Local historian gives program on the Dakota Sioux War of 1862

Local historian Van Young will speak about the Dakota Sioux War of 1862 at the Dover Public Library on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 PM. The Dakota War was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of Dakota/Sioux Native Americans. It began what would eventually become a 30-year war between the United States and plains natives, eventually leading up to the Battle of Wounded Knee and the end of the way of life of the Native American people. Young will tell the story of how this war started, as well as the conditions and events leading to it and the results of three decades of western warfare. 

Considering himself a self-taught historian, Van Young was born and raised in northeast Ohio and now lives in Columbus. Since his retirement from AT&T in 2012, Young has become active with two Central Ohio civil war organizations and is the current President of the Griswold Center American History Study Group. With 70 American history, travel and current event topics, he presents to area history groups, senior centers, retirement villages and local colleges. He has four grandchildren, plays pickleball, and looks forward to visiting many of the battlefields and museums associated with the Civil War, and our unique and fascinating American history. As he likes to say, “Remember, we are living history”.

This program will be held on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 PM at the Dover Public Library, located at 525 N. Walnut Street. To register, visit www.doverlibrary.org/events or call the library at 330-343-6123.