Ramsey County History – Spring 1971: “The Building of Old Fort Ripley and Its Links with St. Paul”

The Building of Old Fort Ripley and Its Links with St. Paul
Author: Robert Orr Baker

Fort Ripley was built at the confluence of the Crow Wing and Mississippi Rivers, primarily “to protect the Winnebago Indians who had been placed in the area as a buffer between the warring Sioux and Chippewa.” Construction of the fort began in 1849. Though it was 120 miles from St. Paul, the fort’s connections to Ramsey County were strong: St. Paul businessmen had a big hand in its building, and all supplies for its maintenance came through the city. Henry M. Rice helped choose the site and supplied the building stone. Jesse H. Pomroy was fort’s chief builder. John Corbitt ran the stagecoach line. All mail to the fort came through the city. In 1852 the Pioneer noted that the Fort Ripley trade and payments “constitute much of the largest share of the business of the port of St. Paul.” After the Civil War and the Indians wars of the West, Fort Ripley fell into disuse, and was closed in 1877.
PDF of Baker article