Charles E. Flandrau.
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION.
The original design of this history was, that it should accompany and form part of a book called the "Encyclopedia of Biography of Minnesota." It was so published, and as that work was very large and expensive, it was confined almost exclusively to its subscribers, and did not reach the general public. Many requests were made to the author to present it to the public in a more popular and readable form, and he decided to publish it in a book of the usual library size, and dispose of it at a price which would place it within the reach of everyone desirous of reading it. As the history is written in the most compendious form consistent with a full presentation and discussion of all the facts concerning the creation and growth of the state, it was estimated that it would not occupy sufficient space in print to make a volume of the usual and proper size. The author therefore decided to accompany it with a series of "Frontier Stories," written by himself at different times during his long residence in the Northwest, which embrace historical events, personal adventures, and amusing incidents. He believes these stories will lend interest and pleasure to the volume.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY.
- Page.
- Opening Statement [2]
- Legendary and Aboriginal Era [3]
- Fort Snelling [14]
- The Selkirk Settlement [20]
- George Catlin [25]
- Featherstonehaugh [25]
- Schoolcraft and the Source of the Mississippi [26]
- Elevations in Minnesota [28]
- Nicollet [28]
- Missions [30]
- The Indians [36]
- Territorial Period [43]
- Education [49]
- The First Territorial Government [52]
- Courts [54]
- First Territorial Legislature [58]
- Immigration [62]
- The Panic of 1857 [68]
- Land Titles [69]
- The First Newspaper [70]
- Banks [73]
- The Fur Trade [75]
- Pemmican [80]
- Transportation and Express [81]
- Lumber [83]
- Religion [85]
- Railroads [91]
- The First Railroad Actually Built [101]
- The Spirit Lake Massacre [102]
- The Constitutional Convention [109]
- Attempt to Remove the Capital [115]
- Census [117]
- Grasshoppers [117]
- Militia [120]
- The Wright Country War [122]
- The Civil War [123]
- The Third Regiment [128]
- The Indian War of 1862 and Following Years [135]
- The Attack on Fort Ridgely [148]
- Battle of New Ulm [150]
- Battle of Birch Coulie [159]
- Occurrences in Meeker County and Vicinity [161]
- Protection of the Southern Frontier [162]
- Colonel Sibley Move upon the Enemy [166]
- The Battle of Wood Lake [169]
- Fort Abercrombie [171]
- Camp Release [174]
- Trial of the Indians [175]
- Execution of the Thirty-Eight Condemned Indians [180]
- The Campaign of 1863 [182]
- Battle of Big Mound [184]
- Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake [185]
- Battle of Stony Lake [186]
- Campaign of 1864 [187]
- A Long Period of Peace and Prosperity [193]
- Introduction of the New Process of Milling Wheat [193]
- The Discovery of Iron [196]
- Commerce Through the St. Mary's Falls Canal [199]
- Agriculture [200]
- Dairying [201]
- The University of Minnesota and its School of Agriculture [203]
- The Minnesota State Agricultural Society [205]
- The Minnesota Soldiers Home [207]
- Other State Institutions [208]
- Minnesota Institutes for Defectives [209]
- State School for Dependent and Neglected Children [210]
- The Minnesota State Training School [211]
- Minnesota State Reformatory [212]
- The Minnesota State Prison [213]
- The Minnesota Historical Society [213]
- State Institutions Miscellaneous in their Cahracter [215]
- State Finances [217]
- The Monetary and Business Flurry of 1873 and Panic of 1893 [218]
- Minor Happenings [221]
- The War with Spain [225]
- The Indian Battle of Leech Lake [229]
- Population [234]
- The State Flag [236]
- The Official Flower of the State and the Method of its Selection [237]
- Origin of the Name Gopher State [242]
- State Parks [245]
- Politics [248]
- Bibliography [253]