Back in 1868 the government removed all Indians from the southern part of the state to a reservation at Mille Lac because they had killed white settlers. Shortly after that the white settlers wanted that land to homestead so the Indians were moved again. Half of them went to Leech Lake reservation and half to White Earth reservation.
To get supplies to them the Government built a trail from Walker Hackensack to 8th Crow Wing Lake, to Park Rapids and on North west along the south side of Fishhook and Portage lakes to the White Earth reservation. They had stopping stations and barns to feed the four horse teams overnight.
The M and I logging railroad was built from Brainerd to Walker about this time to haul logs to Brainerd to be sawed so supplies were hauled to Walker on the logging train.
It was half a day with a team to Lathrop and another to Hackensack for an overnight stay there and another overnight at 8th Crow Wing Lake.
The Indians used the trail for visiting and to pick blueberries and for hunting and fishing trips. They had light wagons and ponies. They also hauled their tents and birch bark canoes.
This is a photo from the museum that is marked on the back “Berry Pickers.”
The Hubbard County Historical Museum is hosting a Chuck Wagon Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday April 21, 2012 at the American Legion in Park Rapids. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets are $9.00 each for adults and $4.00 each for children. Please mail your check to HCHS PO Box 327 Park Rapids, MN 56470 and tickets will be mailed to you. We appreciate your support! Dinner will include Roast Beef, Baked Potato, Baked Beans, Sour Dough Biscuit and an Ice Cream Sundae. Live music will be by The Wranglers!
Was the Government Trail between 8th and 9th Crow Wing Lake or was it between 7th and 8th Crow Wing Lakes? Was the Post office and settlement approximately where In We Go Resort is now or at the other end of 8th Crow Wing Lake?
Thank you! Love your posts!
Lois Parsons
Hi Lois, I believe it was here:
Ojibway began as a trading post during the 1880’s. It was located on the west side of the Crow Wing River about a city block from the outlet of the Eighth Lake at the point where the old Leech Lake – White Earth Road crossed the river. A perfect site for a trading post because land and water travel crossed paths.
That is all the information I have.
Thanks for reading!
I just heard from my brother-in-law, Larry Johnson, that the town of Leech Lake on the Government Trail, in Cass County near Walker airport, was located at intersection of present-day MN hwy 371 and Cass County hwy 62. An original house, that searved as a store, is still there. There were cabins for travelers to stay overnight.