July 29, 1837, at St. Peter (now Mendota), Wisconsin Territory, the Chippewa Indians ceded to the United States the following tract of country: Beginning at the junction of the Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers, between twenty and thirty miles, above where the Mississippi is crossed by the forty-sixth parallel of north latitude, and running thence to the north point of Lake St. Croix, one of the sources of the St. Croix river; thence to and along the dividing ridge between the waters of Lake Superior and those of the Mississippi, to the sources of the Ochasua-sepe, a tributary of the Chippewa river; thence to a point on the Chippewa river twenty miles below the outlet of Lake De Flambeau; thence to the junction of the Wisconsin and Pelican rivers; thence on an east course twenty-five miles; thence southerly on a course parallel with that of the Wisconsin river to the line dividing the territories of the Chippewas and the Menomonies; thence to the Plover portage; thence along the southern boundary of the Chippewa country to the commencement of the boundary line dividing it from that of the Sioux, half a day's march below the falls on the Chippewa river; thence with said boundary line to the month of the Waw-tab[F] river, at its junction with the Mississippi; and thence up the Mississippi to the place of beginning.
Henry Dodge,
Commissioner.
Sept. 29, 1837, at Washington, District of Columbia, the Sioux nation of Indians ceded to the United States all their lands east of the Mississippi river, and all of their islands in the said river, Joel R. Poinsett, secretary of war, commanding, which cession embraced all their land east of the Mississippi and west of the following lines commencing at the Chippewa river, half a day's march below the falls, from thence to Red Cedar river, immediately below the falls; thence to the St. Croix river at a point called the Standing Cedar, about a day's paddle in a canoe, above the lake at the mouth of that river; thence passing between two lakes called by the Chippewas, "Green, Lakes," and by the Sioux, "The Lakes they Bury the Eagles in," thence to the Standing Cedar, that "the Sioux split;" thence to Rum river, crossing at the mouth of a small creek called Choking creek, a long day's march from the Mississippi; thence to a point of woods that project into the prairie, half a day's march from the Mississippi; thence in a straight line to the mouth of the first river which enters the Mississippi at the east side above the mouth of Sac river (Watab river). The above boundary line was established between the Sioux and Chippewa Indiana at Prairie du Chien, Aug. 19, 1825.
William Clark,
Lewis Cass,
Commissioners.
St. Paul, East Minneapolis and Stillwater are embraced within the above limits.
Nov. 1, 1837, at Washington, District of Columbia, with the Winnebagoes.
The Winnebagoes at this treaty ceded all their lands lying east of the Mississippi river, and received in return $200,000. Of this amount $150,000 was reserved to satisfy the claims of Indian traders, and the remaining $50,000 was paid to certain individuals of the tribe. There was set apart the further sum of $100,000, to be paid, by order of the president of the United States, to mixed blood relatives of these Indiana. Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and James Murray, of Maryland, were commissioned to adjust claims, pay debts and partition the amount alloted to the mixed bloods. The Winnebagoes, including mixed blood relatives, numbered over 4,000 souls. The payments and adjustments were made at Prairie du Chien, October, 1838. Soon after complaints were made of the arbitrary and unjust distribution of these funds. The secretary of war, Joel R. Poinsett, countermanded the action of the commissioners and appointed Judge Fleming, of New York, to act as commissioner. The parties were reassembled at Prairie du Chien in September, 1839, and the unpleasant business was in some way adjusted and closed up.
Aug. 2, 1847, at Fond du Lac of Lake Superior, the Chippewa Indians of the Mississippi and Lake Superior ceded to the United States the country beginning at the junction of the Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers, thence up the Crow Wing river to the junction of that river with the Long Prairie river; thence up the Long Prairie river to the boundary line between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians; thence southerly along said boundary line to a lake at the head of Long Prairie river; thence in a direct line to the sources of the (Waw-tab) river; thence down that river to its junction with the Mississippi river; thence up the Mississippi river to the place of beginning.
Issac A. Verplanck,
Henry M. Rice,
Commissioners.
Aug. 21, 1847, at Leech Lake, the Pillager band of Chippewa Indians ceded to the United States the country beginning at the south end of Otter Tail lake; thence southerly on the boundary line between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians to Long Prairie river; thence up said river to Crow Wing river; thence up Crow Wing river to Leaf river; thence up Leaf river to its head; thence in a direct line to the place of beginning.