I recently visited your Website in regards to African Americans in Winona. My family was probably one of the first black families to settle in the Minnesota Territory. In 1998, I had the honor of being accepted into The Society of First Families of Minnesota. I am now doing research on the period when my family came to the Territory in 1856, until they left Winona County, ca. 1900, for the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area. My research gives a totally different perspective of the African American experience in Winona. My ancestors came not from the South but from the Northeast,- Connecticut. A father and four brothers left Connecticut as a clan in 1837, before finally settling in the Minnesota Territory in 1856.
They came in hopes of owning land and becoming farmers in the new Territory. They all filed for patents for land from Bounty Land Warrants from the War of 1812, In which all four received 160 acres from the government.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, five family members volunteered for military service, my great great grandfather, Charles Jeffrey, was in the 19th Wisconsin, Horace Jeffrey, 7th Minnesota, died at the Battle of Nashville, Richard Jeffrey, 7th Minnesota, died of Smallpox, Ft. Snelling, Frederick Jeffrey, 11th, Minnesota, and Josiah Jeffrey, (Sargent) 11th Minnesota, all from Winona County. After the war, they returned to farming in Winona, County.
I have numerous documents that may be beneficial to the students and teachers. I have Civil War pension files, and Bounty Land Warrants, from the Federal Government in Washington, D.C., also numerous other documents from the County Courthouse, Winona County, and the Minnesota Historical Society.
Although small in numbers African Americans have made contributions in the early stages of development in Winona County and the state of Minnesota. I would be more than happy to contribute whatever I can to your research project.
(Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 19:21:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Eric Smith <ericsmith11_60473@yahoo.com> Subject: African Americans in Winona)