Lake Itasca, July 22, 1881.
To Geographical and Historical Societies:—We the undersigned, companions of Captain Willard Glazier, in his voyage of exploration to the headwaters of the Mississippi, are fully convinced that the lake located by him is beyond question the source of the "Father of Waters."
The privilege of bestowing a name upon the new discovery having been delegated to us, we hereby name it Lake Glazier in honor of the leader of the expedition, whose energy, perseverance and pluck carried us through many difficulties and brought us at last to the shores of this beautiful lake—the True Source of the Great River.
We respectfully petition all Geographical Societies to give it that recognition which has heretofore been accorded to Lake Itasca, and to which it is justly entitled as the primal reservoir of the grandest river on this continent.
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Barrett Channing Paine, Indianapolis, Indiana. George Herbert Glazier, Chicago, Illinois. | } |
White Companions. |
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Moses Lagard, Chenowagesic, Sebatise Lagard, Leech Lake, Minnesota, | } |
Interpreter and Indian Guides. |
The inhabitants of Aitkin, the first town of importance on the Upper Mississippi, took great interest in the expedition, and did all they could to show their appreciation of the intrepid explorers. The following is from the pen of Warren Potter, one of the pioneer citizens of the place:
Aitkin, Minnesota,
August 15, 1881.
Captain Willard Glazier:—As you float in your birch canoe upon the bosom of the "Father of Waters" toward the sea, remember Aitkin, the Gate City of the Upper Mississippi.
Yours very truly,