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Continued: Entry from a biography of famous settlers: Duncan Graham of Mackinac, appointed a lieutenant in the Indian Department, served with the militia in McKay's expedition. Made captain Sept. 6th, 1814; given a land grant.
Duncan Graham, (possibly born, Alexander Duncan Graham) was one of the pioneers of the northwest, who was born in Scotland. He came to this country in the early part of the century, and to Wabasha about 1834. He was engaged for a number of years in carrying the mails between Prairie du Chien and the Red River of the North. His travels extended throughout most of the northwestern states, and one of the island in Devil's Lake bears his name. The occasion of his final location at Wabasha was the residence of a daughter at that place, who had married Joseph Buisson, and Indian trader and voyager, who had established a trading post at the place as early as 1832. An interesting item in the history of Wabasha is the naming of the town by Mr. Graham, who wrote the name of the future city and an account of some of the transactions that had taken place here, sealed them up in a glass bottle and buried the same in the ground near the bank of the river. Over the spot he planted a post, which has been seen by some of the early settlers now living, but it is now gone and the exact location is not known. It is supposed, however, to be near the river bank and just back of the First National Bank building. Mr. Graham was an educated gentleman and kept detailed diaries, in one of which he describes the occasion of the burying of the record, as above stated. He resided here until about 1847, when he removed to Mendota, where he died December 5, of above date, at the age of seventy-five years.
Duncan apparently was the owner of a store (on lake pepin?) and was fluent in the Native language. There are stories that he diffused a misunderstanding between settlers and natives that could have led to bloodshed. Susan Pennishon, Istagiwin meaning "Gray Huckleberry Woman," passed on her native lineage to Duncan which he recorded. I have it going back to the 1600's.
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