Kitabı oku: «Fifty Years In The Northwest», sayfa 56
APPENDIX.
MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS, ITEMS AND STATISTICS, INCLUDING
AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS TREATIES
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AND THE INDIAN TRIBES INHABITING
THE TERRITORIES OF
WISCONSIN AND
MINNESOTA.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY UNTIL THE CREATION OF WISCONSIN TERRITORY IN 1836
SPANISH CLAIMS
The Spaniards have made persistent claims to territory lying along the Atlantic coast, the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and up the valley of the Mississippi, basing their claims on discovery and conquest.
In 1512 Juan Ponce de Leon, a companion of Columbus, discovered Florida, and planted on its shores the standard of Spain.
In 1539 Hernando de Soto visited Florida and having strengthened the Spanish claim adventured west to the Mississippi, on which river he died and in which he was stealthily buried by his surviving followers, who returned to Florida broken and dispirited with the loss of half their number. By virtue of De Soto's discovery of the Mississippi, the Spaniards now laid claim to the land along that river and its tributaries. They also claimed land lying along the Atlantic coast, without limit, northward. This large and somewhat indefinite empire was by them styled Florida, after the name of the peninsula on which they gained their first foothold. Unable to defend or enforce their claims, they gradually relinquished them, giving up tract after tract, until the peninsula of Florida alone remained to them. This was ceded to the United States in 1819.
The government of the Territory was vested in the discoverers. Ponce de Leon was governor from 1512 until 1521. De Soto was governor of Florida and Cuba until 1541. Melendez, by compact with King Philip, succeeded him, his commission giving him a life tenure. The history of the Spanish possessions is by no means interesting, and illustrates chiefly the Spanish greed for gold.
FRENCH CLAIMS
The French early disputed the claims of the Spaniards and Portuguese to the possession of the New World, and accordingly in 1524 sent a Florentine, Jean Verrazzani, who explored the coast from Carolina to Nova Scotia, took possession of it, and called it New France. Ten years later Cartea continued the work, sailing around New Foundland and ascending the St. Lawrence as far as the site of Montreal. In 1564 a French colony located in Florida, but were almost immediately exterminated by the Spaniards. During the following century the French pushed their explorations to the regions of the Mississippi and the great lakes. In the year 1603 Champlain was engaged in the exploration of the St. Lawrence, and in 1609, he, with two other Frenchmen, explored Lake Champlain and the country of the Iroquois and took possession of it in the name of Henry IV of France. In 1611 and 1612 he explored Lake Huron, entered Saginaw bay, passed down Detroit river, exploring Lake Erie, and laid the foundation of French sovereignty in the valley of the St. Lawrence. Champlain for many years prosecuted the fur trade where Boston now stands, prior to the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
We have not space for a complete account of the conflicting claims of the French and English, but will give the boundaries of New France as defined by French and English authorities at different times: 1609 – L' Escartot, in his "Histoire de la Nouvelle France," defines the French boundaries as extending "on the west to the Pacific ocean, on the south to the Spanish West Indies, on the east to the North Atlantic, and on the north to the Frozen Sea." 1683 – Baron La Honton says, "All the world knows that Canada reaches from the 39th to the 65th degrees of north latitude and from the 284th to the 336th degrees of longitude." [More accurately from about 45 to 90 degrees west, or from Cape Race to the Mississippi.] The French government persistently denied the right of the English to any territory west of the Alleghanies. The great Northwest, therefore, was for a long time under French rule and influence. We must accord to France the credit of making the first progress in civil government in the Northwest. They made many permanent settlements and by a wise and pacific policy so conciliating the Indian tribes that they were able to hold their positions on the frontier at will. They were early and persistent explorers, and, under the guidance of pious and devoted Jesuit missionaries, planted settlements in the most desirable places. They made a cordon of posts reaching from Louisiana to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and along the chain of the great lakes, completely surrounded the English colonies and disputed with them the possession of the country. The French-English War of 1689 to 1697 failed to decide satisfactorily the question of the interior domain.
In 1712 New France was divided into two provinces, that of Canada and that of Louisiana, the dividing line being the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the Mississippi boundary line extending from the mouth of the Ohio to the mouth of the Missouri river. Mobile was made the capital of the southern province. The patent or commission of the new province was issued to Crozat, Marquis du Chatel. The Illinois country was afterward added, and it seems probable that the country east of the Wabash was also included in it. All north of the boundary named formed part of the province of Canada. Other boundaries than these have been given by geographers, but these boundaries are sufficiently established by official documents.
In 1763 all of the territory claimed by France lying east of the Mississippi river was ceded to the English, the territory lying west to Spain. Virginia, by three royal charters, given in 1606, 1607 and 1611, by the English government, held a part of the Northwest Territory, and in 1776 established three counties north of the Ohio river, named Ohio, Youghiogheny and Monongahela, but in 1787 ceded this territory to the United States. Its settlement was somewhat impeded by the perils of the wilderness, not the least of which was the doubtful and often unfriendly attitude of the Indians, resulting in many cases from the changes in the tenure of the lands, and the influence of French or English emissaries, generally hostile to American claims. The history of these early settlements is replete with thrilling adventures.
The first settlement made in the newly ceded territory was at Marietta, Ohio, in 1788, under the supervision of Gen. Rufus Putnam, nephew of Gen. Israel Putnam, and first surveyor general of the Northwest Territory. The settlement was named Marietta, in honor of Queen Marie Antoinette, who had been a firm friend to the colonies during the Revolutionary struggle. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor July 15, 1788, of the newly organized Ohio Territory.
The country claimed by Virginia under the royal charters included the land lying between the sea shore on the east, and the Mississippi on the west, the Ohio river on the south, and the British possessions on the north. It will be seen, therefore, that that part of the Northwest Territory lying immediately along the eastern banks of the Mississippi now comprised in the state of Wisconsin and part of Minnesota, has been successively claimed by Spain, France, England, Virginia, and the United States, and under the territorial governments of the Northwest – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin territories. That part of Minnesota lying west of the Mississippi belonged to the French by right of discovery, but passed into the hands of Spain, thence back again into the hands of France, by whom, with the territory known as Louisiana, it was sold to the United States in 1803. The original grant to Virginia included far more than the area of the State and that of the Northwest Territory, but was subsequently reduced by grants made by states lying north of Virginia, and vexatious disputes arose as to titles, a circumstance calculated to retard rapid settlement.
We append the following data concerning the early history of the territory included in the present states of Wisconsin and Minnesota, tabulated for more convenient reference:
1634. Jean Nicollet ventured into Wisconsin, and explored the country from Lake Michigan for a considerable distance down the Wisconsin river.
1658. Two fur traders penetrated to Lake Superior and wintered there, probably on Wisconsin soil.
1660. Rev. M. Menard with eight companions came to La Pointe, Lake Superior.
1665. Claude Allouez, an eminent pioneer missionary, succeeded Menard, and re-established the mission at La Pointe.
1669. Father Allouez established a mission on the shores of Green bay, locating it at Depere in 1671.
1670. Father Allouez made a voyage of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to within a short distance of the Mississippi – a near approach to the discovery of the Father of Waters.
1671. In this year the French took formal possession of the whole Northwest, confirmed in 1689.
1673. Louis Joliet, accompanied by Father James Marquette, discovered the Mississippi river.
1674. Father Marquette coasted Lake Michigan, from Green Bay, by Milwaukee, to the site of the present city of Chicago.
1679. The Griffin, a schooner built by La Salle, and the first to make a voyage of the lakes above Niagara, arrived at the mouth of Green bay.
Capt. Duluth held a council, and concluded a peace with the natives of Lake Superior.
1680. About the first of May Father Louis Hennepin arrived at Mille Lacs, as prisoner of a Dakotah war party, who captured him at Lake Pepin, while on his way up the Mississippi. He remained at Mille Lacs several months. On his return homeward, after being released, he discovered the falls, which he named for his patron saint, Anthony of Padua. His book, published after his return to Europe, is the first printed account of Minnesota.
1683. Le Sueur made a voyage of the Fog and Wisconsin rivers to the Mississippi.
1688. Nicholas Perrot first planted the cross and arms of France on the soil of Minnesota, and first laid formal claim to the country for France. He built a fort on Lake Pepin, near Lake City.
1695. Le Sueur built a fort on Isle Pelee, in the Mississippi, below Prescott.
1700. Le Sueur established Fort L'Huillier, on the Blue Earth river (near the mouth of the Le Sueur), and first supplied the Sioux with firearms.
1716. Le Louvigny's battle with the Fox Indians at Butte des Morts.
1719. Francis Renalt explored the Upper Mississippi with two hundred miners.
1721. Previous to this date a French fort had been established at Green Bay, on the present site of Fort Howard.
1727. The French established a fort on Lake Pepin, with Sieur de Lapperriere as commandant.
A trading post, called Fort Beauharnois, was established on the north side of Lake Pepin.
1728. There was a great flood in the Mississippi, and Fort Beauharnois was submerged.
A French expedition, under De Lignery, from Mackinaw, punished the Foxes.
1734. A battle took place between the French, and the Sacs and Foxes.
1751. Sieur Marin, in command at Green Bay, made a peace with the Indians.
1761. Capt. Balfour and Lieut. Gorrell, with English troops, took possession of Green Bay.
1763. The English, under Lieut. Gorrell, abandoned Green Bay in consequence of the Indian War under Pontiac.
Treaty of Paris, by which all the territory of New France, including Wisconsin, was surrendered to the English.
About this date the Canadian-French trading establishment at Green Bay ripened into a permanent settlement, the first upon any portion of the territory now forming the state of Wisconsin.
By the treaty of Versailles, France ceded Minnesota east of the Mississippi to England, and west of it to Spain.
1766. Capt. Jonathan Carver visited St. Anthony falls and Minnesota river. He pretended to have made a treaty with the Indians the following spring, in a cave near St. Paul, known for several years as Carver's Cave. He also reports a town of three hundred inhabitants at Prairie du Chien.
1774. A civil government was established over Canada and the Northwest, by the celebrated "Quebec Act."
1777. Indians from Wisconsin join the British against the Americans.
1786. Julian Dubuque explored the lead region of the Upper Mississippi.
1788. There was an Indian council at Green Bay. Permission to work the lead mines was given to Dubuque.
1793. Lawrence Barth built a cabin at the portage of the Fog and Wisconsin rivers, and engaged in the carrying trade.
1795. French settlement commenced at Milwaukee.
1796. The western posts were surrendered by the English to the United States, and the ordinance of 1787 extended over the Northwest.
1798-99. The Northwestern Fur Company established itself in Minnesota.
1800. Indiana Territory organized, including Wisconsin.
1803. Antoine Barth settled at the portage of the Fog and Wisconsin rivers.
1804. Indian treaty at St. Louis; Southern Wisconsin purchased.
1805. Michigan Territory organized.
1809. Thomas Nuttall, the botanist, explored Wisconsin.
Illinois Territory was organized, including nearly all the present state of Wisconsin.
1812. Indians assembled at Green Bay to join the English.
1814. Gov. Clark took possession of Prairie du Chien. Prairie du Chien surrendered to the British.
1815. United States trading post established at Green Bay.
1816. Indian treaty confirming that of 1804.
United States troops took possession of Prairie du Chien, and commenced the erection of Fort Crawford.
Col. Miller commenced the erection of Fort Howard, at Green Bay.
1818. State of Illinois was organized; Wisconsin attached to Michigan.
Brown, Crawford and Michillimackinac counties were organized by the territory of Michigan which embraced in their boundaries, besides other territory, the whole of the present state of Wisconsin.
1820. United States commissioners adjusted land claims at Green Bay.
1822. The New York Indians purchase lands east of Lake Winnebago.
James Johnson obtained from the Indians the right to dig for lead by negro slaves from Kentucky.
1823. January. Counties of Brown, Crawford and Michillimackinac made a separate judicial district by Congress.
First steamboat on the Upper Mississippi, with Maj. Taliafero and Count Beltrami.
Lieut. Bayfield, of the British Navy, makes a survey of Lake Superior.
1824. First term of United States court held at Green Bay, Judge Duane Doty presiding.
1825. Great flood on the Red River of the North; a part of the colony driven to Minnesota, and settle near Fort Snelling.
1826. First steamboat on Lake Michigan.
1827. Rush of speculators to lead mines.
Treaty with Menomonies at Butte des Morts.
1828. Fort Winnebago built. Indian treaty at Green Bay. Lead ore discovered at Mineral Point and at Dodgeville.
1832. Black Hawk War.
Schoolcraft explored sources of Mississippi river. First mission established at Leech Lake, by Rev. W. T. Boutwell, now of Stillwater.
1834. The portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi attached to Michigan. Gen. H. H. Sibley settles at Mendota.
1835. Catlin and Featherstonhaugh visit Minnesota.
1836. The territory of Wisconsin organized. Nicollet visits Minnesota.
1837. Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, made a treaty at Fort Snelling, with the Ojibways, by which the latter ceded lands on the St. Croix and its tributaries; a treaty was also effected at Washington with a deputation of Dakotahs for their lands east of the Mississippi. These treaties led the way to the first actual settlements in the Territory.
1838. The treaty ratified by Congress. Frank Steele makes a claim at St. Anthony Falls. Pierre Parrant makes a claim and builds a shanty on the present site of St. Paul.
1839. Sioux and Chippewa battle fought near Stillwater.
1840. St. Croix county established.
The chapel of "St. Paul" built and consecrated, giving the name to the capital of the state of Minnesota.
1843. Stillwater settled.
1846. August 6th, the Wisconsin enabling act passed.
1847. The Wisconsin constitutional convention meets. The town of St. Paul surveyed, platted and recorded in the St. Croix county register of deeds' office. First improvement of the water power at falls of St. Anthony. Treaty with the Chippewas at Fond du Lac, August 2d. Treaty with the Pillagers at Leech Lake, August 21st.
1848. May 29th, Wisconsin admitted. August 26th, the "Stillwater Convention" held, to take measures for a separate territorial organization. October 30th, H. H. Sibley elected delegate to Congress.
1850. Great flood on the Mississippi. Minnesota river navigated by steamboats. Census of Minnesota shows population of 4,780.
1851. Permanent location of the capital of Minnesota at St Paul. Treaty of the Traverse des Sioux, opening territory west of the Mississippi to settlement July 23d. Treaty at Mendota with the Sioux August 5th.
1852. President Pierce appoints Willis A. Gorman governor of Minnesota.
1854. Real estate mania commenced. Treaty with the Chippewas at La Pointe, September 30th.
1855. Treaty at Washington, District of Columbia, with the Chippewas, and cession of lands in Minnesota, February 22d.
1857. Enabling act to admit Minnesota passed Congress. President Buchanan appoints Gen. Sam Medary governor of Minnesota. Ink-pa-dootah massacre in April. Minnesota constitutional convention met in June. Constitution adopted in October.
1858. Minnesota admitted as a state. State loan of $250,000 guaranteed. The $5,000,000 loan bill adopted.
1859. Hard times. Work on the land grant road ceases. Collapse of the $5,000,000 scheme. First export of grain this fall.
1860. Federal census, 172,123.
1861. April 13th. President's proclamation for troops received. The First regiment recruits at once. June 22d it embarks at Fort Snelling for the seat of war.
1862. Call for 600,000 men. August 17th, massacre at Acton; 18th, outbreak at Lower Sioux agency; 19th, New Ulm attacked; 20th, Fort Ridgely attacked; 25th, second attack on New Ulm; 30th, Fort Abercrombie besieged; September 1st, the bloody affair at Birch Coolie; 19th, first railroad in Minnesota in operation between St. Paul and Minneapolis; 22d, battle of Wood Lake; 26th, captives surrendered at Camp Release; military commission tries 321 Indians for murder, rape, etc.; 303 condemned to die; December 26th, 38 hanged at Mankato.
1863. Gen. Sibley's expedition to the Missouri river. July 3d, Little Crow killed; 24th, battle of Big Mound; 26th, battle of Dead Buffalo Lake; 28th, battle of Stony Lake. Treaty at crossing of Red Lake river with Chippewas, and cession of Dakotah lands, October 2d.
1864. Large levies for troops. Expedition to Missouri river under Sully. Inflation of money market. Occasional Indian raids.
1865. Peace returns. Minnesota regiments return and are disbanded; in all 25,052 troops furnished by the State. Census shows 250,000 inhabitants.
1866-72. Rapid railroad building everywhere, immigration heavy, "good times" prevail, and real estate inflated.
1873. January 7th, 8th and 9th, polar wave sweeps over the State; seventy persons perish. September, the Jay Cooke failure creates another panic. Grasshopper raid begins and continues five seasons.
1876. September 7th, armed outlaws from Missouri attack a Northfield bank. Three killed, three prisoners.
1877. Minnesota legislature adopts biennial sessions.
1878. May 2d, three flouring mills at Minneapolis explode; eighteen lives lost.
1880. November 15th, hospital for the insane at St. Peter partly destroyed by fire; twenty-five lives lost.
1881. March 1, capitol at St. Paul destroyed by fire.
1886. Cyclone destroys Sauk Rapids. Wisconsin legislature adopts biennial sessions.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION
The question of the western boundary of Wisconsin had been agitated since the Martin bill for the organization of the State had been introduced in 1846. This bill established the present boundary. The majority of the people residing in the valley of the St. Croix were opposed to it on the ground that the interests of the valley on both sides were identical, and that it was not proper that the two sides should be separated by a state line. The question became a political one, and at the election of delegates for the constitutional convention of Oct. 5, 1846, Wm. Holcombe was elected over Joseph Bowron, as representing the sentiments of the people of the valley as opposed to the proposed boundary line.
In convention Mr. Holcombe advocated a boundary line commencing at Mount Trempeleau on the Mississippi, running due north to Lake Superior. Failing in this, he advocated a boundary line to be established at a point fifteen miles due east of the most easterly point on Lake St. Croix, said line extending from that point due south to the Mississippi and due north to the tributary waters of Lake Superior. In this he was successful, and the constitution in which this boundary line was thus fixed went to the people and was rejected, greatly to the disappointment of the people of the St. Croix valley, who felt that they had been unjustly dealt with. There seems, indeed, to be but little excuse for the attitude of the majority of the citizens of Wisconsin with regard to this boundary. Certainly but little attention was shown to the interests of the people in the western section of the Territory.
Prior to the meeting of the second constitutional convention, Dec. 15, 1847, public meetings were held at St. Croix Falls and in Stillwater, at which latter place enthusiastic resolutions were passed remonstrating against this unnatural boundary, which resolutions were signed by nearly all the citizens of the St. Croix valley, and a few in and around St. Paul, asking the convention to establish the western boundary on a line running due north from the foot of Lake Pepin to Lake Superior. George W. Brownell was elected from the St. Croix district to the second convention, with instructions to work for this boundary. Joseph Bowron, Brownell's opponent, was defeated by a large majority. The following is the abstract of votes:
Mr. Brownell made strong and persistent efforts to have the boundary line adjusted in accordance with the sentiments of the people of the valley, but in vain. Morgan L. Martin, delegate to Congress from Wisconsin Territory, had framed the bill establishing the present boundary, and it was urged that any effort to change the line would tend to prevent the immediate admission of the State, and it was thought a political necessity that the State should be admitted at once, that it might take part in the ensuing presidential election. Under such pressure the convention made haste to adopt, and the people to accept, a constitution with boundary lines that should never have been made. The State was admitted in time to cast its electoral vote for Gen. Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.
At a meeting held by the people of the St. Croix valley, subsequent to this convention and prior to its adoption by the people, the following resolutions were passed, and we append them as expressing very generally the sentiments of the people of the valley:
Whereas, By the establishment of the St. Croix river as a part of the boundary line between the State and territory of Wisconsin, the inhabitants of our remote settlements are greatly aggrieved, our local rights and privileges neglected and abridged, our geographical, material and natural political alliance with our neighbors of the new territory will be cut off; and
Whereas, Our oft repeated remonstrances and appeals to the authorities of the new state have been unavailing; therefore
Resolved, That the establishment of the St. Croix river as a part of the boundary of the state of Wisconsin, against the will of the inhabitants of the valley of said river, is unjust, unreasonable and contrary to the principles upon which our government is founded.
Resolved, That in establishing the present boundary, our known and acknowledged wishes and interests are invaded by the might of a majority; that as the boundary is now established, so great is the distance and obstacles intervening, severing us, together with the people of Lake Superior, from the seat of government, that we can not enjoy a prompt and equitable share in representation, and we would respectfully admonish our brethren that equal representation involves a principle which is deeply and peculiarly American.
Resolved, That the interests of the inhabitants of St. Croix, being identical from the nature of the staple business of the country, the river being the natural centre to which all the business of the valley tends, a boundary severing the natural ties in connection is uncalled for, inconvenient and vexatious.
Resolved, That the inhabitants of the territory of the whole Northwest are deeply interested in procuring a just and wise alteration of the present line of divisions, because from the geography of the country, the line as now established, we are robbed of a future star in the galaxy of the American sisterhood of states.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to stand united and unceasingly use all honorable means in our power to procure the establishment of a boundary east of St. Croix valley.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare and forward a memorial to the present legislature on this subject.
The resolutions as a whole were unanimously adopted.
In accordance with the last resolution the chair appointed Wm. R. Marshall, G. W. Brownell and W. H. C. Folsom, Esqs., a committee.
On motion the secretary was instructed to forward copies of the proceedings of the meeting to the Prairie du Chien Patriot, Galena Gazette and Wisconsin Argus, requesting their publication.
H. H. Perkins,Chairman.R. V. D. Smith,Secretary.
No attention was paid to the action of the public meeting. It is possible that none was expected. It was some satisfaction to the people of the valley to give such an expression of their opinion of the wrong done them. The admission of Wisconsin with the St. Croix as a boundary line left the country immediately west of that river virtually without law. Nevertheless, Wisconsin territorial laws were acknowledged west of the St. Croix and were generally considered binding until a new territorial government should be organized. The territorial governor, Gen. Henry Dodge, had been elected United States senator and therefore could not claim jurisdiction over this part of the territory lying beyond state limits. John Catlin, territorial secretary, held that the territorial government still existed in the part of the original territory excluded.
At a public meeting held in Stillwater, Aug. 26, 1848 (a preliminary meeting having been held August 24th, at which an understanding was effected with Mr. Catlin and he invited to exercise authority as a territorial officer), steps were taken for the organization of a new territory, and Mr. Catlin, having removed to Stillwater, issued a proclamation in his official capacity, ordering an election to be held for the selection of a delegate to Congress. To facilitate this movement John H. Tweedy, territorial delegate from Wisconsin, resigned. The election was held Oct. 30, 1848, and H. H. Sibley was elected as a successor to John H. Tweedy, his papers being certified by John Catlin, secretary of Wisconsin Territory. Mr. Sibley proceeded to Washington, presented his credentials and patiently awaited recognition, which was not very speedily accorded, there being considerable discussion as to the right of excluded territory to continued political existence. His admission, on the fifteenth of January, as a delegate, settled the question and established a precedent that the creation of a state government does not deprive portions of the territory not included within state limits of the right to existence and representation. Mr. Sibley ably presented the claims of his constituents and with great difficulty succeeded in procuring the passage of a bill organizing the new territory of Minnesota.
With all respect to the action of Congress in receiving Mr. Sibley as a legally elected delegate (and, under the circumstances, the action seems wise), the question still rises: "Had we a legal territorial government?" If we had, what was the necessity for a new organization? Why could not the excluded territory continue under the old regime, or inherit, so to speak, the old government machinery? If we had no legal existence, by what authority could Mr. Sibley represent us? The Wisconsin territorial government had ceased to exist. Ours had not begun to live.
The territory of Minnesota was created by act of Congress, March 3, 1849, a little over thirty days after the introduction of the bill creating it. There had been some discussion as to the name. In the bill presented by Morgan L. Martin it was named Minnesota. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, chairman of the committee on territories, recommended the passage of the bill, and that the new territory be named Itasca. When the bill was before the house the names Chippewa, Jackson and Washington were proposed, but the name in the original bill was adopted. It is a compound word, taken from the Sioux language, and has for its meaning "Land of sky-tinted water." The news of the passage of the bill reached Stillwater April 9th, and was received with great rejoicing.
The United States land office which had been established at St. Croix Falls in 1848 was removed to Stillwater July 1, 1849. Abraham Van Voorhes was appointed register and William Holcombe receiver.
