Francois Jette aka Shetais was born in The District of St. Paul, Quebec Province Canada, of French descent. The family name can be traced way back to Europe in French genealogy. He was born on June 26, 1837, and died September 1, 1926, in Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota. He is buried in ST. joseph Cemetery, Montevideo, Minnesota. He had an illustrious life with many twists and turns. He arrived in Minnesota with the Fur Trade. The Dakota people called him Sastay (Sah-Sh-tay) which means little, or pinky finger (the reason is unknown). Later in life he was known as Frank Stay because of the inability of people to pronounce Jette. Francois came to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1854. He worked on barges. In 1857 he made split rails for Dakota farms at the Lower Agency. In 1858 he traded goods to Dakota hunters in western, Minnesota and on the Big Sioux River. In 1862 he lived on a land claim at the head of the Yellow Medicine River. Later after the war, he had a farm in Hanley Falls, Yellow Medicine County, present day Granite Falls, Minnesota. He married a Dakota woman named Anna Hunka (Honored one) (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate # 946). Her father was Ptewakannajin (Holy Standing Cow, (Pte= bison cow; Wakan = sacred holy, Najin = To stand) a Tizaptanna, Lower Sisseton, Dakota). Her mother was TatehnaahiyayeWin, Passes on the Wind Woman. (Tate = wind; ahanhe = On; Iyaye = Passes by; Win = woman).

Francois’s greatest adventure began when the Dakota started a war with the white people and the United States Government. They were tired of being cheated out of their 1851 Treaty money, land and supplies. The war started in the morning of August 18, 1862, at Redwood, Lower Agency. The Dakota warriors began killing the fur traders. One of Anna’s relatives named Red Dog (Sunkaduta) rushed to Francois’s home and told him to flee as the Dakota were killing all the white men. He immediately fled by way of the Lac Qui Parle River (Bdeiyena = (Lake Connected Together). He left his wife and children, as they would be cared for by their Dakota relatives. He then fled across county to Fort Ridgely. He joined the Renville Rangers at the fort. His cousin Moses Mireau was also a Ranger at the fort. Francois now began three years of military service. The Dakota, a few days later, attacked the fort, which Francois helped defend. Twice, the fort was attacked unsuccessfully. The Dakota realized after killing many white settlers, that their cause was lost and fled west towards Devils Lake. Francois moved with the army and participated in the Battles of Birch Coolie and Woodlake. He then served as a scout for General Sibley and served as Sibley’s personal bodyguard at Camp Release, (present day Montevideo, MN). Where the captured settlers, who were saved by friendly Dakota, were released to the Army.

To be continued.

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