The community of St. Peter was initially, and for a very brief time, known as Rock Bend, a name taken because of the presence of a sharp bend in the course of the Minnesota River on the east side of the settlement. The name was used probably from late in 1853 until sometime in 1854. The envelope shown here, addressed to Charles E. Flandrau (1828-1903), who was living in the area at the time, is one of only a few objects that survived with the name "Rock Bend" on it. Flandrau, himself, became a very prominent resident of the State of Minnesota. Among many other duties during his lifetime, he commanded the defenders of New Ulm in August of 1862 and later served on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
View of the First Episopal Church under construction in the summer of 1862. This first church was known as St. John Evangelist, but was never completed. It was destroyed on August 18, 1862 during the Dakota Conflict of 1862. The church is now known as St. Cornelia's Church at Lower Sioux Agency.
This is a photograph of Governor Henry Swift from St. Peter, Minnesota. Swift was the third Governor of Minnesota and served from July 10, 1863 to January 11, 1864.
This letter, dated August 26, 1862, describes the fighting between settlers and Dakota men who participated in a conflict in a southern Minnesota community, most likely in New Ulm. Wheelock also describes his experiences as a member of a burial party that ventured out into the surrounding countryside. Many dead settlers were found, as well as a group of thirteen settlers who had been hiding for three days. Wheelock states his intention to leave Minnesota if the fighting does not stop soon and if he is not able to feel that he is safe in his home.
Lieutenant Thomas van Etten wrote to his schoolmate, William H. Seward of Chester, New Jersey, in this 1862 letter from Fort Ridgely, near the western end of Nicollet County. He wrote about his military duties and experiences and about people he knew in New Jersey. Lt. van Etten participated in the Battle of Birch Coulee and described the battle in the letter. William H. Seward was a son of President Lincoln's Secretary of State, William H. Seward, Sr.
This is a photograph of John Otherday, whose Dakota name was Ampatutokacha. Called Good Sounding Voice when he was young, he was born in the vicinity of Swan Lake in Nicollet County about 1819.
Lieutenant Thomas van Etten wrote to his schoolmate, William H. Seward of Chester, New Jersey, in this 1863 letter from St. Peter, Minnesota. Van Etten was stationed at Fort Ridgely, near the western end of Nicollet County, and was serving as the fort's quartermaster. He wrote about his military duties and experiences and about people he knew in New Jersey. William H. Seward was a son of President Lincoln's Secretary of State, William H. Seward, Sr.
This is a photograph of E. St. Julien Cox, the first mayor of St. Peter from 1865 to 1867. Cox was a captain in Company E of the Second Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. He led volunteers to fight at New Ulm during the 1862 uprising. Cox served as judge of the Ninth Judicial District from 1876 to 1882.
This is a photograph of E. St. Julien Cox, the first mayor of St. Peter from 1865 to 1867. Cox was a captain in Company E of the Second Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. He led volunteers to fight at New Ulm during the 1862 Uprising. Cox served as judge of the Ninth Judicial District from 1876 to 1882.
This photograph shows one of the earliest residents of Nicollet County, Charles Flandrau, who became a judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Flandrau led men from St. Peter to help defend New Ulm against attacks in 1862.
This photograph shows the house that was built for Henry Swift in St. Peter in 1857. Swift served as the Governor of Minnesota from July 10, 1863 to January 11, 1864. Later, Swift's son-in-law, G. S. Ives, who served as Lt. Gov. from 1891 to 1893, lived in the house with his family. The Ives family is visible in the photograph. The house is on the NW corner of the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and College Avenue.
This is a photograph of Dr. Asa W. Daniels from St. Peter. Daniels served as a surgeon at Fort Ridgely in Nicollet County and as a medical officer at the Lower Sioux Agency before he moved to St. Peter to practice medicine. He tended the wounded in 1862 during the attack on New Ulm by the Dakota.
This photograph shows the original home of Captain William B. Dodd in St. Peter. Dodd, who founded St. Peter, was killed in New Ulm in 1862 while helping to defend the city against attacks by the Dakota Indians.
This building was originally constructed in 1855 as the Winslow House in St. Peter. It has been used for several other purposes over the years. The building still stands, minus the original top floor, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Third and Walnut Streets. It once served as the first building of the St. Peter State Hospital.
This building was built by James M. Winslow in 1855 as a hotel in St. Peter. The building has had many owners over the years. It served as a hospital during the Dakota Conflict in 1862 and as the first location of the St. Peter State Hospital. It is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Third and Walnut Streets.
This book is an account of Minnie Buce Carrigan's captivity among the Sioux after the 1862 uprising and her subsequent experience as an orphan. Several other survivors, including Samuel Reyff, J.G. Lane, Mrs. Inefeldt, and Minnie Krieger, relate their own experiences in a final section of the book.
Contributing Institution:
College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
Arthur T. Adams looking upon a stone marker at the location of the Dustin Massacre, where four members of the Dustin family were murdered by a party of Dakota during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. It is believed, though never proved, that the attack party was led by members of Little Crow's party. This image is by Arthur Adams, Minneapolis high school teacher, local historian, and photographer. Adams traveled throughout Minnesota, taking photographs to augment his lectures. His studio was located at 3648 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis.
House in New Ulm, Minnesota, showing damage taken from the Battle of New Ulm. The battle took place during the Dakota War of 1862. This image is by Arthur Adams, Minneapolis high school teacher, local historian, and photographer. Adams traveled throughout Minnesota, taking photographs to augment his lectures. His studio was located at 3648 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis.
A broken monument in Henderson, Minnesota, commemorating the Beaver Creek Massacre of August 18, 1862. The massacre was part of the Dakota War of 1862. This image is by Arthur Adams, Minneapolis high school teacher, local historian, and photographer. Adams traveled throughout Minnesota, taking photographs to augment his lectures. His studio was located at 3648 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis.
A cabin near Lake Shetek where the Lake Shetek Massacre took place. During the massacre on August 20, 1862, a group of Dakota captured and killed area residents as part of the Dakota War of 1862. This image is by Arthur Adams, Minneapolis high school teacher, local historian, and photographer. Adams traveled throughout Minnesota, taking photographs to augment his lectures. His studio was located at 3648 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis.
The site of Camp Crisp, a settlement for U.S. soldiers during the Dakota War of 1862, located between Mankato and New Ulm, Minnesota. This image is by Arthur Adams, Minneapolis high school teacher, local historian, and photographer. Adams traveled throughout Minnesota, taking photographs to augment his lectures. His studio was located at 3648 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis.