Wilson's Family History

By nickleisen@gmail.com

  • Fred Lacroix is born.

  • 18 year-old Rosalie Maes and Louis Lacroix are married.

  • The Treaty of 1851 is signed, turning all Indian lands over to the state of Minnesota.

  • Iron Cloud, Chief of the Dakota and father of Rosalie Lacroix dies of Cholera.

  • Oliver Lacroix is born.

  • The first shots of the Dakota War are fired when two Indians murder a White family, including women and children.

    "'I am not afraid of the white man, and to show you that I am not I will go to the house and shoot him. Are you brave enough to go with me?'"
  • The Lacroix family arrives at Fort Ridgely, seeking refuge from the attacks.

    The Lacroix family arrives at Fort Ridgely, seeking refuge from the attacks.

  • The first battle of the war takes place when Little Crow attacks the Lower Agency.

    "the underlying hate and resentment between whites and indians was like dry tinder on the morning of August 18, 1862."
  • The Renville Rangers arrive at Fort Ridgely with instructions to protect the fort.

    The Renville Rangers arrive at Fort Ridgely with instructions to protect the fort.

    "Fred saw his father leaning against the wall, his face lined with exhaustion. when their eyes met, Louis nodded his head toward the building toward the building behind him and smiled."

  • The first attack on the fort by the Indians is unsucessful, but many people in the fort are wounded.

  • Henry Sibley leads 1,400 troops to Fort Ridgely to help protect it. Sibley is a well-known fur trader in Minnesota who speaks English as well as Dakota.

    Henry Sibley leads 1,400 troops to Fort Ridgely to help protect it. Sibley is a well-known fur trader in Minnesota who speaks English as well as Dakota.

  • Thomas Robertson forwards a message from Little Crow to Sibley saying that the Indians will not release the white prisoners of war they took from the fort.

    Thomas Robertson forwards a message from Little Crow to Sibley saying that the Indians will not release the white prisoners of war they took from the fort.

  • 1,600 soldiers leave Fort Ridgely in pursuit of Little Crow to negotiate a safe release of the prisoners.

  • When the Dakota see the size of Sibley's army, the Indians immediately surrender and release the priisoners.

    "The 1,200 Dakota Who were also present surrendered to Sibley, trusting his word that they would be treated fairly."

  • The captured Dakota women, children, and elders are marched from The Lower Sioux Reservation 150 miles North to Fort Snelling.

  • The condemned indian men are moved to Camp Lincoln. On the way, enraged whites throw punches and rocks at the Dakota.

  • The Indians finish their march and arrive at the fort.

  • President Lincoln approves the death sentences of 303 condemned Dakota men.

  • Thirty eight prisoners are hanged outside Fort Ridgely in front of many angry white soldiers and civilians.

  • Governer Ramsey sets a $200 bounty for the scalps of Indians who eluded capture.

    Governer Ramsey sets a $200 bounty for the scalps of Indians who eluded capture.

  • legislation is passed by the government which nullifies all treaties with indians, including their rights to land in Minnesota and access to Dakota funds.

  • The Dakota who survived the winter at Fort Snelling are transported in steamboats to a new reservation near Fort Randall.

  • Little Crow is shot and killed while picking berries with his son

  • Rosalie Lacroix disappeares following the death of her husband, Louis Lacroix.

  • The Great sioux reservation is broken into six smaller reservations. Land is then alloted to Indians such as Oliver and Susan Dion.

  • The Wounded Knee massacre cripples the Indians in the final battle of the Dakota war.

    The Wounded Knee massacre cripples the Indians in the final battle of the Dakota war.

  • The first sale of excess Indian land turns the reservation into a checkerboard of white and indian owned land.

  • Oliver Lacroix dies by falling into a frozen lake.

  • Maude Lacroix, Wilson's grandmother, marries Paul Dion.

  • Maude's first child, Margeret Dion, is born.

  • Lucille Dion, Wilson's mother, is born.

  • The Dions sell their house and move to Rapid City, where Oliver lacroix J.R. may help them find work.

  • Maude writes a letter to Lucille, telling her that the family has enough money to bring her home.