Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/100

 68 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Anthony, in 1766, describing Lake Pepin, says: "I observed the ruins of a French factory, where it is said Captain St. Pierre resided and carried on a great trade with the Naudowessies before the reduction of Canada." In 1805, Lieutenant Pike, United States army, passed through Lake Pepin, and described the position of the ruined post as it would appear to him going up the lake, and in view before reaching Point no Point, as being on the west shore behind the point. In 1887, in digging for a foundation for a cistern, two can- non balls were found near Frontenac Station at a depth of about five feet. One was a four-pound and the other a six-pound ball. These were doubtless buried by the Indians, shortly after the abandonment of the fort, as being useless to them, and possibly "bad medicine." In the rear of the low lands of the Point is an eminence of some sixty feet, which is the bluff edge of a wide plateau, from which there is an extensive view below and above the sandy peninsula. It is the most suitable spot in the vicinity for a stockade, and there is evidence, in the absence of very aged trees, that there had once been a clearing there. The old Indian trail up and down the valley crossed this plateau and the valley of the Sandy Point creek, now Well's creek, affording easy routes for the Sioux of the prairie to the post. Frontenac Sta- tion is overlooked by this plateau, and an enemy approaching the post would probably be met at that point by the artillery tire of the defenders, moving out a short distance from the stockade. The Graham Family has, since the earliest days, occupied an important place in the life of the county, and the name will be remembered so long as the county exists. Hon. Christopher C. Graham was one of the best-known citizens of the state. He was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in October, 1806, and removed with his parents, when three months old, to Lincoln county, Kentucky. In 1816 the family removed to Booneville, Ind. During his boyhood he attended such schools as were pro- vided in his neighborhood, and later went to the academy at Montgomery, Ohio, where he completed his school education. Mr. Graham was elected to the Indiana legislature in 1835, and served until 1841. The following year he was elected to the senate, which position he occupied until 1846. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he was appointed by President Polk as com- missary of subsistence for the Second Indiana Infantry, but later resigned after one year's service. He was also a member of the convention which framed the constitution of Indiana. During the campaign preceding the election of President Pierce, Mr.