Physician's bag used by Dr. Louis Bistodeau, first practicing doctor in Dayton.  This item is on display at the Minnesota Historical Society


Shortly after marriage, Doctor and Mrs. Emelina Bistodeau traveled from Trois Rivers Quebec, Canada to a little village called St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota, of which is known to all as Minneapolis today. They arrived there on July 8, 1854. Dr. Bistodeau was the first doctor of Dayton, MN.  Dr.  Bistodeau traveled from Minneapolis to Dayton by walking and riding an Indian pony to care for the sick, later the town's people gave him a carriage.

Later Dr. Bistodeau moved his wife and family from Minneapolis to Dayton to be closer to his patients. There was not as much money in those days, so sometimes the doctor accepted vegetables, eggs or whatever they had for his fee. Dr. Bistodeau delivered many babies and cared for the sick and injured throughout his life. He was always happy helping where it was necessary. His black doctor's bag is now in the Hennepin County Historical Society (Minneapolis).

This is from page 1354 of "History of Hennepin County", Dr. L. Bistodeau came to Dayton from St. Paul, in June 1855. He was a graduate of the Quebec Medical Board of Examiners and he has been the only practicing physician in the town for thirty seven years. He has raised a family of fifteen living children, thus setting a good example, which was exceedingly well followed by the early settlers.

Dr. Bistodeau is also mentioned briefly in the book, "History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton" published in 1976, on page 175:
"The first settlers of Dayton were Paul Godine and Isaiah Cowet, who came to the town in July 1852. The same year J. Veine made a claim where the village of Dayton now is and Marcellus Boulis and Benjamin Livia settled near the river. In 1854 Francis Thorndyke, R. H. Miller and John Shumway settled in Dayton near the Champlin line. The following year came Dr. L. Bistodeaux, who lived in the town thirty-seven years, and A.C. Kimball, who made a claim on the north shore of Diamond Lake."

Emelina Bistodeau (Dr. Louis' wife) with the help of five other women, made a red, white and blue star quilt during the Civil War, which is on display in the Minnesota Historical Society Museum. It is a white background with red and blue triangles made into a star pattern; alternating blocks of all white, hand-quilted with the white thread showing a leaf pattern; quilt edged in red trim. It was passed down to her son, Alcedas Bistodeau, then to his daughter, Cecilia Bistodeau Beaudry, then to her daughter, the donor, Odell Beaudry.

Seated Left to Right:  Ida Agnes (Mrs. Joseph Burgoyne), Georgianna (Mrs. Michael Burgoyne),  Sara Emelina (mother), George, Dr. Louis (father) Eugenie (Mrs. Omer Brier), Josephine , (Mrs. Henry Guimont)
Standing Left to Right:  Richard , Fred, Elmina, Horace , Alcedes, Alexander, Sarah, Louis and Henry.
The small photo in a frame is James Joseph Edward, away in California.