Bio of Joseph FORTIER (b.1835 d.1898) Yellow Medicine Co., MN

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Source: "A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose
Published 1914

JOSEPH FORTIER (1885)

Deceased, was one of the earliest white men who came to Yellow Medicine
County, Minnesota, his first residence here dating back more than a half
dozen years prior to the Indian outbreak of 1862.  It was in 1885 that 
he arrived at the trading post near the Upper Agency and started clerking 
in the store of Trader Merrick.  For more than forty years Yellow Medicine 
county was his home, his death occurring at Granite Falls on March 27, 1898.

Joseph Fortier was born at Napiersville, Canada, April 12, 1835, of French
parentage.  In 1854, at the age of nineteen years, he came to Minnesota and
for a time made his home at St. Peter.  The next year, 1855, he came to the
Upper Agency on the Yellow Medicine river and took employment, remaining
there until the Indian troubles commenced.

When the Renville Rangers came into existence in those trying times, Joseph
Fortier joined the company.  He took part in the first battle of New Ulm 
and was also at the siege of Fort Ridgely, in both of which engagements 
he was wounded, fortunately, not seriously.  He was also in the battle of 
Wood Lake in Yellow Medicine county.  His name is on the monument at Fort 
Ridgely erected to the memory of those who so nobly defended the post.

There were few men, if any, who really knew more about the Indians and the
outbreak of 1862 than Mr. Fortier.  His long residence among them made him
familiar with their habits and language--in fact, he could talk "Sioux" as
well as a Sioux Indian himself.  His acquaintance among them was large;
there was not a chief but was personally known to him, and they all seemed 
to like him.  He was on intimate terms with Little Crow and knew all about 
that wily chief.  John Other Day was a special friend.  In all respects 
Joseph Fortier was a typical frontiersman.

After serving with the Renville Rangers, in the spring of 1863 Mr. Fortier
made the trip to the Missouri river with General Sibley's expedition and
took part in skirmishes they had with the Indians. The next season he went 
out on another expedition, with Colonel Thomas, and served as a scout.  
The command under Colonel Thomas was joined with that of General Sully on 
the Missouri, and the expedition continued across the river, through the 
Bad Lands to the Yellowstone, and then down the Missouri to Fort Rice. 

After completing his army service Mr. Fortier made a visit to his old home
in Canada.  On his return he located in Yellow Medicine City and opened a 
store in the log house build by John Winter.  He later took part in the
organization of the county and helped "boost" for the selection of Yellow 
Medicine City as the county seat.  When the county seat was changed to 
Granite Falls in 1874, he soon followed and again engaged in the mercantile
trade at the new capital city.  He remained in business until after he 
was elected sheriff in 1877.

Joseph Fortier was a popular sheriff and was elected to the office five
times in succession, serving his county ten years in that capacity.  The 
township of Fortier, which was organized, during his incumbency of the 
sheriff's office, was named in his honor.  After retiring from the office 
he for a time served as a guard at the state prison in Stillwater.

His declining years were spent at Granite Falls amidst much more quiet
scenes than those of his earlier life, when the Indian was the only
inhabitant--practically--of all of Southwestern Minnesota.  Mr. Fortier 
was married in 1868 to Sara E. Seward.

Source: "A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose
Published 1914