Charlotte Ouisconsin Van Cleve: The Pioneer Infant

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

During this time of uncertainty when many are trying their best to help those in need, a story comes to mind about one of the most influential women to call Minnesota home. A story about a lovely lady, travel, war, generosity, and a family who did not let anyone or anything stop them from fighting for what was right.

Starting in 1819, the Fifth Infantry, then stationed in Detroit, was tasked with establishing a military fort where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers met. On July 1st, the Fifth Infantry and their family landed in Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, Michigan Territory. There, Charlotte Ann Seymour, with her husband Lieutenant Nathan Clark by her side, gave birth to Charlotte Clark. It is believed that Baby Charlotte was the first white person born in what is now Wisconsin.

Horatio Van Cleve Civil War photoDuring the group’s travel up the Mississippi, the soldiers gave Charlotte the middle name “Ouisconsin,” after her birthplace, and the nickname “Pioneer Infant.” A few weeks later, the group reached their destination and started a settlement, Camp Cold Water. From here, soldiers would trek a mile south and construct Fort St. Anthony, later renamed Fort Snelling. In 1823 during her early years, Charlotte saw the first ever steamboat to reach what is now Minnesota. Growing up with a father as a lieutenant, Charlotte also traveled from fort to fort across the Midwest as a child. In 1833, the Clarks resided in Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin Territory where she met her future husband, Lieutenant Horatio Van Cleve. Three years later on March 22nd, 1836, a sixteen-year-old Charlotte married Horatio.

Because of Horatio’s service, the Van Cleves moved around the Midwest again, but in 1856, the couple moved to a farm in Long Prairie, Minnesota Territory. A few years later in 1861, Governor Ramsey ordered Horatio to serve as colonel of the Second Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. During this time, Horatio lead his men in the battles of Mill Spring, Corinth, and Stones River where he and his horse, Bessie, were wounded, but both recovered. During this time, Horatio was a Brigadier General, and upon completion of the Civil War, he was promoted to Major General. Once he returned back to Minnesota, he was once again promoted to Adjutant General. 

The Van Cleve House

When Horatio was training and away fighting, Charlotte lived at Fort Snelling. Soon after in 1862, the Van Cleves bought a house in St. Anthony from its first owner, William Kimball, a furniture manufacture. In this same year, Charlotte witnessed the first locomotive to operate in Minnesota when it arrived in St. Anthony. For four years, Charlotte and her eight children lived in that house by themselves before Horatio could return from the war. To the children’s surprise, when their father returned, he brought back his horse Bessie who then became Charlotte’s carriage horse.

As her children grew older, she started working towards social justice for women and children. In 1874, she started the Sisterhood of Bethany, an organization that helped women in need, particularly prostitutes and women who were dealing with unwed pregnancies, along with Harriet Walker, Euphoria Overlook, and Abby Mendenhall. In 1876, she also became the first woman to be elected to the Minneapolis Public School Board.

Mrs. Overlook, Charlotte, Mrs. Walker, and Mrs. Mendenhall (in that order), the directors of Bethany Home circa 1880s.

A few years later in 1879 at the age of sixty, Charlotte opened up the Bethany Home, a place where these women could stay, rehabilitate, get back on their feet, and become independent. She had an agreement with Minneapolis where women arrested for prostitution would go to her Bethany Home instead of jail. During her time at the Sisterhood, she raised ten babies, which is saintly considering she had twelve of her own. Seven years after Charlotte’s death, the Sisterhood claimed to have helped over 7,500 women and children leave the sex trade and become outstanding citizens. Charlotte would travel around the city and state giving speeches, raising money, and creating awareness for the situations many women throughout the state had to deal with.

In 1884, because of her nonstop work for women, she became an honorary vice president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. During this time, she also became a prominent writer in Minneapolis. She even wrote an autobiography titled Three Score Years and Ten, Lifelong Memories of Fort Snelling Minnesota, and Other Parts of the West. Many of you might know the name “Van Cleve” from the park in SE Minneapolis with the same name. Originally, that park was named Second Ward Park, but on May 15th, 1893, two years after the passing of Horatio, the Park Board changed the name to Van Cleve Park after the family and their impact on local and national history and society. In 1895, the Charlotte O. Van Cleve school was built on Lowry and Jefferson NE. Also in the 1890s, Charlotte was one of the founding members of the Minneapolis chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who helped restore the George Washington flagpole on Hennepin and First Street South.

Charlotte Van Cleve on her 80th birthday, 1899

Charlotte’s last “first” came in 1905 when she rode in the first automobile in Minnesota from St. Anthony to Fort Snelling. She passed away in 1907, but her and her husband’s legacies still continue on with Van Cleve Park and their home in SE Minneapolis which is included in the National Register of Historic Places. It is rare when a person is recognized by multiple people and organizations across the county for their hard work and positive impact while they are still living, but Charlotte had such an impact. The History of Hennepin County Minnesota, published in 1881, sums it up best; “There is probably no woman in the State who has done more to lighten the burdens on the shoulders of the poor, the sick, the aged, and the distressed than Mrs. Van Cleve.”

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.