Little Six and Medicine Bottle

It was John McKenzie who captured Chiefs Little Six and Medicine Bottle who were fugitives following the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862.

The year was 1831, near Montreal Canada, at a place called Hoag’s Hollow, a male child was born. His name was John H. McKenzie. For years Quebec, or “Lower Canada” was at odds with their colonial ruler — the British Crown. In 1837 and 1838 Lower Canada separatists staged a pair of insurrections against the Crown. The armed conflict, which has become known as “The Patriot’s War,” was bloody and claimed around 300 lives. Young John McKenzie’s father was part of this insurrection and in 1841 fled to the United States with his family. The McKenzie family moved to Illinois and began farming. At the age of 15, for whatever reason, McKenzie ran away from home to begin life on his own. In 1850 he found himself on the way to Minnesota.

Minnesota was still a new territory in 1850, having been given that status just a year prior. McKenzie’s trek to the state was with a party of pioneers who were heading overland through Wisconsin. Among the party was a man named John Stevens who would become a well-known fixture in the early days of McLeod County. The party located in Minnesota, yet McKenzie was looking for something more and headed north to Itasca where he entered the trade business with Native Americans.

Brian Haines is executive director of the McLeod County Historical Society and Museum, 380 School Road N.W., Hutchinson. The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment. Admission is free. For more information, call the museum at 320-587-2109.

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