Charles Eugene Flandrau facts for kids
Charles Eugene Flandrau (born July 15, 1828 – died September 9, 1903) was an important American lawyer. He became very influential in the Minnesota Territory and later the state of Minnesota. He moved there in 1853 from New York City. Charles Flandrau served in several key government roles. He was part of the Minnesota Territorial Council. He also helped write the Minnesota Constitution. Later, he served as a judge on both the Minnesota territorial and state supreme courts.
During the Dakota War of 1862, Flandrau joined the Union Army. He was made a captain in 1862. His job was to gather a group to protect settlers in New Ulm, Minnesota. Because he was so successful, the governor made him a colonel. He then led the defense of southwest Minnesota. After trying for a few other political jobs, Flandrau moved to St. Paul in 1870. There, he worked with two other lawyers until he passed away in 1903.
Early Life and Education
Charles Flandrau was born in 1828 in New York City. His father, Thomas Hunt Flandrau, was a lawyer. His mother was Elizabeth Maria Macomb. Her half-brother, Alexander Macomb (1782-1841), became a famous general. He was a hero in the War of 1812. Later, he led the United States Army. The Flandrau family came from French settlers called Huguenots. They arrived in New Rochelle in the 1690s.
Charles went to school in Georgetown. This was a separate town back then. When he was 13, he tried to join the Navy. He was too young to become an officer. So, he spent three years working as a regular sailor. In 1844, he decided he didn't want to be at sea anymore. He worked for three years in the mahogany wood business in New York City. Then, he joined his family in Whitesboro, New York. He started to study law with his father. Flandrau passed his law exams in 1851. He then became a partner in his father's law firm.
Career in Minnesota
In 1853, Flandrau moved to Traverse des Sioux, Minnesota. He started his own law practice there. During the 1850s, he held many important positions. He was a member of the Minnesota Territorial Council. This was like a local government group. He also helped create the Minnesota Constitution. This is the main set of laws for the state. He served as a judge on the Minnesota territorial and state supreme courts. In 1856, he was also made the U.S. Agent for the Sioux people. In this area, they were the Dakota people.
In August 1862, Flandrau learned about a conflict with the Dakota people in southwest Minnesota. He joined the Union Army as a captain. He quickly gathered a group of armed men. They went to protect the settlers in New Ulm, Minnesota. Flandrau was very successful in defending the town. Both Flandrau State Park and the town of Flandreau, South Dakota, are named after him. Because of his success, Governor Alexander Ramsey gave Flandrau a new job. He put Flandrau in charge of defending the southwest part of the state. Flandrau served as a colonel for two years. He did this while also being a judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
In 1864, Flandrau left both his positions. He moved to Nevada to practice law. But he returned to Minneapolis within a year. He practiced law with another lawyer, Isaac Atwater. In 1867, he ran for governor as a Democrat. However, he lost the election. In 1869, he ran for chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He was defeated again.
In 1870, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. He started a new law firm with two other lawyers. He continued to work with them until he passed away in 1903.
Family Life
Judge Flandrau was married two times. His first marriage was on August 10, 1859. He married his cousin, Isabella Dinsmore. She was from Kentucky. They had two daughters: Martha Macomb and Sarah Gibson Flandrau. Isabella passed away in 1867. Their daughter Martha married Tilden Russell Selmes. Martha's daughter, Isabella Selmes, became famous. She was the first woman from Arizona to be elected to Congress. She was known by her married name, Isabella Greenway.
Flandrau married again to Rebecca B. Riddle. She was a widow. They had two sons. Their son, Charles Macomb Flandrau, became a well-known author. He wrote stories and a novel about college life. His short stories were published in popular magazines. One was The Saturday Evening Post.
Their second son was William Blair McClure Flandrau. In the early 1900s, William owned a coffee farm in Mexico. William married Grace Hodgson. Grace became a very popular and successful author. She left money in her will to many places. One was the University of Arizona. The Flandrau Science Center there is named after her.
