Minnesota,
One of the northern frontier States of the
Union, containing
Lake Itasca, the source of the
Mississippi River, is bounded north by Manitoba and
Ontario, of the Dominion of
Canada; east by
Lake Superior and
Wisconsin, south by
Iowa, and west by
North Dakota and
South Dakota.
It is limited in latitude from 43° 30′ to 49° N., and in longitude from 89° 29′ to 97° 15′
W. Area, 84,287 square miles, in eighty counties.
Population, 1890, 1,301,826; 1900, 1,751,394.
Capital,
St. Paul.
Daniel Greysolon du Luth, a native of
Lyons, builds a trading-post at the entrance of
Pigeon River, on north shore of
Lake Superior (whence the name
Duluth)......1678
Father Louis Hennepin ascends the
Mississippi from the mouth of the
Illinois, passes through
Lake Pepin, and reaches the falls, which he names
St. Anthony......October, 1680
Sieur du Luth, with four Frenchmen and an Indian, in two canoes, from his trading-post reaches a lake whose outlet enters the
Mississippi, and on the river he meets
Father Hennepin......1680
Nicholas Perrot erects a fort on
Lake Pepin, and takes possession of the
Minnesota country in the name of the
King of
France......May 8, 1689
Le Seur builds a trading-post on an island in the
Mississippi, just above
Lake Pepin......1695
Sieur le Seur, on a search for mines in
Minnesota, builds Fort l'huillier on the
St. Pierre, now the
Minnesota......October, 1700
Jonathan Carver, the first British explorer of
Minnesota, arrives at
Mackinaw from
Massachusetts, August, 1766;
Green Bay, Wis., Sept. 18; at
Prairie du Chien, Oct. 10; Falls of St. Anthony, Nov. 17; and ascends the
Minnesota River to the stream which now bears his name......1766
Northwestern Fur Company builds a stockade at
Sandy Lake......1794
Heirs of
Carver's American wife dispose of their interest in an alleged grant of land in
Minnesota to
Carver (made by the
Naudowessies Indians, May 1, 1767) to
Edward Houghton, of
Vermont, in consideration of £50,000......1794
Indiana Territory created, including part of present
State of Minnesota......May, 1800
Territory of
Upper Louisiana formed, including a large portion of
Minnesota......March 20, 1804
Minnesota east of the
Mississippi a part of
Michigan Territory......1805
Lieut. Z. M. Pike, ordered by
General Wilkinson to visit
Minnesota and expel the
British traders, arrives at the site of Fort Snelling, and in council with the
Dakota Indians obtains a grant of land for the use of the
United States 9 miles square on both sides of the river......Sept. 23, 1805
Rev. Samuel Peters alleges, in a petition to Congress, that he has purchased from the
Carver American heirs their right to the grant made in 1767......1806
Minnesota east of the
Mississippi included in
Illinois Territory......1809
Part of
Minnesota east of the
Mississippi becomes a part of
Michigan Territory......1819
Barracks erected at
Mendota and occupied by a garrison which came from
Green Bay, Wis., by the
Wisconsin River......1819
Corner-stone of Fort Snelling laid; first called
Fort St. Anthony......Sept. 20, 1820
Three Mackinaw boats laden with seed wheat, oats, and pease, leave
Prairie du Chien, April 15, 1820, for the Scotch settlement at
Pembina, where the crops were destroyed by grasshoppers the previous year.
Proceeding entirely by water, except a portage from
Big Stone Lake to
Lake Traverse, 1 1/2 miles, they arrive at
Pembina......June 3, 1820
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Governor Cass, of
Michigan, with an exploring party from
Detroit under sanction of the United States government, reaching the
Mississippi by
Sandy Lake, ascends to
Cass Lake......July 21, 1820
General Leavenworth reports to the commissioners of the land office that the Indians do not recognize grant to
Carver in 1767......1821
First mill in
Minnesota, erected under the supervision of the officers of Fort Snelling on the site of
Minneapolis......1822
Committee on public lands report to the Senate on
Rev. Samuel Peters's claim to the Carver grant of 1767; the original deed not being produced, and for other reasons, it is resolved that the petition be not granted......Jan. 23, 1823
First steamboat to navigate the
Mississippi from
St. Louis to the
Minnesota River, the
Virginia, reaches Fort Snelling......May, 1823
An expedition fitted out by government, in charge of
Maj. S. H. Long, discovers that
Pembina, the fort of the Hudson Bay Company on
Red River, is within the
United States.
Long erects an oak post on the line, raises the
United States flag, and proclaims the territory a part of the
United States......Aug. 5, 1823
A colony of Swiss from the
Red River settlement establish themselves near Fort Snelling......1827
Henry R. Schoolcraft, with an expedition for exploring the
Mississippi,
Crow Wing, and
St. Croix rivers, reaches the
Mississippi by
Lake Superior and
Sandy Lake, and reaches the source of the west fork in Itasca Lake......July 13, 1832
Rev. W. T. Boutwell establishes at
Leech Lake the first mission among the Indians in
Minnesota west of the
Mississippi......October, 1833
Jean N. Nicollet leaves Fort Snelling to explore the sources of the rivulets that feed Itasca Lake......July 26, 1836
Governor Dodge, of
Wisconsin Territory, meets the Ojibways at Fort Snelling, and they cede to the
United States the pine forests of the
valley of the St. Croix and its tributaries......July 29, 1837
Deputation of Dakotas conclude a treaty with the
United States at
Washington, ceding all lands east of the
Mississippi......September, 1837
Minnesota, west of the
Mississippi River, is included in
Iowa, set off in 1838 from
Wisconsin, which was set off from
Michigan in 1836......1838
By order of
Secretary of War, troops from Fort Snelling expel Swiss squatters on the military reservation east of the
Mississippi, between
St. Paul and the fort......May 6, 1840
A log-chapel, erected by
Father Lucian Galtier and dedicated to
St. Paul (whence the name of the city)......Nov. 1, 1841
Settlement begun at
Stillwater by four proprietors, who erect a saw-mill......Oct. 10, 1843
Capt. J. Allen, with a detachment of dragoons, ascends the
Des Moines River and crosses to the
St. Peter (Minnesota) and Big Sioux rivers......1844
First meeting in
Minnesota on the subject of claiming territorial privileges for that part of
Wisconsin Territory not included in State constitution adopted March 13, 1848, is held in
Jackson's store,
St. Paul......July 12, 1848
Convention at
Stillwater to consider territorial government......Aug. 26, 1848
H. H. Sibley, of
St. Peter, elected delegate to Congress from
Wisconsin Territory not included in the
State......Oct. 30, 1848
Extract from the diary of
Harriet E. Bishop, first school-teacher in
St. Paul: “
J. R. Clewett came into
Mr. Irwine's house and said, ‘My!
how this town is growing!
I counted the smoke of eighteen chimneys this morning’ ” ......winter of 1848
Congress establishes the territorial government of
Minnesota; bounded on south by
Iowa and
Missouri River, west by the
Missouri and
White Earth rivers, north by the
British possessions, and east by
Wisconsin, with
St. Paul as capital......March 3, 1849
Alexander Ramsey, of
Harrisburg, Pa., appointed governor of
Minnesota Territory, organizes the government at
St. Paul......June 1, 1849
First legislature, consisting of nine councillors and eighteen representatives, meets at the
Central House in
St. Paul......Sept. 3, 1849
Act passed to send the
Washington Monument Association a slab of red pipestone from the
Minnesota quarry......1849
St. Paul incorporated as a town......November, 1849
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Minnesota Historical Society organized by law......Nov. 15, 1849
Congress appropriates $20,000 for a territorial prison......1851
Treaty at Traverse des
Sioux, on
Minnesota River, the
Sioux cede lands in
Iowa and in
Minnesota east of the
Red River of the
North,
Lake Traverse, and the
Sioux River......July 23, 1851
Dog-train with explorers, under
Dr. Rae, after search for
Sir John Franklin, arrives at
St. Paul from the north......Feb. 14, 1852
Prohibitory liquor law passed; ratified by the people April 5, but declared void by Supreme Court......1852
College of St. Paul, chartered as the Baldwin School, dedicated......Dec. 29, 1853
City of
St. Paul incorporated......March 4, 1854
Convention held at
St. Anthony, and the Republican party of
Minnesota formed......March 29, 1854
Duluth founded......1856
Bill to remove the government to
St. Peter passes the
House, but the council is dissolved without acting on the bill......1857
Inkpadootah, a
Dakota Indian, at the head of a band, massacres a settlement of whites at
Springfield, capturing a number of women and children......March, 1857
Congress grants to
Minnesota six alternate sections of land per mile to aid in the construction of railroads......March, 1857
Constitutional convention assembles at
St. Paul, July 14, 1857.
Republicans and Democrats organize separately, prepare drafts, but unite and submit one constitution to the people (ratified 36,240 to 700),
St. Paul the capital......Aug. 29, 1857
State issues $2,275,000 in bonds, out of $5,000,000 authorized by an amendment to the constitution, article IX., section 10, called
Minnesota State railroad bonds, the credit of the
State being pledged for interest and principal......April 15, 1858
Minnesota admitted into the
Union......May 11, 1858
State normal school at
Winona opened......1860
Railroads default in interest and the
State forecloses......1860
Amendment to constitution, article IX., section 10, amended 1858, forbidding more bonds to aid railroads, and to section 2, providing that no tax or provision for interest or principal of bonds shall be in force until ratified by the people......November, 1860
First regiment of
Minnesota volunteers leaves Fort Snelling for
Washington......June 22, 1861
Sioux Indians, under Little Crow, massacre the whites at
Yellow Medicine agency, Aug. 18, 1862; at
New Ulm, in Brown county, Aug. 21; attack New Ulm and are repulsed, Aug. 23; besiege Fort Ridgely for nine days; attack
Cedar City,
McLeod county, Sept. 3; State troops under
Col. H. H. Sibley march against them, Aug. 26; United States troops under
Major-General Pope are despatched to the seat of war, and after a sharp
battle at Wood Lake the Indians are defeated, and 500 are taken prisoners, 300 of whom are sentenced to be hung......Sept. 22, 1862
Ninety-one captive white women and children surrendered by the Indians to
Colonel Sibley near the
Chippewa River......Sept. 26, 1862
Thirty-eight of the 300 Indians sentenced are executed......Dec. 26, 1862
Little Crow killed by a settler in the neighborhood of
Hutchinson, McLeod county......July 3, 1863
Minnesota school for the deaf opened at
Faribault......1863
Professor Eames, State geologist, reports rich silver-bearing quartz near
Vermilion Lake, in the northeast part of the
State......1865
State insane hospital at
St. Peter opened......Dec. 6, 1866
State reform school at
St. Paul opened......1866
City of
Minneapolis incorporated......1867
Amendment to article VII., section 1 of the constitution, striking out the word “white,” ratified by the people......November, 1868
State university created by law, 1851; Congress grants it 46,000 acres of land, 1857, and same year the first building erected at
St. Anthony; chartered 1868, opened......1869
Bill to remove seat of government from
St. Paul to a place in
Kandiyohi county passes both Houses, but is vetoed......1869
Convention at
St. Paul organizes a State temperance society......Oct. 6, 1869
Construction of the
Northern Pacific
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Railroad commenced at the Dalles of the
St. Louis......Feb. 15, 1870
Ship-canal across
Minnesota point at
Duluth begun......1870
Legislature ratifies the Fifteenth Amendment, establishes a board of immigration, and amends the liquor law so as to allow local option......1870
Minneapolis and
St. Anthony incorporated as one city......1872
Act passes legislature establishing a State board of health......1872
Act passed to create a fund for an inebriate asylum at
Rochester, by tax upon saloon-keepers......1873
State
Treasurer William Seeger impeached by the House of Representatives, Feb. 26; pleads guilty, May 22, “without any corrupt or wilful intent,” and is removed from office......1873
Amendment to the constitution ratified by popular vote, permitting women to vote for school-officers or on school questions, and to be eligible to any office pertaining to schools......Nov. 2, 1875
Amendment adopted providing for biennial instead of annual sessions of the legislature......November, 1877
Act passed, creating a public examiner to superintend the books and financial accounts of public educational, charitable, penal, and reformatory institutions of the
State......1878
Minnesota Amber-cane Growers' Association organized at
Minneapolis......1878
State insane asylum at
Rochester, provided for by act of legislature in 1878, opened......Jan. 1, 1879
Minnesota school for the feeble-minded opened at
Faribault......1879
Act of legislature creating farmers' board of trade, to assume supervision over the agricultural interests of the
State; one member appointed by the judge of each judicial district......1879
Alexander Ramsey appointed
United States Secretary of War......Dec. 10, 1879
Second centenary of the discovery of the
Falls of St. Anthony celebrated at
Minneapolis......July 4, 1880
North wing of asylum for the insane at
St. Peter destroyed by fire; thirty lives lost......Nov. 15, 1880
State capitol destroyed by fire......March 1, 1881
Supreme Court decides that the amendment to article IX.
of the
State constitution, ratified in 1860, is invalid, as impairing the obligation of contracts; the legislature provides for the settlement of State railroad bonds at 50 cents on the dollar......1881
William Windom,
Secretary of the Treasury......March 5, 1881
State normal school located by law at
Moorhead......1885
State public school for dependent children at
Owatonna founded......1885
State insane hospital located at
Fergus Falls......1886
Acts passed: For a State reformatory at
St. Cloud; a municipal government for
Duluth; a high-license law where local option does not prohibit, and to abolish the State board of immigration, created in 1878......1887
Soldiers' home opened at Minnehaha Falls......November, 1887
State normal school at
Moorhead opened......Aug. 29, 1888
William Windom again
Secretary of Treasury......March, 1889
Secret (Australian) ballot law, established in cities of over 10,000 inhabitants, by act......1889
State reformatory at
St. Cloud opened......September, 1889
Memorial Day (May 30) made a legal holiday......1889
Nearly 100 lives lost by a tornado on
Lake Pepin......July 13, 1890
State insane hospital at
Fergus Falls opened......July 29, 1890
William Windom,
Secretary of Treasury, dies suddenly after responding to a toast at a banquet given by the New York board of trade at Delmonico's, evening of......Jan. 29, 1891
Gen. H. H. Sibley, first governor of
Minnesota, dies in
St. Paul, aged eighty......Feb. 18, 1891
Whaleback steamer
Charles W. Wetmore leaves
Duluth with a cargo of grain for
Liverpool......June 11, 1891
Washburn-Crosby Company, of
Minneapolis, sends out 175 cars containing 22,000 barrels of flour, consigned to the
Russian relief committee of
Philadelphia......March 23, 1892
Republican National Convention assembles at
Minneapolis......June 7, 1892
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Fire in
Minneapolis; loss, $2,000,000......Aug. 13, 1893
Forest fires destroy towns of
Hinckley and Sandstone, causing the death of 417 people; 2,200 homeless and destitute; property loss about $1,000,000......Sept. 1, 1894
Red Lake Indian reservation diminished to about a quarter part of its former area; the remainder opened for settlement......May 15, 1896
Minnesota supplied four regiments for the
Spanish war, being the first State to respond to the
President's call......May 7, 1898
Corner-stone of new capitol laid......July 27, 1898
Semi-centennial of the
Territory and State celebrated by the old settlers......June 1, 1899
Semi-centennial of the historical society celebrated......Nov. 15, 1899
Population of
Minnesota, at the national census, 1,751,394; of its five leading cities:
Minneapolis, 202,718;
St. Paul, 163,065;
Duluth, 52,969;
Winona, 19,714, and
Stillwater, 12,318......1900
Senator Cushman K. Davis dies......Nov. 27, 1900
Mississippi