CHARLES EUGENE FLANDRAU AND FAMILY:

An Inventory of Their Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Flandrau, Charles E. (Charles Eugene), 1828-1903, creator.
	Title:	Charles Eugene Flandrau and family papers.
	Dates:	1850-1935.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Papers of Charles E. Flandrau, a lawyer and associate justice (1857-1864) of the Minnesota territorial and supreme courts, and his family, consisting largely of correspondence, invoices, receipts, deeds, and legal documents. Many date from 1856-1858, when Flandrau was Indian agent for the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute Dakota, and document his management of Sioux Agency affairs, annuity payments, and councils between the Dakota and government officials. Detailed abstracts of annuity payments list the name of the head of each family, the number in the family, and the amount of the annuity. A letter from Nathan Myrick to Captain Flandrau, requesting military units for aid against Indian attacks at Fort Ridgely (August 20, 1862). A set of contracts (1897) reflects his representation of Dakota bands in supporting an 1897 Congressional bill to restore rights forfeited in 1863.
	Quantity:	5.50 cubic feet (6 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 3 items in Reserve) and 1 microfilm reel.
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Charles Eugene Flandrau was born July 15, 1828, in New York City, the son of Thomas Hunt and Elizabeth Maria (Macomb) Flandrau. He was educated in Georgetown, District of Columbia, served as a seaman on several United States revenue cutters, and returned to New York as a veneer-sawyer in a mahogany mill. He returned to Whitesboro, New York, and studied law under his father, being admitted to the bar in 1851. He formed a partnership with his father but in November 1853, migrated to Minnesota Territory in company with Horace R. Bigelow, with whom he formed a law partnership.

Later he settled in Traverse des Sioux in the Minnesota River valley, where he held numerous local offices, was a member of the Minnesota Territorial Council and served in the Constitutional Convention of 1857. In 1856, President Franklin Pierce appointed Flandrau agent to the Dakota Indians. In 1857 President James Buchanan appointed Flandrau as Associate Justice to the Territorial Supreme Court. He continued service on the state Supreme Court until resigning in 1864.

At the beginning of the U.S.-Dakota War in August 1862, Flandrau organized militia units in southwestern Minnesota and was authorized by Governor Alexander Ramsey to have general charge of the southwestern frontier, especially in the defense of New Ulm.

In 1864 he moved to Nevada but shortly returned to Minneapolis and practiced law; in 1870 he moved to St. Paul where he continued his legal practice. Flandrau was a member of the Democratic Party.

Flandrau married Isabella R. Dinsmore of Kentucky on August 10, 1859. She died June 30, 1867, leaving two daughters, Martha Macomb Flandrau (later Mrs. Tilden Russell Selmes) and Sarah Gibson Flandrau (later Mrs. F. W. McCutcheon). On February 28, 1871, Flandrau married Rebecca B. Riddle, daughter of Judge William McClure of Pittsburgh. They had two sons, Charles Macomb Flandrau and William Blair McClure Flandrau.

Flandrau died at his home in St. Paul on September 9, 1903.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

In addition to correspondence, invoices, receipts, deeds, and legal documents, the collection includes Flandrau's law calendars from Traverse des Sioux (1854-1856) and St. Paul (1898-1902); his journal of a voyage to the source of the Mississippi River (1858); his wife Rebecca's journal of a trip to Spain and Italy (1881); correspondence, speeches, reminiscences, and articles (some published) on early Minnesota history; a manuscript copy of his book, The History of Minnesota (St. Paul, 1900); documentation of family land investments and insurance matters; diaries and clippings scrapbooks kept by Flandrau (1891-1903) and his son Charles M. (1932-1935). A letter from Owen Wister (1909) comments on Charles M. Flandrau's book, Viva Mexico. There are University of Virginia law lecture notes (1853-1854) and Georgetown, D.C. law practice accounts (1858-1860) apparently kept by friends of Flandrau.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions:

Access to and use of reserve materials requires the curator's permission.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Charles Eugene Flandrau and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Location of Originals:

Originals of the microfilmed letters and reports are from the records of the Department of the Interior, Northern Superintendency of Indian Affairs in the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Documents appearing on the microfilm were selected by members of the staff of the National Archives in response to the request of Grace Lee Nute of the Minnesota Historical Society, July 11, 1941.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 5261; 6695; 6864; 6893; 9424; 16,437

Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Digitized by: Minnesota Historical Society, August 2025.

Legacy Amendment logo

Digitization was made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.

Catalog ID number: 990017303940104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location
144.H.15.1B	Correspondence and miscellaneous papers:
		Undated, 1850-1903. 19 folders.
			Includes miscellaneous invoices and receipts issued to Flandrau for services rendered, containing data on prices paid for rentals, food, clothing and laundry services; quit-claim deeds for lots in St. Peter, Minnesota; and letters from Samuel Chute, John W. Hutchinson, and Thomas Chesley.
			Contains a printed list of instructions to its agents by the St. Paul Mutual Insurance Company (of which Flandrau was an agent, 1854); a stock certificate (1856) in the Minnesota Improvement Company issued to Joe Rolette and signed by Joseph R. Brown; and letters from Charles E. Mix, Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
			Papers from 1856-1857 when Flandrau was Indian Agent to the Mdewakantan and Wahpekute include receipts, drafts of reports to the U.S. Indian Office, abstracts of annuities paid to the Indians, vouchers issued to laborers at the Sioux Agency, and correspondence documenting the routine business of the agency. Detailed abstracts of annuity payments (November 4, 1856 and June 29, 1857) list the name of the head of each family, the number in the family, and the amount of the annuity.
			Also included are letters (1858) relating to the establishment of the townsite of Hutchinson, Minnesota, the private law calendars of Flandrau (post 1860), and a photocopy of Nathan Myrick's letter requesting military aid at Fort Ridgely (August 20, 1862).


Location
144.H.15.2F	Land company certificates, 1853-1858.
		Receipts and a stock certificate for Dakota Land Company and transfer certificates for Traverse des Sioux Land Company lots in the city of Traverse des Sioux.


		Photostats of materials on microfilm, 1856-1858, 1863.
			Materials selected by staff of the National Archives at the request of Grace Lee Nute in 1941. It is unclear if this represents a complete set of the materials on the microfilm roll included in this collection.


		Flandrau, Charles E.: Recollections, [1881?].
			A lecture delivered in the annual lecture course of the St. Paul Library Association; title taken from pamphlet as printed in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1881.


		Flandrau, Charles E.: Regarding derivation of geographic names, 1894.


		Flandrau, Charles E.: Regarding 1857 Indian massacre, 1897. A.D.S.
			Printed under the title of Pioneer Days in Minnesota Magazine (4: 1-16).


		Comments regarding Flandrau's lecture, 1898.
			Comments on a lecture, Reminiscences of Minnesota during the territorial period, which was delivered before the Minnesota Historical Society, April 25, 1896.


		Flandrau, Charles M.: "Education, According to Adams, Lies in Answering the Riddle of Existence," St. Paul Pioneer Press December 29, 1918.


		History of Minnesota by Judge Chas. [Charles] E. Flandrau. Typed manuscript. 2 folders.


		Contracts, Nos. 1-395, 1897-1900. 8 folders.
			Contracts with members of the Mdewakanton, Wahpekute, Sisseton, and Wahpeton made in connection with a congressional bill to restore to the bands the rights they forfeited in 1863. Flandrau was the attorney who represented the Indians.


Location
M686	Letters and reports, 1856-1858, 1863. 1 microfilm reel.
		Contains information on Flandrau's activities as Indian Agent; councils with the Indians are mentioned, claims of Curtis Lamb and William Graham, reports on the Spirit Lake massacre; and Flandrau's first-hand accounts on Dakota customs, education and annuity payments.
		Originals are in four series in the records of the Department of the Interior in the National Archives: Northern Superintendency of Indian Affairs, Office of Superintendent, Letters Received from Sioux Agency, 1856-1857; Office of the Secretary, Letters Received, 1857; Office of Indian Affairs, Letters Received, 1857-1858, "St. Peters"; Office of the Secretary, Special File No. 1, 1863.


Location
144.H.15.3B	Volumes:
		1. Notes on law lectures, University of Virginia, September 1853-April 1854.
			Kept by I. A. Latoue. This volume also includes an account book (1858-1860) kept by George Magruder of Georgetown, District of Columbia, containing a record of legal services rendered by him. The relationship between Latoue, Magruder, and Flandrau is unknown.
		2. Legal register, 1854-1856.
			Kept by Charles E. Flandrau at Traverse des Sioux.
		3. Legal register, 1898-1902.
			Kept by Charles E. Flandrau at St. Paul.
Location
129.G.11.1B-1		4. Journal, 1881.
			Kept by Rebecca Flandrau on a trip to Spain and Italy.
		5. Invoices, 1882.
			From Hagar Brothers, Mandan, Dakota Territory, containing prices of dry goods and groceries.
Location
129.G.11.1B-2		6. Invoices, 1881-1882.
			From Hagar Brothers, Mandan, Dakota Territory, containing prices of dry goods and groceries.
		7. Invoices, 1883-1890.
			From the law firm of Selmes and Vinton, Mandan, Dakota Territory; Selmes was Charles E. Flandrau's son-in-law.
Location
144.H.15.3B		8. Land book, 1886.
			Lists sales of lots in various additions to St. Paul, giving amount paid and the amount of taxes and assessments.
		9. Diary and scrapbook, 1893.
			Kept by Flandrau documenting his receivership of the St. Paul Globe Publishing Company.
		10. Scrapbook No. 1, 1891-1896.
			Miscellaneous clippings, with emphasis on Flandrau's activities in the Democratic Party in St. Paul; contains index.
		11. Scrapbook No. 2, 1894-1933.
			Includes clippings, especially containing reminiscences on Minnesota history topics, speeches, correspondence, and index.
		12. Scrapbook No. 3, 1901-1903.
			Includes clippings, especially containing reminiscences on Minnesota history topics, speeches, and correspondence; contains index.
		13. Scrapbook No. 4, 1897-1899.
			Miscellaneous clippings, especially containing reminiscences on Minnesota history topics; contains index.
Location
144.H.15.4F		14. Scrapbook, 1903.
			Clippings regarding the death of Flandrau.
		15. Journal, 1898-1902.
			Record of Flandrau's legal business.
		16. Letterpress book, 1902-1903.
			Flandrau's outgoing correspondence principally relating to his family's insurance matters.
		17. Scrapbook, 1932-1935.
			Pertaining to Charles Macomb Flandrau's publication of his volume Loquacities.
Location
144.H.15.2F		18. Diary and memo book, 1850-1852.
			Kept by Charles E. Flandrau.
		19. Diary and memo book, 1855.
			Kept by Charles E. Flandrau while on a trip to New York.
		20. Diary and memo book, 1857.
			Kept by Sanford B. Cocks, Traverse des Sioux who served as Flandrau's law clerk.
		21. Account and recipe book, 1859.
		22. Speech, September 11, 1894.
			Printed address by Charles E. Flandrau before the Old Settlers Association of Elysian, Minnesota.
		24. Speeches, November 3, 1903.
			Memorial addresses in honor of Charles E. Flandrau presented at a meeting of the Minnesota Historical Society by John B. Sanborn, Greenleaf Clark, Salmon A. Buell, William H. Lightner, and Joseph A. Eckstein.


Location
142.C.19.5	Oversize items:
		Tables of accounts for the Indian Agency, 1857. 11 items.
		Flandrau's notes from a lecture on Japan, 1901. 1 item.


Location
Reserve 108	Reserve items:
		Restricted.
		Photocopy can be found filed in chronological order with the correspondence and miscellaneous papers (1862).
		N. Myrick, Laffayett, to Capt. Flandrau, New Ulm, August 20, 1862. A.L.S.
			Nathan Myrick writes to Captain Flandrau requesting military aid at Fort Ridgely.
			Digital version
			Transcript, Digital version
		Owen Wister to Charles M. Flandrau, October 28, 1909. A.L.S.
			Commenting on Flandrau's Viva Mexico and on Wister's general impressions of Mexico and the Spanish influence in the country.
		Volume 23. Journal of a voyage from Chippewa Agency to the source of the Mississippi, commenced August 22, 1858, August 22-September 5, 1858. 1 volume.
			Diary kept by Flandrau on this trip with Major James W. Lynd, J. D. Cruttenden, a voyageur, Paul Beaulieu, and an interpreter, Charlo. The daily entries include:
			August 23: At Lake Sibley.
			August 24: At Mountain Lake, near Leech Lake.
			August 25: Describes a visit to a mill site near the Agency, the arrival of the Indian chiefs for a council and the gifts they brought to the agency and mentions George Bongo (spelled Bungor).
			August 26: Contains a free translation of the speeches given by the various chiefs at the council and Lynd's reply. The discussion concerned the liquor problem, the selection of a mill site, the poor financial condition of the Indians, the Indians' claim that the whites have not lived up to the provisions of the 1855 treaty, the lack of food and clothing among the Indians, and other issues. Indian chiefs Flat Mouth, Buffalo, Big Dog's Sons, Rabbit, and Major Gab participated in the council.
			August 27: Left Leech Lake and entered Hay River.
			August 29-September 5: Tells of the trip from Leech Lake to the Sandy Lake River area; describes a steamboat operated by the missionaries near Lake Winnibigoshish and the mission of Reverend [Sela?] Wright (August 30), the settlement built by the Minnesota and Dakota Land Company near Pokegama Falls (September 2), and the deserted town of Ojibwa (September 5).
			Digital version

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Dakota Indians -- Annuities.; Dakota Indians -- Government Relations.; Indians of North America -- Alcohol use.; Justice, Administration of -- Minnesota.; Land grants -- Minnesota.; Law -- Study and teaching.; Literature -- History and criticism.; Ojibwa Indians.; Prices -- Minnesota.; Spirit Lake Massacre, Iowa, 1857.

Persons:: Beaulieu, Paul H., 1820-1897.; Bonga, George, ca. 1800-1874.; Brown, Joseph Renshaw, 1805-1870, author.; Buffalo.; Cocks, Sanford B., ca. 1834-, author.; Cruttenden, Joel D., 1822-; Flandrau, Charles Macomb, 1871-1938.; Flat Mouth, 1774-1860.; Graham, William.; Hutchinson, John W. (John Wallace), 1821-1908, author.; Lamb, Curtis.; Lynd, James W. (James William), 1830-1862.; Mix, Charles E., author.; Schmahl family.; Wister, Owen, 1860-1938, author.

Organizations:: Clifton House (Niagara Falls, N.Y.).; Culver and Farrington (Saint Paul, Minn.).; Globe Publishing Company (Saint Paul, Minn.).; Minnesota Improvement Company.; St. Paul Mutual Insurance Company.

Places:: Dakota Territory.; Europe -- Description and travel.; Hutchinson (Minn.); Leech Lake (Minn.); Minnesota -- Description and travel.; Minnesota -- History.; Minnesota -- Politics and government.; Nicollet County (Minn.); Saint Peter (Minn.); Traverse (Minn.)

Document Types:: Autographs.; Diaries.; Legal files.; Microforms.

Occupations:: Indian agents -- Minnesota.; Lawyers -- Minnesota.

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CHARLES EUGENE FLANDRAU AND FAMILY:

OVERVIEW

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

CATALOG HEADINGS