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Ramsey County History – Spring 1969: “Orders, Letters, Lists of Possessions: Colonel Snelling’s Journals”

Virginia Brainard Kunz

Orders, Letters, Lists of Possessions: Colonel Snelling’s Journals Author: Virginia Brainard Kunz A recounting of life and the historical significance of Fort Snelling. The excerpts, joined by explanatory text, touch on death by disease, military discipline, relations with Native Americans, planned participation in a duel, Snelling’s transfer…

Ramsey County History – Spring 1969: “Summer Evenings, a Smudge Kettle, Tallow Candles—And Farm Life Recalled”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

Summer Evenings, a Smudge Kettle, Tallow Candles—And Farm Life Recalled Author: Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte A short memoir written by the youngest daughter of Jane and Heman Gibbs about her years in the 1870s during summer evenings after all the chores were done and family members gathered in…

Ramsey County History – Fall 1968: “Spring Wagons and No Roads: A Pioneer Family’s Sunday”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

Spring Wagons and No Roads: A Pioneer Family’s Sunday Author: Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte A short reminiscence left by the youngest child (born 1865) of Jane and Heman Gibbs about Sundays in the 1870s in St. Anthony Park and the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota.

Ramsey County History – Fall 1967: “Memories of The University—1870s”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

Memories of The University—1870s Author: Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte Lillie Gibbs grew up on what became Ramsey County Historical Society’s Gibbs Farm at Larpenteur and Cleveland Avenues in Falcon Heights. At age seventy-nine, she wrote her memories of the University of Minnesota in the 1870s.

Ramsey County History – Spring 1967: “Early Explorers’ Trails Criss-Crossed Today’s’ Ramsey County”

Ramsey County Historical Society

Early Explorers’ Trails Criss-Crossed Today’s’ Ramsey County Author: Alan R. Woolworth A summary of the deeds of explorers who passed through or near Ramsey County (the piece in fact covers Minnesota generally) before 1840, including LeSueur, Carver, Hennepin, Pike, Long, Cass, Schoolcraft, and Nicollet. PDF…

Ramsey County History – Spring 1967: “The Saga of Charley Pitts’ Body”

Lillie Gibbs LeVesconte

The Saga of Charley Pitts’ Body Charley Pitts was part of the James-Younger gang that robbed the First National Bank in Northfield in September 1876. He was killed by a posse two weeks later. His body was exhibited at the Minnesota Capitol. What became of it after that? In…

Ramsey County History – Spring 1966: “A Pioneer Farmer and the Civil and Indian Wars”

Coates Bull

A Pioneer Farmer and the Civil and Indian Wars Excerpts from Coates Bull’s letter describing how his father was caught up in the US Dakota War of 1862 and an uncle’s service in the Civil War. PDF of Pioneer Farmers…

Ramsey County History – Fall 1964: “‘We Was Ordered Out on the Double-quick . . . They Skeedadeled:’ Sergeant Ramer’s Indian War”

Virginia Brainard Kunz

“We Was Ordered Out on the Double-quick . . . They Skeedadeled:” Sergeant Ramer’s Indian War Author: Virginia Brainard Kunz James T. Ramer was a soldier, diarist, and letter-writer. He joined the Union army on August 15, 1862; on August 18, the US Dakota War broke out.

Ramsey County History – Spring 1964: “‘. . . Conclude It My Duty to Enlist & Therefore Enlisted…:’ The Diary of a Civil War Soldier”

Hal E. McWethy

‘. . . Conclude It My Duty to Enlist & Therefore Enlisted…:’ The Diary of a Civil War Soldier Author: Hal E. McWethy Newell Burch joined the Union army in August of 1862 in Jamestown, New York. Slightly wounded at Chancellorsville and captured at Gettysburg, he spent…