Pierre Bottineau

Pierre Bottineau
1817-1895

Timeline for Pierre Bottineau
by Debra McCann

On Jan 1, 1817, Pierre Bottineau was born at Turtle River, Grand Forks, ND, the son of Charles Bottineau and Margaret Ahdik Songab.

In 1834, Bottineau, Alard, and LeCount were hired to deliver the mail for the Hudson Bay Company. They departed from the East side of the Red River on Nov 1, 1834 and arrived in Fort Snelling on Dec 28, 1834.

In the summer of 1835, Pierre made a trip to Hudson Bay in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company and made a second trip in the summer of 1836.

On Dec 1, 1836, Pierre married Genevieve Larence, the daughter of John Baptiste Laurence and Louise Montagnaise.

In 1837, Pierre departed Red River for Fort Snelling in the employment of General Henry Hastings Sibley as guide and interpreter. He worked for Sibley at the American Fur Company at Mendota, just across the Minnesota River from the Fort.

On Feb 26, 1837, McLeod, Parys and Hayes accompanied by Pierre Bottineau as their guide, left La Fourche, Red River Colony to start a 750 mile expedition. Only Bottineau and McLeod survived the trip, arriving at Fort Snelling, St. Peters, on Apr 16, 1837. On May 4, 1837, Bottineau started on his return on horse-back, took a traveler at Lac Traverse, and reached the Red River June 5th. He spent the summer and winter following hunting and trapping.

In May of 1838, Pierre undertook his next trip across the plains as guide for a large party, consisting of forty families, Swiss, French, and Scotch. They used General H. H. Sibley's barge to transport the party from Traverse des Sioux to Fort Snelling in 14 days. Bottineau brought down twenty head of cattle from the Red River settlement as well as some other merchandise. He sold on his arrival, cows at $50 to $75, oxen at $150 to $200 per pair, butter at fifty cents per pound.

In 1838, the first eviction, swept Pierre, his family and brother, Severe, downstream to Pig's Eye Parrant's claim.

In Oct of 1838, Pierre engaged to guide a small party of men to Red River and remained there until 1840.

On June 1, 1840, Pierre crossed the plains once more with a large party consisting of twenty families and brought his own family along to settle in this country. They arrived at Fort Snelling in July, but were driven away by the officers of the fort. He and his family went on to St. Paul and made a claim there. During the summer he was employed by Mr. Aiken, an old agent of the American Fur Company, with others to transport freight.

In 1841, Pierre and his two brothers Severe and Charles settled in St. Paul and purchased of Benjamin Gervais, a small tract of land, later known as Baptist Hill. Pierre, Charles along with six others built the first house of worship.

In 1842, Pierre ran Mackinaw transport boats up the Mississippi from St. Anthony.

In the spring of 1845, Pierre put twenty acres in crops. During this time he worked mainly for the American Fur Company and made one more trip to the Red River.

In the summer of 1845 he moved to the falls of St. Anthony and became identified with the interests of the place until 1854, when he removed to Bottineau Prairie in Maple Grove. During the years 1845 and 1846 he made two more journeys to the Red River settlement.

On Jun 16, 1846, Pierre sold his claim of 100 acres on Baptist hill for $300, to Francis Chenevert and David Benoit. He purchased 160 acres of land upstream on the Mississippi near Nicollet Island at the site of the Falls for $150 later known as Bottineau's Addition. Pierre had purchased Carpenter's interest in 1844 and after acquiring the interest of Russell and Findley became the owner of the entire claim of 320 acres.

In 1848, Bottineau, Cheever, and Steele paid a surveyor to lay out a town and then sold real estate. The lots platted became the original town of St. Anthony.

In 1849, Pierre set up a trading post at Elk River. He was a guide on explorations and hunts. During this period he also accompanied Sioux and Ojibwe tribal delegates to Washington as a trusted interpreter.

Pierre and Genevieve appear in the 1850 Census for St. Anthony, Ramsey Co., MN with eight children.

In 1850, Pierre was elected Supervisor of Roads of Ramsey Co., MN.

On August 3, 1850, the Sisters left St. Paul and formed a part of Norman W. Kittson's caravan of eighty Red River carts. The first night they camped at St. Anthony's Falls, now in Minneapolis. The Sisters were given hospitality by Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Bottineau, formerly of St. Boniface, who confided their ten year old daughter to the Sisters for her education. Little Marie left with the caravan the following morning.

On Apr 9, 1851, Pierre's wife, Genevieve Larence, died at St Anthony, Ramsey Co., MN.

In Sep of 1851, Pierre received the contract for delivery of luggage and supplies as well as that of guide for an expedition headed by Gov. Alexander Ramsey of MN Territory to negotiate a treaty with the Chippewa of Pembina, Red Lake and Turtle Mountains.

On Jan 6, 1852, Pierre married Martha Gervais, the daughter of Pierre Louis Gervais and Marie Tremblay at St. John the Evangelist Church in Little Canada, Ramsey Co., MN.

In Jul of 1852, Pierre Bottineau, Pierre Gervais, Pierre Raiche, and Joseph Potvin staked claims Southwest of Osseo and camped there overnight. Pierre's claim became known as Bottineau's Prairie and in 1854 he built the first frame house in what became Osseo and Maple Grove.

In 1853, Pierre was the chief guide for Gov. Isaac Stevens of Washington Territory on the first preliminary survey made for the Northern Pacific Railway across North Dakota to Fort Union at the junction of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. The expedition left Sauk Rapids on June 12th with 111 voyageurs, teamsters and packers. By June 29th they entered North Dakota, going northwesterly across the plains and crossing the Sheyenne River three times. On Aug 7, 1853, at Fort Union, Pierre turned back carrying a letter of commendation from Stevens.

In the fall of 1853, Mr. Bottineau, made a hunting excursion, acting as guide for a party of English lords and bankers.

During the winter of 1854-1855, Pierre was guide and interpreter for Lt. Kearney and went to Mille Lacs with a military escort to arrest two Chippewas for murder.

In 1855-1856, Pierre Bottineau supervised the erecting of the first Catholic church on a corner of the Gervais claim which was located in the part of Osseo that became Maple Grove. It was named the Church of St. Louis.

In 1855-1862, Pierre made several trips for Gen. Henry Sibley, agent of American Fur Co., and later the first Gov. of Minnesota.

In 1856, Pierre was guide for the expedition led by Colonel F. Smith from Fort Snelling to explore the mouth of the Sheyenne River, the southern tip of Devil's Lake and the region around Pembina for the best sites for military posts.

On Jan 2, 1857 Pierre and Charlie set out from their home in St. Anthony as guides for five speculators who had to travel 125 miles west to the junction of the Bois des Sioux and Otter Tail rivers, where Breckenridge and Wahpeton now stand. Their route was by way of St. Cloud, lake Whipple, lake Pomme de Terre, and Lightning lake.

In 1857, Pierre gave the Catholic Bishop at St. Paul two blocks of land on the east bank of the river above where the Great Northern Railroad tracks now cross, one for a church site and the other for a cemetery. On these blocks were founded the Church of St. Anthony of Padua on Main Street and the St. Anthony Cemetery, at Central and Twenty-eighth Avenue Northeast.

In 1858, after the report of Colonel Smith's expedition, further exploration was determined on by the general government with reference to the establishment of the post in question. Mr. Bottineau accompanied Colonel White and a captain in the regular army who were charged with the enterprise. This expedition determined the site and located the present Fort Abercrombie at a point then known as Graham's Point. After the establishment of Fort Abercrombie, Pierre located the village of Breckenridge, now in Wilkin Co., MN.

In 1859, Pierre accompanied Geologist Skinner in his exploring expedition to locate and survey the salt mines and was guide to Col. W. H. Noble's wagon road expedition to Frazer river.

On Jul 1, 1859, Pierre Bottineau received a land patent in Hennepin Co., MN. Also, a certificate shows Pierre as treasurer for a company with 300 shares in the town of Dakota, to be located at the mouth of the Cheyenne River.

In June of 1860, Pierre accompanied a military expedition with Gov. Ramsey to Pembina to conclude treaties with the Northern Minnesota Chippewas. On his return, he guided an expedition led by Commissioners Cullen and Bailey to the Red River to hold council with the Chippewa of the Red Lake and Red River Lands in MN.

Pierre and Martha appear in the 1860 census for Maple Grove, Hennepin Co., MN with eight children and living next door to his brother Severe.

The 1862 Maple Grove real estate tax book shows Pierre had 160 acres on Section 13, NW quarter, with a value of $785 and tax of $18. The same page shows he owned 80 acres on Section 12 and 40 acres on Section 13 NW 1/4, NE 1/4 which he sold. The Maple Grove Personal Accessment Roll for 1862 showed Pierre owned 3 horses $165, 7 cows $82, 5 sheep $10, 8 hogs $16, 3 carriages $75, 2 watches $40, totaling $388 and one dog.

On Jun 19, 1862, Pierre was hired at $100 per month to guide an expedition led by James Liberty Fiske to Fort Union. The journey begins at St. Paul and continues through the expedition's final point in Walla Walla, WA Territory on Nov 1, 1862. During the trip, on Jul 21, 1862, Pierre was wounded when his fleet horse Major stepped in a badger hole, fell and rolled over on Pierre. After the Fiske Expedition, Pierre was at Fort Abercrombie when Sioux laid siege. He was able to slip through the Indians and went over the Leaf Mountains to Sauk Center to get aid for the fort.

In 1863-1864, Pierre guided General Sibley's expedition to the Missouri River and was guide for an expedition led by Ramsey which negotiated a treaty whereby all the lands of the great Red River Valley south of the mouth of the Wild Rice River and north to the Canadian boundary at the Lake of the Woods passed from the hands of the Indians. Pierre scouted for General Sibley's military expedition into North Dakota to punish the Sioux. He guided Captain Fisk's expedition to Montana. He guided an expedition to select a site for a post which became Fort Wadsworth.

1863 Treaty with the Chippewa-Red Lake and Pembina Bands, Oct 2, 1863, 13 Stats., 667, Ratified Mar 1, 1864, Proclaimed May 5, 1864, Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Vol. II, Pierre Bottineau signed his mark as a witness to the treaty made and concluded at the Old Crossing of Red Lake River, MN, on Oct 2, 1863, between the US, by their commissioners, Alexander Ramsey and Ashley C. Morrill, agent for the Chippewa Indians, and the Red Lake and Pembina bands of Chippewas; by their chiefs, head-men, and warriors.

In 1867, Pierre guided an expedition led by Capt. A. H. Terry who located Fort Ransom near the present site of Lisbon, ND. He was the guide for Capt. Wainwright to the south shores of Devils Lake where Fort Totten was constructed to protect the overland route to Montana.

In 1869, Pierre guided an expedition of 70 men to survey a route for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The party included J. Gregory Smith, Governor of Vermont and and also president of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, Gov. William Marshall of MN. The party left St. Cloud following the old Alexandria and Red River road, to Fort Abercrombie and proceeded to explore the country across the Dakota plains to the Missouri River. Their first camp was pitched at Small Lake, a little west of St. Cloud on the 9th day of July, 1869.

In 1876, Pierre brought 119 families of French Canadian settlers to found the towns of Red Lake Falls and Gentilly, MN. He came to Red Lake Falls with two sons, Henry and William and staked a claim at Clearwater River, south of town. Pierre left his sons to get rest of family from Osseo and while he was away Henry developed pneumonia and died after swimming in the river.

Pierre and Martha appear in the 1870 Census for Maple Grove, Hennepin Co., MN with nine children and living next door to his brother Severe.

On Jun 4, 1877, Pierre received a Land Patent for 160 acres in Traill Co., ND.

In 1877, an early settler of this area recalled: "Pierre Bottineau and his son, John B., brought in a large number of French Canadians from Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota, and also quite a number from the East, locating them along Red Lake River from Louisville to Red Lake Falls, and along Clearwater River from Red Lake Falls to Lambert."

In 1878, Pierre traveled to Canada to induce settlers to move to Red Lake Falls MN.

In 1879, a petition signed by a number of influential Minnesotans, was presented to Congress urging a pension of $50 a month for Pierre.

Pierre and Martha appear in the 1880 census for Red Lake Falls, Polk Co., MN with nine children.

In 1882-1887, Pierre served on the Red Lake Falls Village Council and was elected president in 1885.

On Jan 15, 1883, Pierre received a Land Patent for 160 acres in Red Lake Co., MN.

The original village of Bottineau was first known as Oak Creek, and was located at a point where the stagecoach road crossed the creek about 15 miles south of the Canadian border and about two miles north of the present site of the city. In 1884, the village was renamed Bottineau when the post office was established, Bottineau County was organized as a county, and the city Bottineau was designated as the county seat. Bottineau was incorporated as a village September 3, 1888.

In 1889, Pierre wrote a letter to C. G. Comstock asking for $50 a month back pension as he was only receiving $25 a month. United States Congress House Committee on Pensions Report - House of Representatives 50th Congress, 1st Session, No. 3127. Mr. Bliss, from the Committee on Pensions submitted the following report to accompany bill S. 2713. Report on pension for Pierre Bottineau, who after years of public service as a scout, guide, and interpreter in Minnesota and the Dakota Territory, is now physically disabled and reduced to poverty.

On Jul 8, 1889, a Treaty was negociated with all the Ojibwa bands in Minnesota with respect to removal and the ceding of all surplus lands not needed for allotments according to the Allotment Act of 1887. Signatures of Chiefs, Headmen, and Warriors of the Red Lake and Pembina Bands to the 1889 Agreement included Pierre Bottineau age 72 and his five sons, George P., age 23, Charles C., age 35, Sydney age 31, William age 28, and Norman age 21.

On Jul 26, 1895, Pierre died at Thief River Falls, MN at the age of 78 and was buried in St Joseph Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. The funeral occurred Monday at 10 am from St Joseph's Church. An immense cortege was held by the cornet band. The pallbearers were H. B. Kaufer, Thos. Crompe, Sr., Onezime Noel, M. Bople, Pierre Emard, and Pierre Pouliot.

Pierre Bottineau Obituaries
Contributed by Ray Miller
Taken from The Red Lake Falls Gazette, 6-14-1995. They reprinted published articles when Pierre Bottineau died. The articles are from several different papers.
Pierre Bottineau, whose sickness we have heretofore noticed, died of heart disease on Friday, July 26, 1895. A very interesting account of his life is given in the Red Lake Falls Gazette, which concludes as follows:
No one in the northwest ever passed a life of more romantic adventures, thrilling experiences, hairbreath escapes and accidents--- generally by flood and field. He travelled over nearly every square mile of the northwest and knew the country as thoroughly as a farmer knows his lands.
He spoke every language in the region from French, English, Sioux, Chippewa, Cree, Mandan, and Winnibago. Experiences in all the particulars of frontier and savage life, he was equally proficient as a hunter, trapper, boatman, guide, and businessman. He could build a house, fashion a boat or plow a field with equal facility. Fully six feet tall and straight as a grenadier with clean piercing black eyes, he was of attractive appearance, despite swarthy complexion due to his Indian blood. He was naturally of manly instincts and gentlemanly deportment, polite, agreeable and of a kindly disposition, always true to his word and his fellowman.
Deceased was the father of 24 children, 10 by his first marriage and 14 by his second wife who survived him. The following sons and daughters are living; John Baptiste, age 59 1/2 years; Mary Jane, widow of the late Charles McDougall, Jr of Montana, 53 years; Charles C, 42 1/2; Martha, 41; Sidney, 39; William, 35; Emily, 33; George P., 29; Norman, 27; Laura, 24; Jennie, 20; Agnes, 18; and Norah, 15.
The funeral occurred Monday at 10 a m from St Joseph's Church. An immense cortege was held by the cornet band. The pallbearers were H B Kaufer, Thos Crompe, Sr., Onezime Noel, M Bople, Pierre Emard, and Pierre Pouliot. the remains were laid to rest in the family lot in St Joseph's cemetery. We have lost one of our honored citizens and share the family sorrow. TRF News, 8-3-1895
He was born 12 miles west of Grand Forks 78 years ago and his parents were named Charles and Margaret (Clear Sky) Bottineau. He began his career as a guide through the trackless wilderness of this section at a very early age and acted as such when a mere boy conducting parties of Scotchmen and Swedes from Fort Garry to civilization during their exodus after the death of Lord Selkirk. He was Gov. Sibley's guide in the famous expedition across the plains and for years after was in the employ of the government. Crox Daily Times, 7-29-1895.
He was 78 years old and was for many years a trusted government employee. He was the father of the French Canadian colony at Red Lake Falls, and very few there be who do not know Pierre Bottineau. In the early history of the state his name figures conspicuously as a faithful government guide and scout. He at one time had a quarter section claim where the heart of the city of St Paul now stands, but it is said that he traded it for a cow and a dog. Polk Cty Journal, 8-1-1895
He then bought a claim where St. Anthony Falls is located, and by the dishonesty of purchasers, lost thousands of dollars. He now owns a good home and considerable real estate in Red Lake Falls.
Pierre Bottineau was married in Winnipeg to Miss Jennie LaRence; they had 10 Children. He then married Miss Martha Gervais and they had 14 children. St Paul Dis, 7-25-1895.

The Bottineau Family

My Elusive Ancestors

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