Charles E. (Charles Eugene) Flandrau

Born in New York City on July 15, 1828, Charles Eugene Flandrau moved to Minnesota Territory in 1853 and became deeply involved in public life. He served in the territorial legislature, was appointed to the territorial supreme court, and later built a long legal career in St. Paul.

Flandrau is also remembered for his role during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, when he helped organize the defense of New Ulm. During the Civil War era he served as a colonel of Minnesota troops, adding to a reputation that linked him closely with the turbulent early history of the state.

As a writer, he drew on that experience in works such as The History of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier. His books remain valuable for readers interested in the settlement era, not only because they recount major events, but because they preserve the voice of someone who lived through many of them.