Category Archives: Minnesota History

Life of a Legend – The Story of Jane Smith Williamson – Part VII

Posted on November 26, 2016 by lois

The Williamson’s returned from their trip to Ohio in May of 1848 and that summer Kaposia hosted the annual reunion of the Dakota Mission. Stephen and Mary Riggs and three of their children were there, along with both of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dakota Mission, Emma Wakefield, Harriet Bishop, Jane Anderson Robertson, Jane Smith Williamson, Kaposia Village, Marion Robertson Hunter, Minnesota, Minnesota History, Nancy Hunter Aiton, Nancy Rankin Adams, Susan Rainbow aka Susan Ellison, Sylvester Cook, Women in Minnesota, Wowinape | Leave a comment

The Story of Mary Napexni

Posted on May 13, 2014 by lois

In the John Aiton Family Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society is an undated letter, written in cursive English script and addressed to “Dear Mrs. Aiton.”  The letter continues: “I think the rose you sent me very pretty. You were … Continue reading →

Posted in Dakota Mission, Jane Smith Williamson, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Mary Napexni, Minnesota, Minnesota History, Nancy Hunter Aiton, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Life of a Legend – Introduction to the Story of Jane Smith Williamson

Posted on March 25, 2014 by lois

All of the missionary women whose stories have been recorded in Dakota Soul Sisters to this point came to the Dakota mission when they were young. Most were new brides; others were single women who came to experience the adventure … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan Woolworth, Jane Smith Williamson, Jeff Williamson, John LaBatte, Kaposia Village, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Minnesota, Minnesota Historical Society Photo Purge, Minnesota History, Ohio, Stephen Osman, U.S. Dakota War of 1862, Underground Railroad, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Heartbroken Heroine – Agnes Carson Johnson [Hopkins] [Pond] – Part III

Posted on March 6, 2014 by lois

Agnes, Robert and the children returned to the Dakota mission at Traverse des Sioux after little Nancy’s death in November of 1849, and resumed their work with Alexander and Lydia Huggins. Despite their ongoing frustration at their lack of success … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnes Johnson Hopkins Pond, Dakota Mission, Lydia Pettijohn Huggins, Minnesota History, St. Peter, Traverse des Sioux, Women in Minnesota | 2 Comments

Heartbroken Heroine – Agnes Carson Johnson [Hopkins] [Pond] – Part II

Posted on February 27, 2014 by lois

On April 4, 1844, Agnes, Robert and 6-month-old Mary Frances, left the mission at Lac qui Parle to join Stephen and Mary Riggs at the new mission at Traverse des Sioux, 110 miles to the east on the Minnesota River. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnes Johnson Hopkins Pond, Dakota Mission, Fanny Huggins Pettijohn, Julia Kephart, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lydia Pettijohn Huggins, Margaret Poage Williamson, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Minnesota History, St. Peter, Traverse des Sioux, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Blogging and Real Life

Posted on February 20, 2014 by lois

If you’ve ever been a blogger you’ll understand how you can be totally involved in your blog topic, doing research, posting entries, and then suddenly, real life intervenes and everything comes to a screeching halt. I apologize to my followers … Continue reading →

Posted in Lac Qui Parle Mission, Minnesota, Minnesota History, Traverse des Sioux, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Fearless Fanny – The Story of Fanny Huggins Pettijohn – Part I

Posted on November 15, 2013 by lois

One of the most rewarding things about investigating the women whose stories are told in Dakota Soul Sisters is uncovering details about their lives and personalities that are not always immediately evident in the readily accessible historic records. All I … Continue reading →

Posted in Dakota Mission, Fanny Huggins Pettijohn, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lydia Pettijohn Huggins, Minnesota History, Underground Railroad, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Contrary Mary – The Story of Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs – Part III

Posted on August 6, 2013 by lois

Mary and Stephen Riggs’ years at Traverse des Sioux were always shadowed by Mary’s intense grief at the death of her brother Thomas. His grave was visible from their house and Mary planted it with roses and fenced it in to … Continue reading →

Posted in Julia Kephart, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lucy Spooner Drake, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Mary Spooner Worcester, Minnesota, Minnesota History, Moses Newton Adams, Nancy Rankin Adams, Traverse des Sioux, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Contrary Mary – The Story of Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs – Part I

Posted on July 6, 2013 by lois

The next white woman missionary to arrive in Minnesota was Mary Riggs. She and her husband, Rev. Stephen Return Riggs, arrived at Fort Snelling on June 1, 1837. Mary was 23 years old and she and 25-year-old Stephen had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Lac Qui Parle Mission, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Minnesota History, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Tatidutawin – A True Dakota Soul Sister – Part II

Posted on March 26, 2013 by lois

By the summer of 1851, Catherine, now sixty years old and widowed, took great pleasure in studying the Bible and reading everything she could find that was written in the Dakota language. Fanny Huggins, who had known Catherine since 1839, … Continue reading →

Posted in Catherine Tatidutawin, Dakota Mission, Fanny Huggins Pettijohn, Joseph Kawanke, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lorenzo Lawrence, Minnesota History, Robert Hopkins Chaska, U.S. Dakota War of 1862, Wawiyohiyawin/Sarah Hopkins, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment