July 31, 1873

Amherst Wilder signs his will, donating $2.5 million to help the needy in St. Paul. Born July 7, 1828, in Lewis, New York, Wilder moved to St. Paul in 1859 and soon found his fortune in various business ventures, including railroads, steamers, banks, real estate, and merchandising. He died November 11, 1894.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

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July 30, 1835

Army Lieutenant Albert Lea, commanding a group of U.S. Dragoons, arrives at the site of his namesake city.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

July 29, 1974

Minnesota’s Jeannette Piccard, who had once piloted hydrogen balloons into the stratosphere, is one of the first women to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

Oxcart Trail update

Orlin and his family are about 20 miles south of Motley along Highway 10.  They plan to leave tomorrow morning and they will try to make it to Little Falls close to 3 p.m.  Watch for more updates as they continue their journey along the Pembina Trail.

July 28, 1861

John A. Johnson, Minnesota’s first homegrown governor, is born in St. Peter. A Horatio Alger success story, Johnson would work his way up from poverty to become editor of the St. Peter Herald. A popular figure statewide, he would be elected governor in 1905, and his oratorical skills would attract nationwide attention. He died in office on September 21, 1909, cutting short plans to make him the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 1912.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

July 27, 1972

Virginia Piper, wife of investment banker Harry C. Piper, Jr., is kidnapped. The Minneapolis woman is released near Duluth after a ransom of one million dollars is paid, at the time the highest such payment ever made.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

July 26, 2000

A tornado kills one person in Granite Falls and damages a 40-block area.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

July 25, 1847

A Baptist church in St. Paul holds Minnesota’s first known Sunday school session.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

July 24, 1998

Pitcher Ila Borders of the Duluth-Superior Dukes is the first woman to win a men’s regular season professional baseball game. The Dukes beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 3-1, in Duluth.

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.

July 23, 1851

Wahpeton and Sisseton Dakota bands sign the treaty of Traverse des Sioux, near St. Peter. Cloud Man and Sleepy Eyes are among the Dakota signers, while Alexander Ramsey and Luke Lea represent the United States, with missionary Stephen Riggs interpreting. Henry H. Sibley acts as agent for the fur traders, who had accumulated debts from the Indians. In the treaty, the Dakota relinquish title to their lands west of the Mississippi River, about 24 million acres, for $1,665,000 and a reservation for the Indians is set up in the Minnesota River valley. Soon, a similar treaty with other Dakota bands is signed at Mendota. Problems with treaty payments would be one of the causes of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862. Want to explore this and other events?

Thanks to Juliana James’ 4th Grade Class at Frost Lake Magnet School part of St Paul Public Schools for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.