Helen was born, August 27, 1843 in Wisconsin to parents Thomas and Laura Paddock, both natives of Vermont. She was named after heroine Lady Helen Mar from the historic novel 'The Scottish Chiefs' by Jane Porter, first published in 1810. Beginning with Helen Mar Paddock, the name carried through four generations of daughters: Helen Mar McNanney (1873-1912), Helen Mar Riddle (1898-1950), and Helen Mar Johnston (1929-2010).
October 23, 1856 Helen married James Carrothers (born 4/6/1830, Ohio); she was 16, he was 26. In the spring of 1857 they moved to Winona, where her husband was a carpenter and had a contract to build a flour mill. The following spring they with their relatives started out west stopping on the way to build houses and barns. (personal note: brother, David, is mentioned in the History of Beaver Falls). They passed through Mantorville and Wasioja. They went on to Nicollet county near St. Peter, where some of the party took homesteads.
Mr. and Mrs. Carrothers went down to Blue Earth county to visit friends and look over prospects. On the way they passed through Mankato. Here they learned that the Indian Reservation north of Minnesota River in Renville county was opened by the Government for settlers. So they started for that section. They passed through New Ulm and Fort Ridgely and arrived at Redwood agency.
The couple moved to the southwest quarter of section 22 in Beaver Falls Township, Renville County MN, six miles from the Lower Sioux Indian Agency, where Mr. Carrothers was employed as a carpenter. They were some of the first white residents of the area, known as the Beaver Creek settlement. They lived on wild meat when they could get it. For months they lived on potatoes and salt and worked hard on the farm. Mr. Carrothers was often away and his wife was left alone. With an ox team she hauled all the logs for their home while the men were busy cutting timber. In the meantime they lived out of doors and slept in their wagons.
The couple moved to the southwest quarter of section 22 in Beaver Falls Township, Renville County MN, six miles from the Lower Sioux Indian Agency, where Mr. Carrothers was employed as a carpenter. They were some of the first white residents of the area, known as the Beaver Creek settlement. They lived on wild meat when they could get it. For months they lived on potatoes and salt and worked hard on the farm. Mr. Carrothers was often away and his wife was left alone. With an ox team she hauled all the logs for their home while the men were busy cutting timber. In the meantime they lived out of doors and slept in their wagons.
Her husband worked for the Indian Agency and also built some houses for the Indians, who decided to become farmers. Mr. Carrothers was away from home days, weeks and sometimes months.
In 1856 their first child, Althea, was born, Helen was 15 years old; she was cared for in the home of a half breed. When her baby girl was one week old her husband came and took her home. On the way crossing the creek the sled broke through the ice and mother and baby were dumped into the ice cold water. The medicine man gave her careful attention and both recovered. The indians were very fond of the white baby and she became a great favorite. Helen learned the language of the Dakota Indians and developed a close relationship with them and their medicine man who taught her how to gather herbs and use them to make medicines; she often went with him to nurse the sick.
The 1860 Census lists them in Beaver River, Renville, MN; the family includes a newborn son, Thomas.
By the summer of 1862, the number of white settlers in the area and grown, and their once friendly Dakota neighbors, upset with conditions at the reservation, turned hostile. On August 18, 1862, Indians attached the whites at Lower Sioux Agency and at the settlements in the region, killing hundreds, and taking over one hundred, mostly women and children, as prisoners.
When word of the uprising reached the Beaver Creek settlement, several residents gathered at the Jonathan Earle farm where they made plans to go by teams and wagons to Ft. Ridgely for protection. They traveled just a short distance when they were surrounded by Indians who began shooting at them. Mrs. Carrothers in the Indian language pleaded for the lives of their two children and their friends. Finally the Indians said if they would give up the horses they would spare their lives. This was agreed on and the Indians took the horses and left.
Mrs. Henderson, a white woman was sick. After the horses were taken the men drew the wagon on which she lay. They had not gone far when the Indians returned and began shooting the white men. Some of the white men fled and escaped. The Indians took Mrs. Henderson’s two children and battered their brains out against the wagon wheel, cut them limb by limb with tomahawks and threw the pieces on Mrs. Henderson. They took the feather bed on which she lay out of the wagon and set it on fire and burned her to death. Most of the women and children were taken captive to Chief Little Crow’s village.
One account: 75 Indians attacked a group of 27 settlers traveling with 3 wagons east of Beaver Creek on the morning of Monday, August 18: 8 dead, 7 escape, 11 captive, 1 unknown.
Four Indians wanted Mrs. Carrothers for their squaw. Chief Little Crow could not settle the trouble. So he decided that she and the children must be shot. She was taken to a corn field to be shot with her children. A great storm broke over the scene. It was night and she escaped. She tried to reach Fort Ridgely, but this was on the other side of the river. She had no food, only berries and roots. She walked and tried to find a ford and could not. She would enter the river to her armpits and baffled in her aim she would return.
Finally she found a boat with the body of a soldier across the bow. She dumped the body into the river, bailed out the boat, put the children in and shoved off. But the boat leaked and they were in danger of drowning. They had neither oars nor paddles. Finally the current carried the boat near wome willows on the north side, she grabbed the willows and landed. She had to keep hidden among the thick brush along the river. Her children became so weak they could not walk. She strapped the youngest on her back and carried the older, for over a week, they had practically no food.
The mother often fainted and lay for hours, finally she saw the Stars and Stripes floating from Fort Ridgely. She came onto a road, an officer with field glasses saw her. They wanted to send her relief, but did not for Indians were in ambush. She came to a house and went in a man who was trying to reach the Fort came in. Together they started and carried the children and reached the fort and were kindly treated.
The 1860 Census lists them in Beaver River, Renville, MN; the family includes a newborn son, Thomas.
By the summer of 1862, the number of white settlers in the area and grown, and their once friendly Dakota neighbors, upset with conditions at the reservation, turned hostile. On August 18, 1862, Indians attached the whites at Lower Sioux Agency and at the settlements in the region, killing hundreds, and taking over one hundred, mostly women and children, as prisoners.
When word of the uprising reached the Beaver Creek settlement, several residents gathered at the Jonathan Earle farm where they made plans to go by teams and wagons to Ft. Ridgely for protection. They traveled just a short distance when they were surrounded by Indians who began shooting at them. Mrs. Carrothers in the Indian language pleaded for the lives of their two children and their friends. Finally the Indians said if they would give up the horses they would spare their lives. This was agreed on and the Indians took the horses and left.
Mrs. Henderson, a white woman was sick. After the horses were taken the men drew the wagon on which she lay. They had not gone far when the Indians returned and began shooting the white men. Some of the white men fled and escaped. The Indians took Mrs. Henderson’s two children and battered their brains out against the wagon wheel, cut them limb by limb with tomahawks and threw the pieces on Mrs. Henderson. They took the feather bed on which she lay out of the wagon and set it on fire and burned her to death. Most of the women and children were taken captive to Chief Little Crow’s village.
One account: 75 Indians attacked a group of 27 settlers traveling with 3 wagons east of Beaver Creek on the morning of Monday, August 18: 8 dead, 7 escape, 11 captive, 1 unknown.
Four Indians wanted Mrs. Carrothers for their squaw. Chief Little Crow could not settle the trouble. So he decided that she and the children must be shot. She was taken to a corn field to be shot with her children. A great storm broke over the scene. It was night and she escaped. She tried to reach Fort Ridgely, but this was on the other side of the river. She had no food, only berries and roots. She walked and tried to find a ford and could not. She would enter the river to her armpits and baffled in her aim she would return.
Finally she found a boat with the body of a soldier across the bow. She dumped the body into the river, bailed out the boat, put the children in and shoved off. But the boat leaked and they were in danger of drowning. They had neither oars nor paddles. Finally the current carried the boat near wome willows on the north side, she grabbed the willows and landed. She had to keep hidden among the thick brush along the river. Her children became so weak they could not walk. She strapped the youngest on her back and carried the older, for over a week, they had practically no food.
The mother often fainted and lay for hours, finally she saw the Stars and Stripes floating from Fort Ridgely. She came onto a road, an officer with field glasses saw her. They wanted to send her relief, but did not for Indians were in ambush. She came to a house and went in a man who was trying to reach the Fort came in. Together they started and carried the children and reached the fort and were kindly treated.
Following their divorce, he joined the First Wisconsin Battery of Light Artillery and went to the South, and she went to work for Joseph and Valencia Reynolds, keepers of the Northwester Hotel in St. Peter. She worked there for two years, then returned to the home of her parents, who had moved from Wisconsin to Dodge County, Minnesota.
The 6/1/1965 Territorial and State Census lists her living in Ripley and Westfield, Dodge County, MN. Here she met Dennis McNanney, a native of Ireland, and they were married in October 1869. They eventually had three children, Helen Mar, Arthur, and Moses.
The 5/1/1875 Territorial and State Census lists them living in Crow Wing, Brainerd County, MN. Later, they moved to Bismarck, ND, and then to Montana. Mr. McNanney was involved in lumbering and helped in constructing the Northern Pacific Railroad; he died (1887) in Montana. After his death, Helen remained in the area and was hired to cook for employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
The 5/1/1885 Census lists Helen living in Wadena, Wisconsin. The 1888 Minneapolis City Directory lists her occupation as dressmaker, she also operated a boarding house. After several years in Minneapolis, she moved west again, first to Portland, OR, and then to Tacoma, WA, where she kept another boarding house. During this time, she twice lost everything to fires. The 1891 Tacoma City Directory lists her occupation as lodging house. A 4/1/1892 Census lists her in Tacoma, Washington.
Helen returned to her old home in Dodge County, MN, and, in November 1896, married Lemon H. Tarble (born 1/8/1834, Vermont), a widower. They farmed land in sections 5, 6, and 8 in the northwest part of Ashland Township, near Dodge Center, MN, until 1905, when they moved into town.
Helen was the author of a book, published in 1904, giving the story of her capture and escape from the Indians. During this time, she lectured on the subject of the uprising, and, for a number of years during the state fair, she had charge of the old settlers building.
The 5/1/1875 Territorial and State Census lists them living in Crow Wing, Brainerd County, MN. Later, they moved to Bismarck, ND, and then to Montana. Mr. McNanney was involved in lumbering and helped in constructing the Northern Pacific Railroad; he died (1887) in Montana. After his death, Helen remained in the area and was hired to cook for employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad.The 5/1/1885 Census lists Helen living in Wadena, Wisconsin. The 1888 Minneapolis City Directory lists her occupation as dressmaker, she also operated a boarding house. After several years in Minneapolis, she moved west again, first to Portland, OR, and then to Tacoma, WA, where she kept another boarding house. During this time, she twice lost everything to fires. The 1891 Tacoma City Directory lists her occupation as lodging house. A 4/1/1892 Census lists her in Tacoma, Washington.
Helen returned to her old home in Dodge County, MN, and, in November 1896, married Lemon H. Tarble (born 1/8/1834, Vermont), a widower. They farmed land in sections 5, 6, and 8 in the northwest part of Ashland Township, near Dodge Center, MN, until 1905, when they moved into town.
Mr. Tarble died March 22, 1918. The 1920 Census lists Helen, widowed, living in Dodge Center, MN, owns home, mortgage free.
Helen died on July 2, 1921, she was survived by a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren. Her obituary mentions that, in her last few years, she was tenderly cared for by her son, Arthur J. McNanney, and "everything was done for her that a loving heart and hands could do." Her funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Dodge Center.
Helen died on July 2, 1921, she was survived by a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren. Her obituary mentions that, in her last few years, she was tenderly cared for by her son, Arthur J. McNanney, and "everything was done for her that a loving heart and hands could do." Her funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Dodge Center.
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| 3 Survivors of the Sioux Uprising, MN Historical Society |
James Carrothers, born in Washington Township, Richland County, Ohio April 30, 1830. His parents encouraged him to take up the ministry. However, he saw a chance in carpentry and became a millwright, for which trade he served an apprentice.
According to Helen Paddock’s biographical information they married, October 23, 1856. Following their divorce he enlisted in the Civil War, joining the First Wisconsin Battery of light artillery. He was with Bank's Red River expedition and was in every engagement, serving as a corporal and was a gallant defender of the nation.
On being mustered out of service, he again took up his trade which he followed until old age and the ravages of Army life caused him to take up retirement.
About the early seventies he returned to Richland county where he ever since has resided, excepting a short period of time spent in neighboring Crawford county.
He married his second wife, Mary J Ferguson, in 1876; from this union a son and daughter were born.
Interment was had at the Franklin Cemetery Sat. Jan. 28th, the Rev. Mr. Jones officiating.
Source: Find A Grave Memorial Page, Created by Bill Miller, taken from the Mansfield News Obituary, Mansfield, Ohio, 1/31/1911. Personal Note: his birth year is given as 1840, but according to all the Censuses he’s listed in his birth year is 1830; I am using 1830.
James Carrothers and his brother, David, are mentioned in the History of Beaver Falls.
James Carrothers and his brother, David, are mentioned in the History of Beaver Falls.
(When) the town was organized April 2, 1867… The first township election was held in 1867… The first real estate assessment of Beaver township was made in 1868… The first personal property assessment of Beaver township was made in 1869… David and James Carrothers are on the list.
Beaver Falls Village, the first county seat of Renville county, was admirably situated on Beaver creek… surrounded by high bluffs. The first settler in the village was David Carrothers and the first house was built by him.
The first birth after the (the Sioux Uprising of 1862) was on February 4, 1866… August 16, 1866, Ida May Carrothers was born to David and Elizabeth Carrothers.
The village was incorporated in 1889, but the incorporation was abandoned. The village now consists merely of a small cluster of buildings, the removal of the county seat having killed all its business.
Village lots in Beaver Falls were first assessed in 1868. The principal owner were Essler and Carrothers.
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| Helen Mar 2nd 1874-1912 |
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| Helen Mar 3rd 1898-1950 |
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| Helen Mar 4th 1929-2010 |
Helen Mar Johnston Pearson Of Oakland, CA. died on Monday, April 12, 2010. She was born on April 1, 1929 in Jerome, Arizona. She is survived by her daughters, Marce Jenkins of Martinez, Ellen Johnson of Elk Grove and sons, William Pearson of Longmont, CO and Edan Pearson of Moraga and her grandchildren Jeremiah Jenkins, Jacob Pearson and Sarah Pearson. She was the 4th generation of strong, independent women named Helen Mar, after one of the heroines in the novel "The Scottish Chiefs". In World War II, as a teenager, she worked in a telegraph office. She earned a graduate degree in art and later worked as a secretary "keeping the engineers and architects in line" for Bechtel Corp. and the Federal General Services. In 1972 she launched a class-action lawsuit against Bechtel Corp. for sex discrimination in job assignments and promotion which eventually represented several thousand employees. She was a long time member of the National Organization of Women and was the Secretary of the East Bay Chapter of NOW for the last several years. Her friends cherished her spirit and love of music, art, books and different cultures. The family thanks her wonderful friends from her past workplaces, NOW and St. Paul's Towers for all of their support during her illness. Also, a special thank you, to the staff at St. Paul's Towers for making it such an extraordinary place to live and be cared for. Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life at a memorial reception to be held at St. Paul's Towers on Saturday, May 15th from 1-3pm. Published in San Francisco Chronicle from April 22 to April 23, 2010
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