On Sunday we stopped at the Renville County Historical Museum in Morton, MN and met volunteers Chris Hettig and Steve Hettig (right photo, click to enlarge). They’re standing in front of a display about Joseph Renville, my great, great, great grandfather. Chris showed me a folder of miscellaneous research papers and newspaper clippings about Joseph Renville.
In the museum gift shop, I browsed through their booklet, Historic sites of the Conflict of 1862, described as
… a self guided tour to the historic sites of the 1862 Conflict in the Renville County area.
It includes old and new photos of each site along with directions and the historical significance of the site, the people involved, and personal stories told by survivors.
Page 6 of the booklet (left photo) features the Loyal (Faithful) Indians Monument, and when Chris noticed me reading it, she told me that it was located just up the hill above Morton, along with the Birch Cooley (Coulee) Monument. We drove up Monument Drive to take a look it (center).
The words ‘Patriotism, Courage, Fidelity, and Humanity’ are on the four sides of the monument and on the ‘Humanity’ side, the inscription (right photo) reads:
Erected A. D. 1899 by the Minnesota Valley Historical Society to commemorate the brave, faithful, and humane conduct of the loyal Indians who saved the lives of white people and were true to their obligations throughout the Sioux War in Minnesota of 1862 and especially to honor the services of those here named.
Other Day – Ampatutokicha
Paul – Mahzakutemanne
Lorenzo Lawrence – Towanetaton
Simon – Anahwangmanne
Mary Crooks – Mahkahta Heiya win,
Maggie Brass – Snana win
