts hard. Cloud Man’s own record, he try. Again, in the summer of 1814 Cloud spring and began a cantonment near said, was six Ojibwe killed. But after Fort Man most likely was on hand with British Camp Coldwater, named for a nearby Snelling was established at St. Peter’s forces during the fight to retake Prairie du spring. Leavenworth soon was succeeded and Lawrence Taliaferro arrived, he Chien from the Americans. By the time by Colonel Josiah Snelling. Along with stopped fighting. “Had it not been for that the war ended late that year, Cloud Man the soldiers came Lawrence Taliaferro, I should have killed many more, or have had received several medals from British the first Indian agent to be assigned to the been killed myself ere this,” he added. leaders and he wore them proudly until region. He was a young Virginian, proud, However, Cloud Man was not entirely the Americans offered to exchange them and dedicated to his work. His main ef the “pacifist” historian Thomas Hughes for American flags and medals—a sym forts were directed toward keeping peace portrayed him to be in a short biography bolic switch in loyalty from the British among the tribes and promoting their as of the chief. Cloud Man himself appar “Great Father” to the American.4 similation into American society. The ently told Samuel Pond in 1836 that he Meanwhile, the Mantanton band, of Mdewakanton found themselves under wished he might die on the battlefield.2 which Cloud Man probably was a part, constant pressure from him to take up Gideon Pond recorded one of Cloud had begun to integrate with other bands. white ways, particularly agriculture. As Man’s hunting stories in his Dakota Even before the war, White Bustard game declined, traditional subsistence Friend newspaper: (Mahgosau) had taken one group to a ways became difficult for the bands and One day after an unsuccessful hunt, Cloud new location four miles up the St. Peter’s their chiefs: Little Crow I at Kaposia, Man was sitting on a hill and enjoying [Minnesota] River. He apparently was Pinichon at Old Village, Black Dog and smoking his pipe, when he spied a black the father of Drifter (Kahboka), also re Drifter at Oanaska (Long Avenue) who bear. He decided not to kill the animal out ferred to as Afloat, or Man Who Floats had to consider Taliaferro’s message. It right, but to run the bear down and prove his on the Water. After White Bustard died was around this time too that Taliaferro
6 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY induced the chiefs, including Black Dog Establishment of Eatonville and Cloud Man, to give up their British On April 15, 1829, Cloud Man came to medals and their allegiance to the British the agency to formally request a plow king. However, the medals were so and horses. The agent gave him a plow highly prized that Cloud Man held one and a harness, but told the chief to use his back.6 own horse. The site for the project, Lake It seems probable that Cloud Man was Calhoun, was known to the Dakota as married by 1810. His wife, Chasapawin, “The Lake of the Loons” (Mde Medoza). was from a prominent Wahpeton Dakota Taliaferro also hired Philander Prescott family in western Minnesota and the to plow at that location, furnishing him sister of the later Wahpeton chief, Big with a team of horses and two yoke of Curly Head (Upihdega), and of Red Bird, oxen. Prescott was a trader who had mar a medicine man and shaman. But she was ried Spirit of the Moon (Naginowenah), noted for her ill temper. Samuel Pond the daughter of Flying Man, or Keeiyah, knew of one occasion where she cut a and Flying Man joined Cloud Man. valuable buffaloskin lodge to pieces. Prescott later wrote that only his “old Cloud Man and his wife had about seven father-in-law” and another “old man, Man children in all—at least three daughters of the Clouds,” were willing to go, due to and several sons. The daughters were fear of Ojibwe attack at that exposed Day Sets (Anpetuinajinwin), Hushes Still site.12 the Night (Hanyetnrihnayyewin) and Two weeks later, on May 2, 1829, Stands Sacredly (Wakaninajin). One Taliaferro arrived at Lake Calhoun to daughter married a fellow Dakota, lend his own hand to the project. He Lawrence Taliaferro, the United States’ Badger (also known as Nika and Rupa- Indian agent at Fort Snelling from 1819 to wrote that he spent part of the day break cokamaza). Cloud Man’s sons included 1839. Minnesota Historical Society photo. ing the chiefs horse to the plow and har Seeing Stone and, apparently, Smoky ness; he returned on May 19 to give Cloud Day (Anpetusota) and Red Boy (Hoksi- Man more instruction. He also hired danduta). Among his nephews were called again and told the agent he would three men to begin collecting logs to Red Bird’s sons, including the famous give up his last British medal.9 build a log village as a permanent Indian John Other Day (.Anpetutokeca), and In the fall of 1828 Cloud Man led an camp, and a bam to hold the band’s Chief Wakute’s son, Capaduta (Scarlet other hunting party west in search of equipment and produce. He asked the Beaver), who also became a chief.7 game. Samuel Pond wrote, “During the Secretary of War for $600-800 for the As early as 1821, Black Dog demon trip they were caught in a blizzard and project, but it is not known if he received strated a willingness to raise more food for had no choice but to lie down and let it the money. In September Taliaferro made his people through agriculture, including pass over them. While trapped by the a reference in his journal to the “present the use of a plow with harnessed horses. In snow, Cloud Man thought upon a infant colony of agriculturalists together 1826 he reiterated his interest to Taliaferro, hunter’s life and decided that if he sur with their implements of husbandry.”13 asking for a plow and harness, and assis vived he would follow Taliaferro’s ad tance in adopting the whites’ farming vice and raise com. After almost three Additions to the Band methods. For some reason, however, days the blizzard passed and Cloud Man Progress was slight the first year. Prescott Black Dog, who was growing old, never and his comrades poked through their wrote that they plowed for about a month started a farm.8 snow coffins to find refuge nearby. He in the rooty ground and managed to raise Cloud Man undoubtedly was influ then told Taliaferro of his determination “some com.” As time went on, however, enced by Black Dog’s desire to begin to try fanning for a living.”10 the efforts began to pay off in increased farming on a greater scale than the Cloud Man’s susceptibility to Talia harvests, not only of com, but also squash, Dakota women could manage with their ferro’s influence undoubtedly was also potatoes, cabbage, and pumpkins. Talia crude hoes, which made breaking the increased by Taliaferro’s kinship through ferro sent the group provisions from time ground tedious and difficult. However, his marriage to Cloud Man’s daughter to time, but because Prescott also was Cloud Man continued to resist and (either Day Finishes or Hushes the Night) cutting logs to rebuild the Indian council hunted far from the village for buffalo in about 1826-27. Hence, Cloud Man house, which had burned down, he was and other game. He called on Taliaferro called the agent “son-in-law.” In 1828 not giving all his time to farming. The before leaving for the distant Missouri Taliaferro married Eliza Dillon of Penn following year, more families joined River in September 1827; Taliaferro re sylvania, but a year before she came Cloud Man. The newcomers included ferred to him as “a good man.” When west, Taliaferro’s Dakota daughter was his brother-in-law, Red or Scarlet Bird Cloud Man returned in January 1828, he bom; he named her Mary L. Taliaferro.11 (Zitkadanduta), who became his head
RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 7 soldier; Red Bird’s brother; Whistling Wind (Tatechandishkah); and Cloud Man’s son-in-law, Badger (or Nika). To keep up with the increased demand for food, Prescott and a teamster assistant plowed eighty acres of land. Cloud Man sent the women and children into the fields after the crops were planted to scare away the red-winged blackbirds that flocked to scratch for the com ker nels. That fall the crop was bountiful enough to keep the band fed through the winter of 1830—31,13a About this time, Taliaferro appointed Cloud Man the civil chief of the small group, considering him the most able man for the position. Cloud Man was well-prepared for the job, having been a head soldier of Black Dog’s band, as well as founder of the community. His duties as a civil chief were to exemplify a father’s care for his children; he was expected to be personally generous, wise, brave, and above all a peacemaker. He also repre sented his people in council with other Dakota chiefs, other tribes, and federal i; government officials, particularly the agent and the military officers at Fort Snelling. With Cloud Man as their offi cial leader, the new band was even more united in its determination to make a bet ter living for themselves through agricul ture. In April, 1831 Taliaferro consulted with the chief about the farming opera tion, and Cloud Man apparently asked \ that the plow and hoes be repaired. When Taliaferro visited the site on May 1 he found “most of them at work, cuting [s/c] down trees, grubing [sic] out the roots &c. what was more encouraging, some few of the men were at this unusual kind of labour for them. They laughed when they saw me. I praised them in every agreeable way that could be conveyed to them in their language.” The following year, on August 14, Samuel Pond’s hand-drawn map of the region around Fort Snelling that included Lake 1832 Taliaferro again visited the Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. The “Little River’’ on the map is Minnehaha Creek. Minnesota Calhoun village, accompanied by Major Historical Society collections. John Bliss, commander at Fort Snelling, and the fort surgeon, Dr. Nathan S. years.” The death was that of Scarlet soil and had suffered greatly from the de Jarvis. He wrote: “The Indians are en Nation (Oyateduta), who left a family of clining returns of the hunts in other vil gaged in agriculture and much com is five.14 lages nearby. Some of these women were being raised—from 800 to 1000 bushels. Many of the newcomers to the Lake the wives of officers at the fort and re 3d year of this establishment—advanced Calhoun band were women and children. ceived rations from them. They perhaps from 8 to 125 souls—one death in three They were not averse to cultivating the did not realize that, for the most part, the
8 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY men would move on, leaving them be hind. At any rate, the band was heavily helped by the whites. Taliaferro obviously knew why many of these people came to Lake Calhoun, but cared only for the success of his pro ject and was happy with the growth of the band, no matter what the reason. He un doubtedly believed that his “agricultural establishment” would show the Dakota the benefits of borrowing from white cul ture. In 1832, in a further effort to for malize the new group and give it standing within the Dakota band, Taliaferro noted that he installed Flying Man as “associ ate chief of Eatonville” and gave him an American chiefs’ medal. And when American Fur Company traders tried to repossess goods, such as guns, kettles, and knives, given on credit to Cloud Man’s band in the spring of 1833, Talia Samuel Pond, left, and his borther, Gideon. Both photos of the Ponds are from the Minnesota Historical Society. ferro intervened. He wrote in his journal: “I caused the Indians to retain their guns and kettles, they living in rather a danger happiness, teach him to worship the true and pleased with this arrangement and had ous place.” He preferred to suffer the ire living God through the self-evident develop asked that the Ponds be supported by any of the traders than see his experiment ments of his mother earth. In fine, let agri means possible. hindered. Furthermore, he was bitter culture and the arts precede the preaching of Samuel Pond later recorded his im about the traders’ opposition to fanning the gospel, after which, Christianity incul pression of the chief: “[Cloud Man and education for the Indians. He quoted cate if practicable. was] . . . a man of superior discernment one trader as saying that he lost $500 and of great prudence and foresight. He whenever an Indian learned to read and He saw the Ponds as “two faithful and did not hesitate to tell the Dakota that the write. Members of the Cloud Man band trustworthy assistants in improveing [sic] time had come when nothing but a were at the time in business with several the condition of the Mdawakanton [sic] change in their mode of life could save traders—Alexis Bailly of the American Sioux.” Like Taliaferro, Cloud Man wel them from ruin, yet they were very slow Fur Company and his successor at Men- comed the Ponds’ offer to stay among to adopt his new notions. He was op dota, Henry H. Sibley, as well as Ben them and help with the farming. He even posed by many of the other chiefs, and jamin F. Baker and Philander Prescott, advised them to build a cabin of tamarack none of them entered heartily into his who were independent traders.15 logs on the east side of Lake Calhoun, views.” where they “would be able to see loons Gideon Pond had spent a short time at Pond Brothers and Cloud Man on the water.” (The north side of Lake the Little Crow village at Kaposia, but In the summer of 1834 Taliaferro saw an Calhoun was bordered by a swamp with found the Dakota there rather hostile to other means of helping the Lake Calhoun tamarack trees.) ward him, and so moved to Cloud Man’s community in its agricultural efforts. By mid-summer the Ponds had built a village, also. Taliaferro hired him to plow The young brothers, Samuel and Gideon two-room cabin of oak logs, with a cellar for the Indians and gave him a rent-free Pond, arrived at Mendota from Connecti and a roof of bark. On July 7 Taliaferro room at the agency and the use of his in cut seeking to learn to know the Dakota hired the two brothers to take charge of terpreter, Scott Campbell. The Ponds language and convert the Dakota to Eatonville, writing: “I am to furnish out then plowed about four acres of land and Christianity, Samuel Pond was encour of my private funds—Hay for the fenced it with logs. Living about a quar aged by Taliaferro to live among Cloud Oxen—belonging to the Indians, & these ter of a mile away in fourteen bark Man’s band. Taliaferro was convinced young men are to have a Charge of them lodges, Cloud Man’s people called on the that “civilizing” the Dakota had to precede for the Winter—They will plough some Ponds for various favors, such as borrow conversion to Christianity. He wrote: this fall and again in the Spring for the In ing hatchets or axes. The Ponds also con I hazard nothing in this, for an Indian must dians, & go on thereafter to instruct them stantly heard “the women and chil be taught all the temporal benefits of this life in the arts & habits of civilised life.” The dren . . . screaming to drive the first; before you ask him to seek for eternal agent claimed that the Dakota were blackbirds from their com.”16
RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 9 starved indolent beings,” Taliaferro de the school. On December 30, 1836 the cided that Stevens’ mission was school held a “commencement,” with “folly.”17 Taliaferro, Sibley, and Major Gustavus Stevens and his family moved into Loomis present as inspectors. They their new house on September 18, 1835. found that Stevens was endeavoring to PM After the mission school was almost fin have the Dakota live near his school. He ished, Stevens suggested that since the proudly reported that the principal % \\ \ Ponds had helped with the mission, they chiefs family was attending the Sabbath ¡¡SI. should move from their cabin to the mis meetings and that his children were at AHgnSI ^ î M «HO sion house. Reluctantly, they moved to tending the school. Although Stevens glifi: I f » i | | Lake Harriet in the fall of 1835, giving was not popular with the Dakota, he ap their cow and some of their com and pota pears to have had a good relationship n p a M . « toes. They later learned that Stevens had with Cloud Man. Stevens wrote in Janu gSjg L Lj g .,Jɧ|k lied to his mission board, saying that the ary, 1837 that the chief “appears more Ponds had come to him because they were and more favourably disposed toward us, uncomfortably situated at Lake Calhoun. and the object of our mission—says he Furthermore, when the Sioux Spelling will cut and draw timber for building him Book the Ponds had developed was pub a permanent home near us as soon as the lished in 1836, it carried J. D. Stevens’ ice will admit of going into the tamarac byline. [i/c] swamps for it.”18 Henry H. Sibley. Minnesota Historical Society At the end of that winter, Gideon left However, Stevens’ progress at the photo. Lake Harriet and joined the Williamson mission was not as glowing as it might mission at Lac qui Parle. He later re have seemed. He had difficulty learning turned in 1838 as a government farmer. The Lake Harriet Mission the Dakota language and did not progress For a salary of $600 per annum he was very far in speaking it. Without the Pond On May 30,1835, the Reverend Jedediah to plow cornfields, cut hay for the cat brothers there, his hopes of converting the Dwight Stevens, a Presbyterian minister, tle, and build shelters for the animals. Dakota were limited. Members of the arrived at Fort Snelling with his family, Samuel, on the other hand, returned east band still had to leave the area for long including an adopted six-year-old daugh in the summer of 1836 to study for the periods of time in the fall and winter to ter, Jane DeBow, and his niece, Lucy C. ministry, placing him on a more equal harvest wild rice and hunt for game and Stevens. He planned to begin a formal footing with Stevens in mission work. mission among the Dakota with support Taliaferro greatly regretted the Ponds’ were not there to hear the persuasions of from the American Board of Commis departure, seeing it as “a serious loss the gospel. Furthermore, Dakota culture sioners for Foreign Missions. Although to the Indians.” (Samuel was ordained was not changing as rapidly as Stevens Dr. Thomas Williamson also had arrived on March 4, 1837 and then returned to had hoped. On a number of occasions he to start a mission at Lake Calhoun, Minnesota.) witnessed the attachment of the Dakota Stevens insisted that he be the one to In 1836 the boarding school was com to their ancient customs. In January, work in the area declaring that he had pleted and Stevens arranged for two 1836, for example, he described a woman been planning the venture since 1829. classes to be taught. Lucy Stevens taught of Cloud Man’s band whose husband Williamson moved on to Lac qui Parle. up to twenty Dakota children, who spoke had died. “The principal mourner com Stevens supervised the construction of a only the Dakota language. Stevens appar menced gashing or cutting her ankles and house and school on the west side of ently taught the mixed-blood children, legs up to the knees with a sharp stone, Lake Harriet, with carpentry help from who also boarded at the school. They in until her legs were covered with gore and Gideon Pond, whom he looked upon as a cluded the children of Henry Sibley (by flowing blood; then in like manner her laborer—not quite on the same minister the daughter of Bad Hail), and Philander arms, shoulders, and breast. . . . I pre ial level as he. The Ponds soon became Prescott. The courses were mainly read sume there were more than a hundred unhappy with Stevens’ attitude towards ing, writing and sewing. Taliaferro, from long deep gashes in the flesh. I saw the them and undoubtedly wished that he had time to time, checked on the progress at operation.. .”18a settled near their cabin at Lake Calhoun. Taliaferro, too, was unhappy about Lawrence Taliaferro’s 1835 map. Obviously, Taliaferro was not a cartographer; nevertheless, Stevens’ intentions, privately feeling that his drawing shows, among other sites, Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, (Lake Snelling probably it was an interruption of the plans he and is today’s Cedar Lake), Fort Snelling, and Henry Sibley’s American Fur Company post across the river from Pike Island at Mendota. Taliaferro indicates with squares Cloud Man’s village at the Ponds had for the band. When Lake Calhoun. Perhaps in an effort to impress the War Department, which administered the In Stevens asked Taliaferro for an inter dian agencies, he depicted an impressive row of houses on one side of Lake Harriet—wishful preter to teach “a set of ragged half- thinking on Taliaferro's part. Minnesota Historical Society collections.
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IAude /Tu. (5v¿a^£^^,"'"^ ¿ /A . hte~~4t Muy» « • - ^ ^ r ~ 7 ~ , / S u / ? •— Cu^¿y i3 *r 4 ' ^ í . ^ ^ / £ . $ / * ? * • 7 jl>u . \ U + o¿y ^ i a a A H ¿ ?& H P B ß f ä - /%LjZ*y- C —t U j *■ / i m ^ u . . c * - * toL*, ~ ... c~*. é/í A~~ & a/~ ? — ^ li ¿ U c *. j/p . /¿® «itAMb - á . /(^C. T / ‘y < 12 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Man, but her father, presumably named Williams, has not been further identified. Another mixed-blood child in the band was William Brown. Eventually, Stevens and his family tried to care for and edu cate these children. He wrote: “We have a child in our family belonging to a supposedly U.S. In. Ag., Major T., and most of the officers who were here formerly.., [sjoldiers and traders [also] have children . . . with the several bands in this vicinity.” Taliaferro still had legal care of some of the chil dren, including his daughter Mary, Jane Lamont, Mary Nancy Eastman, and Elizabeth Williams. According to Charles Eastman, Seth Eastman also exhibited some concern for his offspring; it was said that on his last visit to the child he could not restrain himself from weeping. Apparently he arranged with Henry Sib ley’s store to provide whatever Stands Sacredly wanted for her child. During his stay in Washington in 1837 Taliaferro saw to it that his daughter, Mary, listed as Map of Mdewakanton Dakota villages that clustered about Fort Snelling at the confluence of age eleven in 1837, received a claim of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers during the 1840s and early 1850s. Cloud Man’s village at Lake Calhoun was off to the west in this map by Edward J. Lettermann. Ramsey County land as a mixed-blood under the Treaty Historical Society collections. of 1837. He also asked for justice for the “orphans”—Jane Lamont, Nancy East man, Winona Culbertson, William Brown, he proposed to ‘christianize’ all the Indi country was a good one, and he was glad and a few others.22 ans, and to establish a village of them that Riggs had come to live “in a bad near to his house.”23 country” with the Dakota. Fashionable Tourist Spot In the summer of 1836 one of the visi Riggs noted that Stevens was not suc The growing “agricultural establishment” tors to Lake Calhoun was the famous cessful in converting the Dakota of the began to attract white visitors, due to its artist, George Catlin. On July 4 Catlin at band, writing: “The Dakotas did not yet proximity to the fort and the beauty of tended one of the Dakota’ s lacrosse games care to hear the gospel. The Messrs. Pond the scenery en route. English explorer and on July 9 witnessed the dance of a had succeeded in teaching one young George W. Featherstonhaugh took time number of Ojibwe. He took time out to man to read and write, and occasionally a out from his journey up the Minnesota paint a scene of lodges at Cloud Man’s vil few could be induced to come and listen River, to visit the Dakota community lage. He also painted portraits of Talia to the good news.” Mary Riggs was con on October 17, 1835. Describing Lake ferro and Black Dog. No portrait of Cloud cerned as well that even with the crop Calhoun as a “pretty sheet of water,” he Man, however, is known to exist.24 production, the Dakotas were very poor wrote, “There is an Indian village near it, In June, 1837 two new missionaries— at other times of the year. She wrote: consisting of numerous Indians belong Stephen and Mary Riggs—arrived in “Some Indian women came in yesterday ing to various bands.” He noted that the Dakota country and stayed for a time at bringing strawberries, which I purchased Pond brothers had aided the Indians in Eatonville before going on to distant Lac with beans. Poor creatures, they have the raising of maize and “pulse” [peas or qui Parle. Riggs noted that the Lake Cal very little food of any kind at this season beans]: “From about thirty acres of land houn village consisted of about twenty of the year... .”25 they had harvested about 800 bushels of lodges, including both bark-lodge cabins In June, 1838 other distinguished whites maize the present season, all of which and buffalo-skin tipis. On one occasion came to the village, including General they put into caches. When I visited the the Riggses visited Cloud Man’s cabin, Henry Atkinson and English novelist place the Indians were out trapping but the chief was not home; his daugh Captain Frederick Marryat. The latter musk-rats.. . . ” Proceeding to Lake Har ters, however, allowed them to enter. wrote, “I went out about nine miles to a riet, Featherstonhaugh found missionary One of the other chiefs, probably Hying Sioux village on the banks of a small Stevens’ little house in a beautiful grove Man, called on them and said that his was lake. Their lodges were built in cottage near the lake: “[Stevens]. . . told me that a very bad country, but that Riggs’ home fashion, of small fir poles and covered RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 13 Fort Snelling in 1844, from a water color and gouache painting by John Casper Wild. Taliaferro’s Indian agency is the long low building at the top of the hill just outside the fort. Henry H. Sibley’s house is on the far left (with the fence). Minnesota Historical Society photograph of the original painting, which is in its collection. inside and out with bark, with a hole, in the north they were in danger of attack by and services and annuities for all of their the center, for the smoke to escape. I en the Ojibwe and if they went too far to the land claims east of the Mississippi River tered one of these lodges; the interior was south (in Iowa), they could be attacked by (five million acres)—land claimed by the surrounded by a continuous bed placed Sac and Fox. The American Fur Com Mantanton Dakota since 1680. The round three of the side, about three feet pany’s traders urged the Mdewakanton chiefs asked for more money, but the from the floor and on this platform was a leaders to sell some of their land to obtain white officials held firm and finally the quantity of buffalo skins and pillows; the annuities from the government, and cash chiefs agreed to sign the treaty on Sep fire was in the center. . . . A missionary to pay off their credits. The chiefs felt that tember 29. Cloud Man’s name, improp resides at the village and has paid great they had no choice but to make a deal erly translated, appears as “White Man” attention to the small band under his with the government. Taliaferro, on the on the treaty documents. The officials care.” Taliaferro visited on June 1 and other hand, hoped that treaty benefits then gave the chiefs new hats, coats, found Stevens “engaged in ploughing for would keep the tribe from starvation and scarves, blankets, and leggings. Talia the Indians.”26 give them some amount of financial free ferro afterwards wrote that the treaty dom from the traders. He gathered a dele was “all that will save them [the Mde A Trip to Washington gation of chiefs and headmen, including wakanton] from starvation and want in Although Cloud Man’s band had been Cloud Man and Drifter, and took them to the future—I know it will be the death fairly successful in growing com to aug Washington in August, 1837. blow to the influence of the trade & they ment their hunting, by 1837 other Mde- The chiefs met with Secretary of War are doing all they can to defeat its ratifi wakanton were starving much of the time. Joel Poinsett and Commissioner of Indian cation___But it won’t do—we will suc Game was hunted in the surrounding re Affairs Carey A. Harris in late September. ceed & our poor foolish Indians will be gion, and if the bands traveled very far to They were offered $1 million in goods happy at last.”27 14 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY men like these ought to be men of sense, but I do not believe they have any sense. I can not place any confidence in them. I have more confidence in that little child (pointing to the son of Keokuk) than in all these large grown men.28 Trouble with the Ojibwe Upon his return Cloud Man must have been surprised by the number of Dakota who were flocking to his village. A count of the band in 1838 indicated that seventy- three families were present, or 221 people in all. But in the spring of 1838 they were shocked by the news that Hole-in-the- Day, the famed Ojibwe chief of the Crow Wing region, had killed some Wahpeton, some of whom were related to Cloud Man through his wife. The Mdewakanton had met in council with the Ojibwe al most yearly for two decades to keep the peace, and they could not understand why Hole-in-the-Day had committed this crime. However, Hole-in-the-Day, although at peace with the Mdewakan ton, wanted revenge against the Wah peton for relatives they had killed. Some of the leading Wahpeton went down to Fort Snelling to complain. On July 16, 1838 Cloud Man complained as well, telling Taliaferro that the Ojibwe had caused him not only the loss of relatives, but also prevented his tribe from hunting in the north, and his people were hungrier than ever. He warned that the band would soon be reduced to killing their own cat tle if they received no help. On August 14 Little Crow (Taoyateduta) who was the reluctant leader of the Dakota Conflict in 1862. J. E. Cloud Man’s predictions came true: Tali Whitney photograph, Minnesota Historical Society collections. aferro heard that the band had killed four head of cattle; he therefore had to procure A Cloud Man Rebuke My ears are always open to good counsel, a young yoke of oxen for Stevens to While the chiefs were in town, they were but I think my Great Father should take a break in as replacements. Meanwhile, called to a meeting with a delegation of stick and bore the ears of these people. They Stevens lamented the warfare for another Sac and Fox, headed by Keokuk and appear to shut their ears when they come into reason: since both Cloud Man and Red Black Hawk. The Dakota were bitter the council. I always thought myself and my Bird were related to the deceased Wah about the hostilities between the tribes people would be made happy by listening to peton, they were spending most of their and Taliaferro’s constant pressure not to your advice. But I begin to think the more time in war dances and planning re retaliate for wrongs committed against we listen, the more we are imposed upon by venge.29 them. Although the Sac and Fox attacks other tribes. Had I been foolish and given Despite of worsening affairs with the were on the Dakota people as a whole, foolish course to my young men, you would band, Taliaferro continued to do what he rather than specifically Cloud Man’s not have seen me here today. I might have could to support them. In August, 1838 band (the main sufferers being the Wah- been at home doing mischief, seeking to re he went to Lake Harriet with several men pekute Dakota), on October 5 Cloud Man venge what these people have provoked. I to build a log house for an Indian family, addressed the group on behalf of his fel have been struck by these men eight times presumably Cloud Man’s, as the chief low chiefs: and have lost many of my people— Grown had asked for a house several times in RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY IS recent years. However, the treaty annu of about 150 men had been assembled, some annuity credit with Henry Sibley so ities were late in arriving and the Indians they pursued the main contingent of they could acquire twelve guns with pow continued to go hungry, in spite of rations Ojibwe, who were proceeding towards der and lead for their defense; Taliaferro from Taliaferro. Finally, on October 15, Lake Mille Lacs, unaware of what the granted the request. For the time being, 1858, Taliaferro was able to pay the Pillagers had done. In a surprise attack at the Indians fortified their village and bands their money, as well as the long the Rum River on July 3, some 100 Ojibwe awaited the ripening of their crops. They overdue settlement from the Lieutenant were killed. The Dakota dead were were described as walking “in fear and Zebulon Pike Treaty of 1805, which fewer, but included Red Bird, Red Bird’s trembling.” Stevens tore down the Pond benefited the Lake Calhoun band to the son (who was about fifteen years old), cabin to use the logs for breastworks.32 extent of $300.30 and several other men of the Cloud Man The band eventually harvested a “heavy In June 1839, to the great dismay of band, who died later. Cloud Man and oth crop of com and potatoes.” But Cloud the Mdewakanton, Hole-in-the-Day, with ers went through the customary mourn Man was greatly discouraged about the about a thousand of his people, arrived at ing process, wearing old clothes, rubbing prospects for his children and grand Fort Snelling for a council with military ashes on their faces and leaving their hair children. If they moved away from Lake officials. The agent encouraged the Mde bedraggled. Seventy Ojibwe scalps were Calhoun, would Taliaferro and the whites wakanton leaders to make use of the op hung on poles in the center of Cloud at the fort still help to support them? Was portunity to meet the Ojibwe in council. Man’s village in preparation, according to Stevens planning to stay among them? They did so and made peace, only to be Dakota custom, for a “scalp dance,” actu Stevens wrote: shocked a day later when two Pillager ally “Dance in Praise of One” (who had The chief called on me one day with whom taken the scalp). The dances continued I had a long talk on the subject [of my resi for a month, causing Gideon Pond to dence among them]. He appeared very comment: “It seemed as if hell had emp friendly, as he always has to us. I understood tied itself here.” Jane DeBow memorized him to say that he was pleased to have white one of the scalp dance songs she heard: men come and live with them a long time— You Ojibwe, you are mean, that he did not like to have them come and We will use you like a mouse, stay a little time and then, go away. He said We have got you and two white men came among them and mar We will strike you down, ried his two eldest daughters, staid [sic] a My dog is very hungry, short time and left them—that was not I will give him the Ojibwe scalps.31 good—several Frenchmen had done the same— he did not like it. Stevens Leaves the Mission Cloud Man also complained about the Matters at Lake Calhoun were in turmoil Ponds, who had helped them, but then due to the renewed warfare with the proved unreliable, as far as he was con Ojibwe. Many felt that their village was cerned, as they moved from one place to an too exposed to Ojibwe ambush and other. He was happy with Stevens, how wanted to leave the area. On August 6 the ever. Stevens replied—untruthfully—that chiefs met with Taliaferro, and he encour he would “live and die with the Sioux.” The Alexander Ramsey, first governor of Min aged them to return to the village to care following day, Cloud Man visited Henry nesota Territory. Minnesota Historical So Sibley’s warehouse at Mendota and reiter ciety photo. for their crops, which were being con sumed by blackbirds. The chiefs replied ated to Sibley that he wanted Stevens to stay (whether Drifter or Cloud Man Taliaferro at his village and educate his children.32® Ojibwe killed and scalped Cloud Man’s did not say): In spite of Cloud Man’s wishes, son-in-law, Badger, near Lake Harriet. A Stevens already had made arrangements My father, we listen to you. We never in son of Cloud Man, who was with Badger, to leave the mission. He had learned that tended to give up our place or com. We escaped and brought the alarm to the vil his Mission Board was about to ask for stopped here for a few days after our troubles lage. Young Jane DeBow found herself his resignation and furthermore, Talia with the Ojibwe. We shall return on tomor pulled back from the tumult by Gideon ferro had hired him in July, 1839 as gov row as you seem to desire & advised us to Pond who prevented her from seeing the ernment farmer for the Wapahasha band do.... We intend to go & take care of our “mourning squaws tearing out their hair near Winona, Minnesota. Stevens visited com, but we are in a poor way to defend our and gashing their flesh [with knives].” Wapahasha’s village in mid-July for a selves against the Chippewas in case we are Red Bird, as head soldier and relative week and then returned on August 4 to attacked. We have not ten guns & not one of the victim, wanted immediate revenge cut hay and take his stock downriver. The charge of powder and ball. and sent runners to all the neighboring Lake Harriet mission was turned over to villages to raise a war party. After a force They asked Taliaferro to extend them the Ponds. However, there was no elation 16 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY “Indians Travelling,” painted by Seth Eastman during his second tour of duty at Fort Snelling around 1850. Under the terms of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, the Dakota were moved onto reservations in southern and western Minnesota. Photograph of the Eastman painting from the collection of W. Duncan MacMillan. Courtesy of W. Duncan MacMillan and the Alton Historical Society Press. on Samuel Pond’s part. On November 14 The Agent’s Resignation have heard speak this day, speaks truth. My he informed his Mission Board that there Cloud Man and his people heard the father, are you going to leave your children was little chance of continuing the mis rumor on August 8 that Taliaferro, who & see them no more—you, who have been sion and school at Lake Calhoun, be had been among them for twenty-one our only true, faithful friend for nearly cause, since the war, the Lake Calhoun years, was planning to leave. Cloud Man, twenty years? Speak my father, but say you Dakota “had no taste for religious in along with Flying Man, Drifter, and sev will not desert us... when you have done so struction.” In later years Pond reflected eral other Dakota leaders, went to the much good for us and our women and chil on his years with Cloud Man’s band: agency to ask if this was true. Cloud dren. We know no man can or would do for Man, as Taliaferro’s father-in-law, was us what you have done. We can never part We were not in a situation to hold regular meet asked to speak for the group: with you; we had rather die than see you go ings with the Indians until we were settled at off never to return back to us. Bloomington [Oak Grove], but we talked... to My father, we have had strange feelings pass them on religious subjects in season and out of over us within a few days—a little bird whis After a time the agent interrupted the season whether they would hear or whether pered as we came along to your house this day chief and said plainly that what they had they would forbear___ A few of them we be and our hearts were sorely distressed at the heard was true: he already had informed lieved were converted, but not many. sound—a sound which... was in our path— the “Great Father” of his decision and he This sound was borne upon ten winds and could not revoke it. This was a devastat As the band scattered that fall for the soon after a dark cloud flew over our path & ing psychological blow to Cloud Man— hunts, some of the mixed-blood children for a while we could not see—we were as not only because of the Eatonville exper were transferred to the school at the blind men walking on strange grounds. Methodist mission at Kaposia, among iment, but also because Taliaferro was them Mary Taliaferro, Hannah Taliaferro My father, I am deputed to give you this his “son-in-law” who now was leaving {see llfn), and Elizabeth Williams. Tali news as we all heard it—we hope it is not so, Cloud Man’s daughter and grandchild. aferro, who had planned to resign soon, for we know of no cause on our part why we Even Drifter was greatly affected by the wrote to Samuel Pond in August, asking should be discarded & left worse off than news and later told the agent, “If you if his daughter could stay with the Ponds when first we heard the sound of your hold to this opinion [about leaving], we voice—a voice that gives us peace, plenty & and stating that he would be willing to shall ask our Great Father to hold you & good council and our children know it. pay her room, board, and tuition. Pond send you back to us. Things will go apparently declined, although he later My father, the chiefs & braves present wish wrong. . . . We talk hard but we don’t took in Mary Nancy Eastman.33 to learn from your own lips, if the Bird we blame you.”33a RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 17 Move to Oak Grove and killed. He was survived by at least school, but few children were attending Cloud Man’s determination to stay at one other son, known as Drifter II, or because of tribal opposition to the mis Lake Calhoun now proved impossible. Joseph Graham.34 sionary’s work.36 Stevens and his family were gone, Talia In August, 1841 the chiefs were called Cloud Man stood out among many of ferro was resigning, and the band was to Traverse des Sioux to meet with Wis his contemporaries on the then-raging under threat of Ojibwe attack. Perhaps consin Governor James D. Doty. He discussion of issues concerning religion, most conclusively, Major Joseph Plymp- asked them to sign a treaty giving up missionaries, and education. He had ton, commandant at Fort Snelling, de much of their land for reservations on come to view the Dakota religion in a lesser light than Christianity. He told cided about that time that whites and In the Minnesota River. The chiefs signed Samuel Pond that he regarded many of dians alike should not be living on the (though Cloud Man does not seem to the tribe’s medicine men as imposters, military reservation whose boundaries have been among them). Samuel Pond and when a Medicine Dance (Wakan lay to the west and north of Lake Harriet, wrote discouragingly—“The Sioux sold Wacipi) was held near Mendota in 1844, enclosing the site of Cloud Man’s vil all their land.” But the treaty was defeated by Congress, much to the pleasure of the he refused to attend. Cloud Man was de lage. Cloud Man’s band would be left Dakota, who’d had second thoughts about rided for his view. Pond reported that the with no further support for the agricul the matter. Meanwhile, the Dakota were Dakota “were very angry. . . . They re tural experiment at Lake Calhoun. In fact, greatly disturbed over another attack by proached the chief for listening to us.” Taliaferro’s replacement, Amos Bruce, Hole-in-the-Day in 1842. The Ojibwe Cloud Man also continued to ignore decided that the band should remove to drew the men of Kaposia into an ambush the traders’ rumors about the Dakota edu the Credit River, on the south side of the south of St. Paul and killed a dozen or cation fund money. The traders said that Minnesota River. However, Cloud Man more. In the peace council held at Fort $5,000 a year of the treaty money was and his people were opposed to going to Snelling in 1843, Cloud Man was among being paid to support the missionaries Credit River. Other Dakota opposed the the Dakota chiefs who taunted Hole-in- rather than the Dakota, that if the Dakota intrusion there, even though the Ponds the-Day for his past misdeeds, but then opposed the mission work they would re were hired to plow land at that location. agreed to sign a peace agreement. The ceive the money in cash (of course, then Instead, Cloud Man sought refuge at Oak scene had to be repeated again in 1850 the Dakota would have more money to Grove, six miles up the Minnesota River with Hole-in-the-Day’s son.35 pay their credits). But those of Cloud from Fort Snelling. Due to this, in July, Man’s people who believed the rumors 1840 Samuel Pond received permission Missionary Influence threatened to whip the children who at to follow the band to that location; he After settling at Oak Grove, Cloud Man tended the mission school. A year later, soon established the Oak Grove Mission, became increasingly influenced by the in July, 1845 Cloud Man and his head and his brother was hired as the govern missionaries.. He allowed his grand soldier, Star, also took an unpopular ment farmer for the band. daughter, Mary Nancy Eastman, to live stand against whiskey drinking, refusing Gideon Pond could not have been op with Samuel Pond as a foster child. Pond to drink with some of the other men. The timistic about his task. He described the wrote in January, 1841 that he’d had a men took offense at this and threatened to new location as being “on a narrow strip “half-breed” girl of fourteen living with kill the chief. In fact, the chiefs brother- of land on the bank of the St. Peters him for the previous eight months: “She in-law, Whistling Wind, was involved in [Minnesota] from 10 to 30 rods in width, is the granddaughter of a chief [Cloud whiskey trafficking at Lac qui Parle. But destitute of timber for building, flooded Man]. She assists me considerably in Cloud Man, Star (Wicanrpitanka), and in high water, and cut off from the main writing discourses for the Indians and Traveling Hail (Wasuhiyayedan), were land by an impassable swamp and lake, often seems herself very anxious for the determined to stop drinking and signed 10 or 12 miles in length.” Certainly the salvation of her soul and those of her temperance pledges in 1849. In spite of site did not bode well for agriculture, al relatives.” Ten years later, she was seen Cloud Man’s pro-white tendencies, peo though it afforded some protection from during the treaty councils at Traverse des ple continued to join his band which by surprise attack. Pond reported too that the Sioux by newspaperman James Goodhue. 1849 numbered an all time high of 229.36a band had divided. Drifter and his anti He wrote: “There is in one of the Indian missionary following encamped two lodges a very beautiful girl, the daughter Anti-Missionary miles away from Cloud Man’s group. of an officer of the U.S.A___She has ac Factionalism Drifter’s people even drove off Pond’s quired an English education at the mis The decline of the Cloud Man band in oxen, but when the military threatened to sion school. . . . She writes a beautiful terms of their commitment to blending imprison them if the oxen were not re hand, but is bashful to converse much their culture with that of the Americans turned, Drifter returned the property. with those who visit her. She is dressed soon was obvious to all. In August, 1848 Gideon Pond, however, refused to plow like civilized women and with much Gideon Pond complained to his Mission for them that year. Then, on April 8,1841 taste. . . .” Also, in 1848 Cloud Man’s ary Board that most of the leading men at Drifter and one of his sons were am granddaughter, Jane Lamont, was a the Oak Grove village were hostile to bushed near Camp Coldwater by Ojibwe teacher at the Oak Grove mission ward Christianity—all except for Cloud 18 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY should be tom from all who came to our meetings on the Sabbath.” Conversions therefore were few. In fact, Gideon Pond wrote one story which indicated that the Dakota continued to cling to their tradi tional religion. While at Oak Grove, Black Boy’s grandson died at the Mission House. Afterward, Black Boy (Hoksi- dansapa) stood on the brow of the bluff and addressed the spirit world: “Friends, pause and look this way, say ye, the grandson of Black Boy is coming.”37 While at Oak Grove, Cloud Man also faced an all-too-precarious food short age. Mary Eastman (wife of Captain Seth Eastman, who returned to Fort Snelling in 1848) wrote of seeing Star and his wife Winona at the fort. The couple had a child only three days old who was “shriv eling with hunger.” When asked about the child’s condition, Winona said that she could not feed the baby as she had not eaten since it was bom. Gideon Pond also complained that many of the young men spent their winters hunting Ojibwe rather than deer and so came back starving. Also, the whiskey trade in St. Paul was booming and many of the Indians spent their annuity money on alcohol, rather than food supplies. In the fall of 1849, Philander Prescott reported that the Cloud Man band had better success with their crops—forty-five acres plowed, 1,350 bushels of com raised, and most of it pre served by boiling the com before it was ripe and scraping it into bags where it would keep for several years. But the crop of 1851 was destroyed by another flood of the Minnesota River.38 Map showing the changing boundaries of the Fort Snelling military reservation which, by 1839, placed Cloud Man’s village within the reservation. Minnesota Historical Society collections. The Treaty of 1851 Necessity, plus the urging of the traders and the new territorial governor of Min Man. The chief tried to convince them favor of the missionaries “his heart was nesota, Alexander Ramsey, brought the otherwise, saying “They must become not strong.” Mdewakanton to Mendota in 1851 to civilized or perish from off the face of the When Pond’s preaching attracted sev make a new treaty. The leaders mainly earth.” But the education fund problem eral women of the band, there were re signed the agreement, by which they had not been settled and in July, 1849 Bad newed threats by the anti-missionary fac gave up all of their Minnesota lands in Hail, the tribal speaker, demanded that tion. Pond reported: “The great men exchange for a reservation and the the government pay the Dakota their appear to fear that if they let [the church money from the Treaty of 1837. Cloud treaty money. Gideon Pond regretted that goers] . . . alone all the common people Man, Star, Iron Elk (Herekamaza), Red during a council Bad Hail and others had will go away and believe on Jesus. It is re Boy and Smoky Day—were among the prevented Cloud Man from speaking his ported that Red Boy (Hoksidanduta) said signers of the agreement, knowing that mind. Later, Cloud Man told Pond that that whereas the missionaries were get they soon would have to move. The when it came time for him to speak in ting away with all the money, the clothes treaty had designated two strips of land RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 19 along the river in southern and western Minnesota as reservations. These were known as the Upper Sioux Reservation in Yellow Medicine County and the Lower Sioux Reservation in Redwood County. In late December, Cloud Man and a few of his followers visited Colonel John H. Stevens, whose white frame house was the first in present-day Minneapolis. The chief said that “he could not expect to see his white friends in this neighbor hood in the future, as his band would soon move for the winter into the hunting grounds of the big woods, and when spring came, should follow the Dakota to their reservation on the upper Minnesota River.” Stevens wrote that he gave the chief and his family food.39, The following year the chiefs were asked to sign an amended version of the treaty that stated that they would not own their reservations. The chiefs balked at this, saying that they wanted a permanent home and did not want the government to Part of the Mdewakanton-Wahpekute delegation that traveled to Washington, D. C., to nego send them to the western prairies to starve tiate the 1858 treaty. Standing are, left to right, Big Eagle, Traveling Hail, and Red Legs; sit ting, Medicine Bottle, The Thief, and an unidentified man. Cloud Man was not among them. them to death. To make matters worse, J. E. Whitney photograph, Minnesota Historical Society collections. the Mdewakanton were short of food again. High water on the Minnesota River had caused Cloud Man’s cornfields to be The Reservation Years Cloud Man never had been a leading abandoned; and the com crops planted on Although the Dakota removal was de chief among the Mdewakanton, al twenty additional acres failed due to bad layed for a time, in the fall of 1853 Cloud though he participated in all major seed and poor plowing. However, Gover Man and his people were marched to the councils and treaty matters. During the nor Alexander Ramsey used this to try to Lower Sioux Reservation at the fork of 1830s he was overshadowed by more coerce the chiefs into signing the treaty; the Minnesota and Redwood rivers (near vocal and prominent chiefs, particularly he also withheld their annuities. today’s Redwood Falls). Here their annu Big Thunder (or Little Crow) and After the chiefs signed, the Cloud Man ity money was distributed and they then Shakopee II (Six). Cloud Man appar and Little Crow bands traveled to Rice returned to a camping ground near Belle ently was not a gregarious orator, as Lake (fifty miles north of St. Paul) to Plaine. By this time Cloud Man was records of his speeches are limited. gather wild rice and cranberries. Some of “very old,” according to his son, David Also, for about seven years he had en the warriors, including Star’s son, appar Weston (or Seeing Stone), and he re dured living in the shadow of Drifter, ently Mazaiheydan, killed two Ojibwe signed his leadership. For several years who had claimed first chieftainship of during the trip, and when they returned to Star (or Big Star) was the acting chief the band. By the mid-1840s, Cloud St. Paul, Ramsey had Star’s son and four of the band. But in 1854 the band split Man’s support of the missionaries had others imprisoned at Fort Snelling. He into two divisions, one led by Star and kept his popularity from rivaling that of said that he would not release them until Traveling Hail and the other by Cloud Little Crow (Taoyateduta), who soon the chiefs signed a receipt, by which treaty Man and Red Boy. In 1857 the band coa became the tribal speaker. Cloud Man, money was transferred to the traders. lesced with Cloud Man and Red Boy nonetheless, persisted in following his Cloud Man later testified about the situa becoming part of the band led by Travel own course, and thus showed himself a tion: “We waited near two months at the ing Hail (though Star seems to have man of character and psychological agency for our money, until our children remained chief of a smaller following strength. He gave himself wholeheart were near starving; we staid [sic] until through 1862). During these years, Cloud edly to the rise of the Eatonville experi the snow fell. I do not know of any provi Man’s band had a summer planting vil ment and witnessed its fall. Now, as an sions being issued to the Indians.” Star lage about three miles south of the old man with little influence, he saw a added: “They wanted us to die of hunger.” agency serving the Lower Dakota and like-experiment conducted on the reser Finally, the chiefs capitulated to Ramsey’s close to the Wapahasha (III) and Wakute vation again headed for disaster. demands.40 (II) bands.41 With Taliaferro, agricultural issues 20 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY were a voluntary matter; now government making.’ It was my great grandfather, taking with him recruits for the Union officials used as much pressure as they Cloud Man, whose original village was Army. Although he had issued annuity could to persuade the Dakota to farm. on the shores of Lakes Calhoun and provisions to the starving Sisseton and This divided the tribe into a traditionalist Harriet. . . . He was the first Sioux chief Wahpeton bands at Yellow Medicine, he faction, which wanted to continue to hunt to welcome the Protestant missionaries refused to do the same for the Mde for a living, and the farmer, or “progres among his people, and a well-known wakanton, leaving a situation fraught sive,” faction, which acquiesced in character in those pioneer days.” Cloud with pain and suffering. blending Dakota ways with those of the Man warned his relatives that Ojibwe had By chance, on August 17 several mem whites to receive preferential treatment. killed several Dakota (of Red Irons’ Sis- bers of Red Middle Voice’s band killed a In spite of the farming efforts and treaty seton band) on the river.44 number of whites at the Acton settlement annuities, the tribe still had to hunt to sur in Meeker County. A Soldiers’ Lodge, vive. More often than not, the bands similar to the military police of a modem spent the winter months in the Big army, had been active among the Dakota Woods region of central Minnesota, and its members decided to make this the hunting deer or other game. Red Boy led opening of a war upon the whites for not a party of eighty of Cloud Man’s band to honoring the treaties and leaving them in the Rush River area in the winter of a starving condition. The Cloud Man 1856- 57 and in three weeks killed 250 band was not consulted about the matter. deer and other animals. In the winter of Traveling Hail, the acting chief, recently 1857- 58, the Mdewakanton hunted at had been elected the tribal speaker, and Grand Lake; and in 1858-59 some 300 he opposed the war, but he and Cloud Dakota hunted southwest of St. Cloud, H t Man could not stop it. According to taking 1,000 deer.42 Samuel Pond, Cloud Man was then the last of the old guard of chiefs who had The Dakota Conflict of 1862 visited Washington in 1837. Now an old Dakota discontent went from bad to worse man and out of office, “He sat down and after the Treaty of 1858. The negotiations wept over the min which he could not were conducted in Washington, where prevent.” Drifter (H), Star’s son, Mazai- Traveling Hail and Iron Elk represented heyedan, and Iron Elk participated in the thé Cloud Man band. Pressured into giv war and later were held prisoner at Camp ing up half of their reservation, the tribe at Davenport, Iowa.45 least hoped for more treaty money. How The Indians’ initial attack was made on Probably the Sisseton Cloud Man and not the Lower Dakota Agency in Redwood ever, in 1861 all of the treaty money was the Mdewakanton leader. Frank B. Mayer swallowed up by the claims of the reser papers, Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois. County. Old Philander Prescott, who had vation traders. On top of this, in the been instrumental in the founding of spring of 1862 it was learned that the Eatonville, was among those killed, in tribe might not receive all of their old an spite of his marriage to Mary Keeiyah. Six nuity money as well. The Mdewakanton In June, 1862 Agent Thomas Gal weeks later Cloud Man and most of his warriors formed a Soldiers’ Lodge, and braith announced that the annuity pay relatives surrendered to General Henry in doing so took back political control of ment would take place in early July. Sibley at Camp Release, near today’s the tribe from the chiefs.43 Thus, the Mdewakanton, probably Cloud Montevideo, Minnesota. However, Cloud Little is known of Cloud Man person Man and his relatives among them, gath Man’s great grandson, Ohiyesa, was taken ally during this period, except for a remi ered at the Lower Sioux agency to await along with most of the Wahpeton to North niscence by his great grandson, Charles the paymaster, Clark W. Thompson. Dakota. About 1,300 of the surrendered A. Eastman. Eastman was about five years When Thompson arrived, however, he Dakota were brought down to Fort old in the spring of 1862 when his rela asked the chiefs if they would take Snelling. A large picketed enclosure was tives took him to make maple sugar. He “greenbacks” instead of the usual gold built on the river bottomland and here the recalled in later years: coin; the chiefs resisted and Thompson Dakota were interned, living in their “... I stood one day outside of our hut returned to St. Paul, promising to come womout buffalo skin lodges. and watched the approach of a visitor—a back with the payment money. However, Living conditions were deplorable and bent old man, his hair almost white, and weeks went by and Thompson did not disease spread quickly in the crowded carrying on his back a large bundle of red reappear. Meanwhile, the Dakota were lodges. During the winter, about 130 willow, or kinnikinick, which the Indians worried about their fate if the North lost people died, particularly of measles, and use for smoking. He threw down his load the then-raging Civil War. To make mat Cloud Man was among them. He at the door and thus saluted us: ‘You ters worse, on August 15 agent Galbraith probably was buried somewhere in the have indeed perfect weather for sugar abandoned the Lower Sioux reservation, bottomland of the Minnesota River.46 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 21 Cloud Man’s Descendants her father’s death arrived in late January of Riggs’s Hazelwood Mission community The Mdewakanton survivors were re that year. Yet another granddaughter, Jane of Indian farmers in Lac qui Parle moved to Crow Creek in South Dakota in Lamont, married Star Titus, a nephew of County. The chief was opposed to the the late spring of 1863. Traveling Hail the Pond brothers.47 Dakota Conflict of 1862 and, with the remained a leader of the refugees. In Feb help of his sons and Gabriel Renville, The Other Cloud Man ruary, 1867 he went to Washington to tried to frustrate Little Crow’s prosecu represent his people, but he was suffering As stated earlier, Cloud Man, the Mde tion of it. At one point he wanted to from dropsy and died on April 25, the wakanton chief, has been confused with gather up the Dakota living on the Upper day after he returned home. at least one other man by the same name, Sioux Reservation and attack the hostiles The Mdewakanton then were removed who lived among the Wahpeton in west under Little Crow. When this plan did to the Santee Reservation at Niobrara, ern Minnesota. Missionary Stephen Riggs not work out, he went with Mazamani and Paul Mazakutemani to ask the hos Nebraska. Cloud Man’s son, David We wrote of a Cloud Man, or Sky Man of Wahpeton and Mdewakanton descent, tiles (unsuccessfully) to give up their ston, or Seeing Stone (Tunkanwanyakapi), who was a son of “Old Eve,” a brother of captives.50 left the reservation and made his home at Little Paul Mazakutemani, and bom about In late September, 1862 Cloud Man Flandrau, South Dakota, where an appar 1790. His sons (perhaps one by mar fell in with his son-in-law, Running ent brother, Philip Weston, also lived. riage) were Solomon Two Stars (Wicanr- Walker, who was himself Little Crow’s David Weston became a catechist for the pinonpa) and Amos Ecetukiya (He Who father-in-law, and retreated to Devil’s Episcopal Church. Brings What He Wants). He also had a Lake, North Dakota. In fact, most of the Cloud Man’s other apparent son, Smoky number of other children (possibly by an Wahpeton chose this as preferable to an Day (Anpetusota), was with the Mde earlier wife), including Paints Himself immediate surrender, thinking that mass wakanton who did not surrender to the Brown (Giiciye), Iron Heart (Cantemaza), hanging might be their fate. Even the Americans and fled to the Canadian border. Light Face (Itojanjan), and Sacred Stone Christianized leader, Henok Appearing He was killed by Ojibwe near Turtle that Paints Itself Red (Tukanshaiciye). Cloud, who was closely associated with Mountain in the late 1860s. Charles East He was a member of the Running Walker Cloud Man’s son, Giiciye, was among man, who knew him as a tribal historian, (Inyangmani) band of Lac qui Parle from those who fled Minnesota. They spent wrote that “He was a living book of the the 1830s through the 1850s and eventu the winter of 1862-63 at Devil’s Lake, traditions and history of his people. Among ally became the band’s second chief, no while Little Crow tried to gain support his effects were bundles of small sticks, doubt because he was the father of Run for the war from other bands in the notched and painted. One bundle contained ning Walker’s wife, Great Banner Woman Dakota confederation, as well as other the number of his own years. Another was (Tawapahatanka). From as early as 1838, tribes. composed of sticks representing the impor he participated in all important events re In the spring of 1863, Cloud Man ac tant events of history, each of which was garding the Lac qui Parle Wahpeton.48 companied Little Crow on a trip to the marked with the number of years since that As this Cloud Man’s prominence Missouri River. In early May Little Crow particular event had occurred.” grew, he often was a spokesman for his decided to see if the Fort Berthold Indi Cloud Man’s granddaughter, Mary people. He signed the Treaty of Traverse ans—the Arickara and Hidatsa—would Nancy Eastman, married Many Light des Sioux in 1851 and in 1852 protested support them in a continuation of the nings (Itewakanhdiota), a Wahpeton, against unilateral payment of treaty conflict with the whites. However, the and had five children. In about 1858 she money to the traders. In 1856 he joined Arickaras attacked Little Crow’s party gave birth to her last child, named the Wahpeton and Sisseton Dakota and in the rout that followed, Cloud Man Hakadah (The Pitiful Last), also known chiefs in protesting the traders’ talk of and a son reportedly were killed. His as Ohiyesa (Victor) and Charles A. East moving the Dakota farther west. In 1857, band and descendants settled eventually man. She died some months after his along with Running Walker, he spoke of on reservations at Sisseton, South birth, and he was taken to live in Canada his disappointment with the Treaty of Dakota, and Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. after the War of 1862, where he re 1851. Cloud Man said, “At the Treaty of His son, Adam Ironheart, became the mained until his teen years. At that point, Traverse des Sioux, $275,000 was to be head of a Dakota enclave at Granite Falls, his father, John Eastman, brought him paid them when they came upon their Minnesota, in the 1880s.51 back to the United States where he be reservation; they desire to know what came a physician and a famous author of has become of it.... [Ejvery white man Mark Dietrich is a descendant of pioneers books about Indian life. knows they have been for five years on who arrived in Minnesota in the 1850s. Cloud Man’s other noted granddaugh the reservation and have yet heard noth He writes and publishes books about the ter, Mary L. Taliaferro, married Warren ing of it.”49 Dakota, Ojibwe, and Winnebago. His ar Woodbury, a carpenter and teamster. He In 1858 Cloud Man split from Running ticle, “The Dakota Perspective—We have died during the Civil War, leaving her Walker and became chief of his own band Been Cheated So Often” appeared in the with a number of children. She was still of eighty-three people. His village was lo Spring, 1999, issue of Ramsey County living in St. Paul in 1871 when news of cated some small distance above Stephen History. 22 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Endnotes Minnesota History 52(Winter 1990): 146-153. It nesota in Three Centuries 2:241. The site of the may be that Taliaferro fathered another child, Pond cabin is marked by a tablet at 35th St. and E. 1. Minnesota Democrat (St. Paul), June 10,1851; Hannah, by another Dakota woman. See Chauncy Calhoun Boulevard in south Minneapolis. Charles Eastman to H. M. Hitchcock, September Hobart, A History of Methodism (Red Wing: Red 17. Taliaferro Journal, June 24, 1836, LTP; Gary 8, 1927, Minnesota Archaeologist 12 (January Wing Printing, 1887), p. 19-20. 1946): 7-11. C. Anderson, “Introduction,” for Pond, ibid., p. 12. Parker, ed., Philiander Prescott, p. 36, 126. xii-xv; Deanne Z. Weber, “Childhood Among the la. Regarding Cloud Man’s age, Thomas Hughes Oddly, Taliaferro says that the Eatonville project Dakota, Jane Gibbs: ‘Little Bird that Was gives 1780 as an approximate date; Johann Kohl commenced in June 1828, while Cloud Man’s Caught,”’ Ramsey County History 31 (Spring also seems to indicate that Cloud Man was bom speech indicates that it began in “the winter of 1996):8. Lake Harriet was named for Harriet about then. However, Prescott calls Cloud Man 1828,” which confuses the issue. However, Leavenworth, the wife of Lieutenant Colonel “an old man” in 1829—tending to make the chief Prescott says that it was 1829, as does Taliaferro’s Henry Leavenworth. older than he reputedly thought; Thomas Hughes, Journal of April 15,1829, LTP; James B. Rhoads, 18. Taliaferro Journal, September 3, 1835, May Indian Chiefs o f Southern Minnesota (Minneapo The Fort Snelling Area in 1835, A Contemporary 23, 1836, LTP; Folwell, History o f Minnesota, lis: Ross and Haines, Inc., 1969), p. 34; Johann G. Map,” Minnesota History 35 (March 1956): 28. Kohl, Kitchi-Gami, Life Among the Lake Superior 1:193-194; Edward J. Lettermann, From Whole Ojibway (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society 13. Taliaferro Journal, May 2, 19, 1829, LTP; Log to No Log (Minneapolis: Dillon Press, Inc., Press, Borealis Books, 1985), p. 125, and Donald William W. Folwell, A History o f Minnesota (St. 1969), p. 117; Hansen, Old Fort Snelling, p. 155. D. Parker, ed. The Reminiscences o f Philander Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1956), 1:185; see The land occupied by the Stevens’ house was later Prescott (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, also, Julie A. Humann, “The Two Worlds of Jane bought by D. E. Dow in 1850—the ruins still pre 1966), p. 126; John F. Aiton and Family Papers, Gibbs: The Gibbs Farm and the Santee Dakota,” sent. Lucy L. Morris, et al., ed. Old Rail Fence Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), St. Paul. On Ramsey County History 35 (Spring 2000): 4-13. Comers (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Red Wing, see Mark Diedrich, Famous Dakota Press, 1976), p. 62. A marker was placed for the 13a. Folwell, History o f Minnesota 1:185-186; mission school near West Lake Harriet Boulevard Chiefs, Volume One (Rochester, Minn.: Coyote Parker, ed. Philander Prescott, p. 126-127; at 42nd Street. See, Minnesota, A State Guide Books, 1999). Return I. Holcolmbe and Lucius Hubbard, Min (New York: Hastings House, 1954), p. 192. 2. Samuel W. Pond, Jr., Two Volunteer Mission nesota in Three Centuries, 1655-1908, 4 vols. aries among the Dakotas (Boston: Congregational (Mankato: Publishing Society of Minnesota, 18. Folwell, ibid., 1:193-195; Taliaferro Journal, Sunday-School and Publishing Society, 1893), 1908), 2:2411-242; Taliaferro Journals, Annuity September 4, 1835, July 6, 1838, LTP; J. D. p. 137-38; Hughes, ibid, p. 40-41. Lists, 1831-1833, LTP. On Red Bird and his Stevens to David Greene, November 31, 1836, shamanistic activities see Stephen R. Riggs, Tah- January 2,1837, American Board of Commission 3. Printed in Minnesota Democrat (St. Paul), koo Wah-kan; or, The Gospel Among the Dakotas ers for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) Papers, copies February 11, 1852; see also, Kohl, Kitchi-Gami, (Boston: Congregational Sabbath School and in MHS, St. Paul; Lettermann, Whole Log, p. 120. p. 123-125. Publishing Society, 1869), p. 99-101, and Pond, On June 12, 1839 Lucy Stevens married a Swiss 4. Lawrence Taliaferro Journals, September 21, Dakotas or Sioux in Minnesota, p. 90. missionary, Rev. Daniel Gavin, who was working 1821, Lawrence Taliaferro Papers (LTP), MHS, at the Red Wing village. Taliaferro Journal, June 14. Taliaferro Journal, May 1, 1831, August 14, St. Paul. 12,1839, LTP. 1832, LTP. On the subject of chieftainship, see the 5. Taliaferro Journals, May 10, September 21, introduction to Mark Diedrich, Ojibway Chiefs: 18a. Stevens to Greene, January 27, 1836, 1821, July 14,1826, August 11,1827, LTP. Portraits o f Anishinaabe Leadership (Rochester, ABCFM Papers. Minn.: Coyote Books, 1999), p. 5-25, much of 6. William H. Keating, Narrative o f an Expedi 19. Taliaferro Journal, July 26, 1838, LTP; which is applicable to the Dakota. tion to the Source o f St. Peter’s River. 2 vols. (Min Willoughby Babcock, “The Taliaferro Map of the neapolis: Ross and Haines, Inc., 1959), 1:259-60; 15. Gary C. Anderson, Kinsmen o f Another Kind: St. Peters Indian Agency,” Minnesota Archaeolo Taliaferro Journal, September 30,1823, LTP. Dakota White Relations in the Upper Mississippi gist ll(October 1945): 122; Anderson, Kinsmen of Valley, 1650-1862 (Lincoln: University of Ne Another Kind, p. 144-145; Maida L. Riggs, ed. A 7. Hughes, Indian Chiefs, p. 43; Eastman to Hitch braska Press, 1984), p. 43; Taliaferro Journal, May Small Bit of Bread and Butter (South Deerfield, cock, September 8,1927; Pond, Jr., Two Volunteer 14, 1832, LTP; Nancy Goodman and Robert MA: Ash Grove Press, 1996), p. 37; Map, 1839, in Missionaries, p. 232,143. Mary Eastman seems to Goodman, Joseph R. Brown, Adventurer on the Folwell, History o f Minnesota, page after p. 424. indicate that Red Boy was a son of Cloud Man, in Minnesota Frontier, 1820-1849 (Rochester, Minn.: Mary H. Eastman, Dacotah, or Life and Legends 20. Ruth Landes, The Mystic Lake Sioux: Sociol Lone Oak Press, 1996), p. 115; Marcus L. Hansen, o f the Sioux Around Fort Snelling (New York: ogy of the Mdewakantonwon Santee (Milwaukee: Old Fort Snelling, 1819-1958 (Iowa City: State Amo Press, 1975), p. 98. Gary Anderson calls University of Wisconsin Press, 1968), p. 91; New Historical Society of Iowa, 1918), p. 150. Trader’s Smoky Day a son of Cloud Man, in Gary C. ton H. Winchell, The Aborigines o f Minnesota accounts with members of Cloud Man’s band are Anderson, Little Crow: Spokesman fo r the Sioux (St. Paul: Pioneer Company, 1911), p. 549; Paul in NARG 75, Special Files, no. 200, microfilm (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, Durand, Where the Waters Gather and the Rivers copy in MHS and in Indian Credit Books, Henry 1986), p. 24. It is also stated that Cloud Man was Meet (Published by the author, 1994), p. 22; Pond, H. Sibley Papers, MHS. Taliaferro’s action in the father of Winona Bowers, the grandmother of Jr., Two Volunteer Missionaries, p. 46-47. Drifter’s 1832 may also be seen as a measure to keep the Howard Jones, in Affadavit of Lena Campbell of name is often spelled rather curiously, such as goodwill of the Mdewakanton leaders, due to the Welch, Minnesota. “Kockomocko,” “Cocomoco,” or “Kokomoko.” outbreak of the Black Hawk War to the south in He had seven in his family in 1833. A list of the 8. Taliaferro Journals, September 26,1821, May Illinois and Wisconsin. However, the Sac and Fox Cloud Man and Drifter band is in Taliaferro Jour 28,1826, LTP. were hereditary enemies of the Dakota and eventu nals, Annuity Lists 1831-1833, LTP. Drifter and ally many Mdewakanton joined in the fight on the 9. Taliaferro Journal, September 8,1827, January his sons are also mentioned in the Alexis Bailly side of U.S. troops. 28,1828. LTP. Credit Books of 1825; see NARG 75, Special File, 16. Hansen, ibid., p. 150-154; Taliaferro Journal, no. 200, roll 59, copy in MHS. 10. Samuel W. Pond, The Dakotas or Sioux in May 23, 1836, LTP; Folwell, History of Min Minnesota as They were in 1834 (St. Paul: Min 21. Taliaferro Journal, August 8,1835, LTP. nesota 1:186-87; Pond, Jr., Two Volunteer Mis nesota Historical Society Press, 1986), p. 10. sionaries, p. 39-40; Pond, The Dakotas or Sioux in 22. NARG 75, Special File 200, Register of 11. See Rena N. Coen, “Eliza Dillon Taliaferro,” Minnesota, p. 11; Holcombe and Hubbard, Min Claimants, 1837; Stevens to Greene, January 8, RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 23 1838, ABCFM Papers; Coen, “Taliaferro,” p. 33a. Taliaferro Journal, August 8,28,1839, LTP. uary 17,1860, NARG 75, LR, St. Peter’s Agency 150fn; Eastman to Hitchcock, September 8,1927, and Mankato Weekly Record, February 21,1863. 34. Map, 1839, Folwell, History o f Minnesota, p. 9; Coen, “Eliza Taliaferro,” p. 150fn; Taliaferro page after p. 424; G. Pond to Greene, August 28, 42. On Red Boy and hunting, see Minnesota Weekly Journal, August 23,1838, LTP. Daniel Lamont, a 1840, Samuel Pond to Greene, July 14,1840, May Times (St. Paul), January 10,1857, St. Cloud Visi Canadian trader-turned U.S. citizen, was appar 8,1841, ABCFM Papers; Lettermann, Whole Log, ter, December 10,1857, and St. Cloud Democrat, ently married to a daughter of a Sisseton Dakota p. 156-157, 160-161; Theodore C. Blegen and December 9,1858. chief at a slightly earlier period. See Goodman and Philip D. Jordan, eds., With Various Voices, Goodman, Joseph Brown, p. 52,56. 43. These matters are outlined more fully in Mark Recordings of North Star Life (St. Paul: Webb Diedrich, “The Dakota Perspective: ‘We Have 23. George W. Featherstonhaugh, A Canoe Voy Publishing Co., 1949), p. 47-48; Richard G. Mur Been Cheated So Often,”’ Ramsey County History age up the Minnay Sotor (St. Paul: Minnesota His phy to Thomas H. Harvey, October 9, 1848, 34(Spring 1999):25-27; On Iron Elk see Gary C. torical Society, 1970), 2:10-11. NARG 75, Letters Received (LR), St. Peter’s Anderson and Alan R. Wollworth, eds., Through Agency. Cloud Man, Drifter, Walking Hoop, 24. Folwell, History o f Minnesota l:119fn. Dakota Eyes (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Soci Foolish Buffalo and Tomah petitioned for land for ety Press, 1988), p. 66. 25. Stephen R. Riggs, Mary and I: Forty Years interpreter Scott Campbell, which was deleted with the Sioux (Boston: Congregational Sunday from the Treaty of 1837. Petition of Cloud Man’s 44. Charles A. Eastman, Indian Boyhood (Eau School and Publishing Society, 1880), p. 43-44; band, December 2, 1839, NARG 75, LR, St. Claire: E. M. Hale and Company, 1930), p. 35. Lettermann, Whole Log, p. 118,120. Peter’s Agency. 45. Diedrich, “The Dakota Perspective,” p. 26-27; 26. Taliaferro Journal, June 1, 14, 1838, LTP; 35. S. Pond to Greene, September 22, 1841, Pond, Dakotas or Sioux in Minnesota, p. 63. Infor Edward D. Neill, History of the Minnesota Valley Thomas Williamson to Greene, May 16, 1843, mation on Traveling Hail is found in Kenneth Car- (St. Paul: North Star Pub. Co., 1882). ABCFM Papers; Anderson, Kinsmen o f Another ley, “As Red Men Viewed It,” Minnesota History 27. Niles’ National Register (Washington), Octo Kind, p. 163-165; Treaty of 1841, NARG 75, LR, 38 (September 1962): 147. Bom in about 1821, ber 7, 1837; Chauncy Bush Minute Book, 1837, St. Peter’s Agency. Drifter II, or Joseph Graham, later lived at Men- Bentley Historical Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 36. S. Pond to Greene, January 1841, ABCFM dota and then the Birch Coulie Indian Settlement Gary C. Anderson, “The Removal of the Mde- Papers. near Morton, Minnesota. wakanton Dakota in 1837; A Case for Jacksonian 36a. Pond, The Dakotas or Sioux in Minnesota, 46. Hughes, Indian Chiefs, p. 51; Mark Diedrich, Paternalism,” South Dakota History 10 (Fall Old Betsey: The Life and Times o f a Famous 1980): 328fn. p. 90; Samuel Pond to Greene, February 7, 1844; Pond, Jr., Two Volunteer Missionaries, p. 173; Dakota Woman (Rochester, Minn.: Coyote Books, 28. See Niles’ National Register, October 7,1837; Minnesota Pioneer (St. Paul), August 23, 1849; 1995), p. 69. Prescott’s wife, Mary Keeiyah, died Bush Minute Book, 1837; Anderson, ‘The Re Murphy to Harvey, October 9, 1848, NARG 75, in early April, 1867. Their daughter, Lucy, married moval of the Mdewakanton Dakota,” p. 325. LR, St. Peter’s Agency. On the education fund Eli Pettijohn. Minneapolis Ckronicle, April 2, 1867. 29. Taliaferro Journal, July 16, August 3,14, Oc money, see also Amos J. Bruce to John Chambers, tober 8, 15,1838, LTP; Thomas S. Williamson to September 1, 1843, NARG 75, LR, St. Peter’s 47. Lettermann, Whole Log, p. 184; Eastman, In Greene, May 3,1838, Stevens to Greene, June 26, Agency, and Thomas Williamson, Sermon, June dian Boyhood, 115; On David Weston, see 1838, ABCFM Papers. 25, 1876, in Manuscripts Relating to Northwest Hughes, Indian Chiefs, p. 43. Traveling Hail’s Missions (MRNWM), Grace Lee Nute Papers, death is reported in J. M. Stone to Denman, May 30. Taliaferro Journal, August 3, October 8, 15, MHS, St. Paul. On Whistling Wind, see Martin 31,1867, NARG 75, LR, St. Peter’s Agency. 1838, LTP. McLeod to Henry Sibley, Sibley Papers. Other 48. Stephen R. Riggs, “Dakota Portraits,” Min 31. Gideon Pond’s account is in John H. Steven, leading men of the Cloud Man band were Big nesota History Bulletin 2(1918):547—549; Joe Personal Recollections of Minnesota and Its Tomahawk ( Wicunkpitanka), His Road (Tacanku), Ironheart to Dana Wright, March 15, 1946, Dana People and Early History of Minneapolis (Min and His Iron Tomahawk (Tacunkpimaza) (Trans neapolis: M. Robinson, 1890), p. 398-99; Talia lations by Louie Garcia of Tokio, North Dakota.) Wright Papers, State Historical Society of North ferro Journal, July 1, 5, 1839, LTP; Weber, “A Dakota, Bismarck; Taliaferro Journal, June 24, 37. Missionaries to ABCFM, August 31, 1848, 1838, August 31,1839, LTP. Pioneer Child,” p. 10; Morris, ed. Old Rail Fence Gideon Pond to Treat, July 9, 1849, ABCFM Comers, p. 108; Stevens to Greene, July 8, 1839, Papers; Lettermann, Whole Log, p. 186; Minne 49. Charles J. Kappler, comp, and ed. Indian Af ABCFM Papers. Mary Eastman says that the first sota Democrat, February 18,1852. fairs, Laws and Treaties 2 vols. (Washington: individual killed by Ojibwe was Beloved Hail and Government Printing Office, 1904), 2:589, Senate that the one who gave the alarm was Red Boy. 38. Eastman, Dacotah, p. vii.; Lettermann, ibid., p. Executive Document, no. 61, p. 30, Petition of “Neeh Kaah” is listed on an 1832 annuity roll (just 185; Parker, ed., Philander Prescott, p. 212; Wahpeton leaders, February 15, 1856, NARG 75, below an entry for Cloud Man) with three in his Nathaniel McLean to Alexander Ramsey, Septem LR, St. Peter’s Agency. It is presumably this family. Eastman, Dahcotah, p. 98. He is also ber 1,1851, NARG 75, St. Peter’s Agency. Cloud Man who was sketched at Traverse des called Rupacokamaza, or Iron in the Middle of the 39. Lettermann, ibid., p. 197. Dioux by artist Frank B. Mayer in July 1851. Wing. 40.33 Congress, 1 session, Senate Executive Doc 50. OIA, Sioux Annuity Rolls, 1853-1859; Riggs 32. Taliaferro Journal, July 5, 24, August 6, 27, ument, no. 61,1853-54, p. 58-59, 326, 327; Min to Treat, June 12, 1858, MRNWM, Nute Papers; 1839, LTP; Hansen, Old Fort Snelling, p. 154; nesota Pioneer, September 23, 1852; Parker, ed. Louis Garcia, “Cantemaza (Iron Heart),” copy in Lettermann, Whole Log, p. 156. Philander Prescott, p. 218-219. author’s papers; Anderson and Woolworth, eds., 32a. Stevens to Greene, September 6, 1839, Through Dakota Eyes, p. 186,192-93,217. 41. David Weston, Testimony, in Sisseton and ABCFM Papers. Wahpeton Bands v. The United States, 2 vols. 51. Samuel Brown, Statement, Joseph R. Brown 33. Taliaferro Journal, July 11,16, August 4,1839, (Washington: Government Printing Office, papers, MHS, St. Paul; Mark Diedrich, The LTP; S. Pond to Greene, November 14, 1839, 1901-1907), 2:304; Office of Indian Affairs Odyssey of Chief Standing Buffalo (Minneapolis: ABCFM Papers; Blegen and Jordan, eds., With (OIA), Sioux Annuity Rolls, copies in MHS, St. Coyote Books, 1988), although the date of his Various Voices, p. 243; Weber, “Childhood Among Paul, 1851-57. Star was still alive in the winter of death is now corrected from 1862 to May 1863; the Dakota,” p. 10; Hobart, History of Methodism, 1859-60, and even up until August 1862, accord Garcia, “Cantemaza”; Joe Ironheart to Wright, p. 19-20; Coen, “Eliza Taliaferro,” p. 150. ing to Major W. W. Morris to Commissioner, Jan March 15,1946, Wright Papers. 24 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Field Garland’s adjoining, and somewhat less elaborate, house at 846 Fairmount. Photo from the author of article beginning on page 25. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION R A M S E Y • C O U N T Y • H IS T O R IC A L • S O C IE T Y U.S. Postage Published by the Ramsey County Historical Society PAID St. Paul, MN 323 Landmark Center Permit #3989 75 West Fifth Street \ Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 Address Service Requested