University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 18 text:

Henry' Fjasfings Sibley. ' ENRY HASTINGS SIBLEY was born in Detroit, Mich., Feb. 20, 1811. He died in St. Paul, Minn., Feb. 18, 1891. Between these two limits lies a life of honorable public activity. As a statesman, as a soldier, as a helper in all good work for the advancement of society, Gen. Sibley was among the foremost in Minnesota. When Wisconsin was admitted to the union, in 1848, the western boundary of the new state was fixed at the St. Croix rlver. The residuum of the former territory between the St. Croix and the Mississippi was thus left out, and the question of its exact status was undetermined. The inhabitants took the ground that it was unextinguished by the act of admis- sion, and hence remained the Wisconsin territory. In accord- ance with this view. Mr. Sibley was elected delegate to con- gress, and after a sharp contest was awarded his seat by that body. He immediately took measures to introduce a bill for the organization of a new territory, to include the residuum of Wisconsin and an extension west of the Mississippi. This bill he wisely induced Senator Stephen A. Douglas to adopt as his own, and it was accordingly brought into the senate Dec. 4, 1848. The contest was long and bitter, and it was only the untlrlng energy and tact of the delegate that carried it through. The bill became a law March 3, 1849, on the last day before the congress expired. I The new territory of Minnesota at once unanimously elected Henry H. Sibley its first delegate to congress, an elec- tion repeated in 1850. In 1853 he returned to private life in his home at Mendota. In the following year he was chosen from ,Dakota county to the territorial legislature. In the labor attending the admission of Minnesota to the union, in 1857-8, he had a prominent part, being chairman of one of the two conventions that simultaneously produced the constitu- tion under the enabling act. At the first state election Mr. Sibley was chosen governor, being thus the first governor of the state of Minnesota and the only Democratic governor the state has yet had. His term expired Jan. 1', 1860. The Sioux massacre, famous in the annals of our state, occurred in August, 1862. In the peril that confronted the border Gov: Ramsey at once availed himself of Mr. Sibleyls long experience in Indian affairs by appointing him colonel with command of all the troops levied to move against the hostiles. Col. Sibley justified the confidence reposed in him by a brilliant campaign. In one month and six days the frontier stations were relieved, the Sioux routed in two bat- tles, the captives released, and 425 of the worst offenders cap- tured and turned over to a military court for trial. For these services Col. Sibley received from President Lincoln the com- mission of brigadier general in the United States Army. In the following year an expedition was organized to drive the Sioux entirely out of the state. Of this force Gen. Sibley was given command. Again his efforts were crowned with brilliant success. In less than three months the column marched over a thousand miles and drove the enemy beyond the Missouri River, inflicting on them a heavy loss. The Sioux massacre was avenged.

Page 17 text:

PREFACE. .N presenliino THE GOPHER of '92 bo bbe gbuclenbg and friends of blpe Universilty, ib i5 clearly oub of place lio lnake lslpe ugunl excuses: we are conficlenb of ibgs lnerihs, and regb well agsgurecl of ihg guccess. Xfe expecb, lpowevei, ho be crilsicigecl, and feel gsorry for lzlpe faullt-finclereg blge only blping lefb for ug is lio lialce your opinions for wlpall lilpey are worblp, :incl leh you bake lilpe bool: gpm- fl Dozzafp. i We 3191111 be in our offive ab various bixneg on cerllain clayps, ready bo explain any parbicularly fine joke or any unugually lmrillianb passageg liub znogb of bbe liilne we slpall be visilsincg friends all u clisbance, and any coln- xnunicabion delivered ho Yice-Preeiclenb Yalibaw will reaclp us in gafeby. There is u Qreuli deal in blpe book-bake ik, and profib by lilpe keen obgervaliiong- and wise juclQ1nenlJ5 of your 3uperior5. THE EDITORS.

Page 19 text:

In 1865 Gen. Sibley was appointed brevet major general of volunteers in the United States Army, for efficient and mer- itorious services. Retiring to civil life, he was occupied thereafter in the care of his large business interests, and in the numerous public trusts confided to hin1 by his fellow citizens in city and state. Among the high minded and wise men who struggled so long to redeem Minnesota from the disgrace of repudiation, Gen. Sibley was among the foremost, and with voice and pen he labored incessantly to inform the intelligence and arouse the conscience of the people. At last these efforts attained their object. The vexed question of the repudiated bonds was settled-and settled in the interest of the honor of the state. And it is a source of pride to the university that the president of its board of regents, and others to whom the institution is indebted, were active and influential in secur- ing such a victory. One of the first important measures of the new territory of Minnesota was to provide for an institution of higher education. An act was passed or- ganizing a territorial university. The first board of re- gents, twelve in number, were elected by the legislature on the 4th of March, 1851. Nearly the highest vote cast on the first ballot was that received by H. H. Sibley, and he was cor- respondingly fortunate at the subsequent drawing in securing the long term of six years. At the expiration of this period he was revlected, Jan. 19, 1857, for a second term of six years. In February, 1860, however, the political complexion of the legislature being radically changed. Mr. Sibley, with the rest of the board, was legislated out of ofrlee. In 1868 the univers- ity was reorganized, preparatory to its definite opening, and in the'following year fJan. 22, 18695, H. H. Sibley was ap- pointed tothe new board by Gov. Wm. R. Marshall. From that time until his death he served continuously. In 1876 he was chosen president of the board, a position that he held throughout the remainder of his life. As a regent, Gen. Sibley was most untiring and efficient. He had a high ideal of what an institution of learning ought to be, and under his administration the affairs of the univers- ity were always kept out of partisan politics and administered with a rare degree of fidelity and intelligence. u Gen Sibley showed his interest in matters pertaining to culture in many ways. He was the author ofa considerable number of historical papers and addresses of no small value. His attainments and useful industry were recognized by Princeton College in 1888, that venerable institution bestow- ing upon him the honorary degree of doctor of laws. The distinguished citizen who so long has done honor to the University of Minnesotaas the head of its governing body, has gone to his rest. The best tribute to hls memory is the hope and belief that the story of his life may be an incentive to worthy emulation through many coming generations.