Ferdinand Kirschstein and his family lived in the southern part of New Ulm in 1862. The Dakota Indians, who lived on a nearby reservation, were frustrated with their situation for a variety of reasons. As a result, on August 18, 1862, they launched an uprising against the whites in the area. Area settlers streamed into New Ulm, and the defenders erected barricades in the central business district. The Dakota attacked New Ulm on August 19 and again on the 23rd. Ferdinand, who was a member of Capt. John Bellm's company of militia, helped defend the town. It was probably on August 23 that Ferdinand left the barricades to return to his home to collect badly needed bedding. The Dakota, who were still in the town, killed him. The inscription on his gravestone reads "Ferdinand Kirschstein, born in Konigsberg, Prussia, 3 Aug 1815, murdered by the Indians on 24 Aug 1862, New Ulm, Minn." Even though the gravestone cites his date of death as being August 24, it is probable that he was killed on August 23. His story is related on page 62 of "Dakota Uprising Victims: Gravestones & Stories," published in 2007 by Curtis Dahlin.
Ferdinand Kirschstein and his family lived in the southern part of New Ulm in 1862. The Dakota Indians, who lived on a nearby reservation, were frustrated with their situation for a variety of reasons. As a result, on August 18, 1862, they launched an uprising against the whites in the area. Area settlers streamed into New Ulm, and the defenders erected barricades in the central business district. The Dakota attacked New Ulm on August 19 and again on the 23rd. Ferdinand, who was a member of Capt. John Bellm's company of militia, helped defend the town. It was probably on August 23 that Ferdinand left the barricades to return to his home to collect badly needed bedding. The Dakota, who were still in the town, killed him. The inscription on his gravestone reads "Ferdinand Kirschstein, born in Konigsberg, Prussia, 3 Aug 1815, murdered by the Indians on 24 Aug 1862, New Ulm, Minn." Even though the gravestone cites his date of death as being August 24, it is probable that he was killed on August 23. His story is related on page 62 of "Dakota Uprising Victims: Gravestones & Stories," published in 2007 by Curtis Dahlin.
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