Between Two Worlds: The Life of Susan Frenier Brown

Between Two Worlds: The Life of Susan Frenier Brown

Susan Frenier Brown, Dakota name “Soft Scarlet Down of a Swan,” was born into an ever-changing world. Born Christmas Day in 1819 in Minnesota, she met and married Major Joseph R. Brown, who was a newspaperman, politician, and eventually an Indian Agent in Minnesota. Her worlds collided when the Dakota Wars broke out in 1862, causing her to flee with her hired help and twelve children to Fort Ridgely. But the journey was not without danger. Susan’s knowledge of the Dakota culture and the ways of the settlers helped her navigate to safety while keeping her children alive.

Join us as we dive into the lesser-known life of Susan Brown, wife of Major Joseph R. Brown and mother of Sam Brown, Chief of the Indian Scouts at Fort Sisseton.

Virtual lecture researched and presented by Meghan Ward on February 18, 2026. Lecture hosted by Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, Lake City, SD.