This is a timeline of historical events relating to Northfield, Minnesota. Nineteenth century 1851- The U.S. government imposed a treaty on the Dakota people, Siouan-speaking Native Americans who had been in this territory since at least the 17th century. Indigenous peoples of varying cultures had lived in the area for thousands of years before that. The treaty allowed European-American settlement in southern Minnesota. Most of the Dakota were removed to a reservation near New Ulm, Minnesota. The treaty marked part of the decline of the Dakotah Nation, adversely affected by infectious disease and warfare. The people have undergone a revival since the later 20th century, however. The treaty paved the way for the foundation of Northfield. 1851- William Marshall surveyed land and helped John W. North, a migrant from Syracuse, New York, pick out land to build mills and a town, to be called Northfield. 1854- May, Daniel Kuykendall was the first European-American pioneer to arrive in the area. Others soon followed. 1855- On August 17, 1855, North purchased 160 acres (647,000 m²) of land from each of the other two original pre-emptors. 1856- September, Miron W. Skinner and his brother moved to Northfield and opened the second town store. He was instrumental in the establishment of Northfield College, now known as Carleton College. (See 1916 note about building of Skinner Chapel on the campus.) 1856- Herman Jenkins built the first hotel in Northfield. 1857 John L. Schofield came to Northfield and was the town’s first doctor. He built the first drugstore, which was attached to his house. John North suffered financial failure in the Panic of 1857. 1859- Charles Augustus Wheaton bought John North's financial interests and became one of the early town leaders. 1865- Jesse Ames moved to town and bought mills from Charles Augustus Wheaton. 1866- The Minnesota Conference of Congregational Churches and Charles M. Goodsell established Northfield College, later named Carleton College. 1867- Wheaton and Goodsell each gave a plot of land to the fledgling Northfield College to establish the college campus north of the main part of town. 1871- Northfield College changes its name to Carleton College, after benefactor William Carleton of Charlestown, Massachusetts, who had given US$50,000 to the fledgling institution. 1875- Hiram Scriver was elected first mayor of Northfield. 1874- St. Olaf College was founded by Rev. B.J. Muus, Harold Thorson and two area farmers, members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. 1876- September