Near Leavenworth in Brown County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Attack on the Brown Family

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, July 30, 2013

1. The Attack on the Brown Family Marker

Inscription. The Joseph Brown family with son Jonathan and daughter Oratia were early settlers on a farm five miles west of here along the Shetek Trail. The family fed and over-nighted guests, operating their home as a traveler's inn. Upon hearing news of Dakota Indian unrest during August 1862, they hitched their oxen and fled eastward along the Shetek Trail seeking safety in New Ulm. Upon reaching the location of this marker, five miles from their home, they were overtaken and killed by Dakota Indians in August 1862.

This road, known by the Dakota and early settlers as the Shetek Trail, connected New Ulm westward to Sioux Falls and the Missouri River settlements.

The Brown family was buried in a small cemetery on their farmstead. Later, in 1901 the bodies were reburied in the Springfield City Cemetery.

This marker was erected in 2012 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the US Dakota War of 1862. It was donated by the Richard and Mary Lou Mathiowetz Family, and supported by the Township of Leavenworth.

Erected 2012 by the Richard and Mary Lou Mathiowetz Family, and supported by the Township of Leavenworth.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Roads & Vehicles

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• Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 44° 13.212′ N, 94° 49.447′ W. Marker is near Leavenworth, Minnesota, in Brown County. It is on County Road 24 0.9 miles west of County Road 8, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Springfield MN 56087, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota and specifically in the Minnesota River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Leavenworth (approx. one mile away); Jackson Crossing (approx. 1.3 miles away); Cobden (approx. 4.7 miles away); Jonathan Brown and the Shetek Trail (approx. 5.1 miles away); Dakota Reservation and the Leavenworth Road (approx. 5.2 miles away); Iberia (approx. 6½ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.6 miles away); Fredsminde Lutheran Church (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leavenworth.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, July 30, 2013

2. The Attack on the Brown Family Marker

north side of marker with duplicate text
looking westward, former Shetek Trail

Close-up of Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, July 30, 2013

3. Close-up of Map

The Post Road from New Ulm to Sioux Falls
The "Shetek Trail"

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, July 30, 2013

4. The Attack on the Brown Family Marker

Site of the Attack and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, July 30, 2013

5. Site of the Attack and Marker

Former Shetek Trail
looking westward towards family farm

Brown Family Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, July 30, 2013

6. Brown Family Memorial

Springfield City Cemetery In memory of Joseph L. Brown • Jonathan Brown • Oratia Brown • Massacred by the Indians in 1862. Erected by the town of Burnstown. BROWN

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,214 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 18, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.