Compiled and written by David Schleper, 2020
Charles August Manaige was born Dec. 7, 1847 in Madison, Wisconsin. His father, Pierre Manaige, was a native of France, and his mother was a part-Winnebago, or Ho-Chunk Indian.
Charles and his family came to Minnesota in the early 1840s. His father was an interpreter for the government, sent to avoid bloodshed and disputes in the territory. The Winnebagos first settled at what is now Long Prairie in Todd County. Charlie remembered that he never had seen a white man, except his father, until he was about six years old. Charlie spent his childhood with other Winnebago children, sharing games such as ball play and becoming proficient as a hunter with bow and arrow.
On Jan. 25, 1846, wearing high-heeled boots to give him the required height, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as a private in Company F, First Regiment, Minnesota Heavy Artillery under the command of Captain Hugh J. Owens. Eight months later, on Sept. 27, 1865, Charles was honorably discharged in Nashville, Tennessee.
After the war, Charlie farmed near St. Clair and later operated a butcher shop. He also spent some time at Mankato.
As a young man, he visited the Shakopee vicinity frequently, and on July 30, 1870, Charles A. Manaige married Pelagie Eliza Faribault.
They lived in Shakopee for the rest of their lives.
“Charles A. Manaige and his wife, Eliza Faribault Manaige lived across the street from the Mill Pond, a famous gambling place on First Avenue in the 1920s. Charles was Ho-Chunk Indian, and Eliza was part Dakota. And they were not too thrilled about what happened across the street. You see that big building over there,” said Charles’s granddaughter, Florence Kelm, as she pointed to the sprawling Mill Pond across the road. “That is a tavern, and at night it gets very noisy, and people came outside and make nuisances of themselves.
“People used to come over on our land and lie on the grass. They broke bottles against our trees and threw things at our house. They called us ‘Indians’ and did many things to taunt us. We are Indians, you know, that is, we have Indian blood.
“Grandfather went to the village authorities, and asked if we couldn’t have some protection, as there were little children at his house … but because we were Indians—we didn’t get any help!”
Florence remembered Charles put a fence up, but “the people broke it down each time he put it up.”
Charles decided, “So, I will take the law into my own hands! I am not going to have those drunken bums lying on my green, green grass; I’m not going to have those drunken bums leaning against my beautiful trees; I’m not going to have them polluting the pure water of our creek. They are going to keep off our property!”
And so, Charles used to sit under the tree with a shotgun across his knees and threaten anyone who came near from the tavern side of the property!
Charles Manaige worked for a number of years in Shakopee as a painter and paperhanger and also served in the police force.
A familiar figure, Charlie was endeared to young and old. The old veteran, riding in his horse-drawn carriage, made daily trips from his home at the east part of the city to do the family shopping. No matter the weather, Charlie still would visit downtown Shakopee. Not so many years back, Charlie could be seen morning, noon, and later afternoon, with his grandchildren seated beside him in the carriage, going and coming from the grade school. The duty was one of his greatest pleasures, and the pleasure was vividly recorded on his beaming face.
Charles and Pelagie had four children, two sons and two daughters. Isabelle was born in 1871 and married Harvey Randolph Leach in Des Moines, Iowa. They had nine children. Melvin was born in 1872 and died April 12, 1931. He married and lived in Brooklyn, New York. Eugene Curtis was born 1874 and died of tuberculosis in 1903. Grace was born in 1876 and died at Friendship Manor in November 1966.
Charles, at 82 years old, became the Paul Revere of Shakopee in December 1929. He was driving in town in his horse and buggy when he heard the opening volley of shots happening at the First National Bank. Hightailing the old mare up the main street in Shakopee, he gave the alarm. He kept shouting, “Hey…the bank is being held up. Everybody, get out your guns.” Charlie was in grave danger of being hit by the barrage of bullets that swept the main street, but he still continued his heroic dash.
Two months before he died, Pelagie died. Since that time, Charlie had a severe cold, which developed into pneumonia. For several days he was confined to his bed at home, and as his condition became critical, he was moved to the Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis, where he died.
Charles A. Manaige, Shakopee’s 91-year-old Civil War veteran, the sole surviving member of General Shield’s Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, died in January 1938. His funeral was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with Fr. Michael McRaith officiating. Interment was at the Valley Cemetery beside his wife, Pelagie Faribault Manaige. Most businesses were closed during the funeral as Shakopee saluted the old soldier.