Lawrence Taliaferro

Lawrence Taliaferro (IPAEng|ˈtʌlɪvɝ) was an agent at Fort Snelling, Minnesota from 1820 through 1839. He partnered with Colonel Josiah Snelling to ensure peace and safety for the frontier outpost. Taliaferro's role was to mediate between the American Fur Company traders, the Ojibwe and Dakota Indians in the area, and United States interests. He had a difficult role, as evidenced by this quote in his diary: "How to get rid of me at this Post seems now the main object of Tom, Dick, and Harry -- so that those who may come after me can the more easily be bribed or threatened into silence and acquiesce in the plans on foot to cheat & destroy the Indians." Taliaferro also encouraged the Dakota to rely less on hunting and more on farming, as a response to their difficulties in hunting bison, deer, bear, and other animals. Many Dakota were not ready to give up hunting, because they considered farming to be the way of the white people.

Taliaferro had served with Josiah Snelling in the battle of Fort Erie in the War of 1812, and when they reunited, they became friends as well as professional allies. Little Crow called Taliaferro "No-Sugar-in-Your-Mouth" for his ability to deal candidly with his tribesmen and for his record of not making promises that he couldn't keep. Taliaferro built a council house just west of the fort in 1823, where he received Indian visitors and mediated in the affairs of the area. Both the Dakota and the Ojibwe would travel along the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers to the fort to seek advice and to ask for charity and favors. Taliaferro was able to exert his influence by carefully distributing supplies such as food, gunpowder, tobacco, and whiskey. The agency's blacksmith also was on hand to repair Indians' guns and traps. Since the Indians relied on these supplies and services, and since those services could be stopped at any time, this promoted peaceful relations between all parties involved.

Taliaferro presided over the drafting of a treaty in 1837. He brought Dakota leaders to Washington, D.C. and negotiated what he thought were fair terms for Dakota lands east of the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, the United States government was unable to keep up its end of the bargain. The Indians ended up debt-ridden and desperate for their means of survival, and Taliaferro became increasingly critical of the United States' inability to make good on their promises. In poor health, he resigned his position.

Taliaferro was also, notably, the owner of a slave named Harriet Robinson, who would later marry famed freedom suit plaintiff Dred Scott. It is unknown exactly how Taliaferro came into ownership of Harriet, but what is known is that she worked as a servant in his home and to his wife. As Justice of the Peace in the territories, Taliferro would officiate the marriage of Dred and Harriet, a marriage which many historians believe gave additional credence to the Scott's claim to freedom.

Taliaferro (played by local actor John Wehrman) is the lead character and also the narrator of the 1983 film, "Tower and Braid", produced by the Minnesota Historical Society and shown regularly at Historic Fort Snelling's museum. In the film, the character is called Lawrence "Tolliver", the Americanized pronunciation of his surname.

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