Person:Anton Ludcke (1)

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Anton Ludcke
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Name Anton Ludcke
Gender Male
Birth? 5 Feb 1817 Leizzenberg-Mecklenberg, Germany
Marriage Germanyto Wilhelmina _____
Death? 15 Mar 1903 Saint Peter, Minnesota, USA
Other? 1853 - emigrated from Germany to America.Fact 1

SEE SEPARATE SECTION ON THE LUDCKE FAMILY The name Ludcke appears to be unusual in America. In travels around the country I have never found this name in local directories. There are other names somewhat similar, but not the same exact spelling. If one should come across another Ludcke, they also are probably decedents of Anton.

Anton and Wilhelmina Ludcke came to America in 1853 from Germany and settled in Chicago. Due to the presence of the disease cholera they moved the next year to the Minnesota Territory. They made their home at Traverse Des Sioux, a principal Indian trading post where Anton opened a blacksmith shop. In 1860 the Ludckes moved to the nearby town of St. Peter. Wilhelmina died in 1866. Anton then lived with his son Henry John Ludcke, (Sr.) for the remaining 38 years of his life. During his early years in Minnesota Anton took part in two Indian wars, the Inkpaduta in 1857 ("The Spirit Lake Massacre"), and the Sioux uprising of 1862 in which he was one of the defenders of New Ulm, Minn. under Capt. Chas. Flandreau. Just outside the east end of St. Peter is a monument marking Traverse de Sioux.


TRAVERSE DES SIOUX (crossing of the Sioux)

The trail from Fort Snelling to the upper Minnesota River and the Red River valley. The Indian and Red River Trails up (south) the Minnesota Valley crossed to the north bank of the river and cut across the bend to the mouth of the Cottonwood River.

"Here on June 30, 1851 Governor Alexander Ramsey, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Delegate to Congress Henry H. Sibley established a camp overlooking the small trading post and mission on the river bank. They gathered to negotiate a treaty with representatives of the Sisseton and Wakpeton Sioux for almost 24 million acres of the Suland (most of Minnesota west of the Mississippi and south of a line between present day St. Cloud and Moorehead as well as portions of So. Dakota and northern Iowa).

"Treaty signed July 23, 1851 started a great land rush which brought swarms of settlers to the fertile lands acquired by the U.S. from the Sioux."

The Ludckes arrived two years later and first settled on the trading post.

The Nicolet County Historical Society has plans to build a museum at the site of Traverse Des Sioux. It is just outside of St. Peter, south of the freeway heading north to the Twin Cities. There is now a walking trail through a field that was the location of the trading post. Sites of some of the buildings are marked, and in some cases there are depressions in the ground where there foundations were. Across the road on the north side of the highway is a small structure marking the site of the signing of the treaty. Close by is a two story stucco house. The house was owned by Esther Ludcke (Mrs. William Ludcke) and it was formerly located next to the Episcopal Church in St. Peter where my mother Maurine Ludcke Pulver, her brother Gipp and Mother attended church. The house was moved out of town to this site a number of years ago. Esther's daughter Maxine Dvork still lives in the house. When the house was moved and the title to the land where it is presently located was examined it was discovered that it is on property formerly owned by Anton Ludcke. Perhaps where his blacksmith's shop was located.