A symbol of peace between the Indians and their adversaries was the ceremony of passing or smoking the peace pipe. This is one the legends of this action.
It is said that at a time of tribulation among the Sioux Indians, they were hungry. The head chief instructed two of his best hunters to look for game. As the two hunters stood on a hill suddenly a misty silvery cloud appeared before them and out of the misty cloud appeared a beautiful lady. One of the hunters made a move toward the lady and immediately the beautiful lady caused the misty cloud to envelope the hunter. When the cloud drifted away, only the skeleton of the hunter remained.
She then ordered the other hunter to return to camp and notify the chief that she would soon arrive, which she did just as the sun cast its first rays on the Indian camp. She told the people, "I bring you the first peace pipe. When you put tobacco in the pipe and light it, point to the four cardinal points of Mother Earth, and last toward the blue sky where the Great Spirit dwells. Then say, 'Have pity on me.' In time of hunger, war, and peace ask the Great Spirit, the giver of all things, for your temporal wants."
Then suddenly as she came, she disappeared again, leaving in her place a white buffalo calf‑ a symbol of good will, abundance and peace to the creatures of Mother Earth. This is the legend of the beginning of the peace pipe.
In 1887 a group of 3,000 Indians gathered near these streams and passed the peace pipe among the various tribes that were there. It was on this occasion that these streams were named Pipestem Creek and Little Pipestem Creek.
An early pioneer, Isak Olson, recalled some of his early experiences living in the area that was drained by these two creeks. Here is one of his stories that was told in the Foster County Independent, July 17, 1958.
"In the springs of those early days the snow melted off quickly, leaving ordinarily docile or dry streams raging torrents; and it seemed that time of the year the settlers were running out of provisions and had to go to town for supplies. The wise settler tied his wagon box securely to the wagon gear so it would not float away when the steam crossing was made.
"It was necessary to cross the Pipestem on the trip to and from Carrington. Sometimes some narrow escapes were experienced. With the Pipestem at its height the horses had to swim and the wagon box was large enough to float both box and gear, sometimes the current would retard the progress of the crossing, but eventually, they made it.
"One spring when the Pipestem became a raging torrent, the settlers saw a twelve foot wave coming down as the break‑up came. It rolled over the snowbanks with an awful fury.
"In the spring of 1902 Isak Olson had reason to be more than usual concerned about the river, for it was a matter of days when Olsons' first child was to be born. He and his neighbors, John Prentice and John
Carter would go down to the river about every day to note the progress of the stream. On March 7 that year there came a snowstorm which lasted for three days and nights, blocking everything. Those were anxious days as Olson and his neighbors watched the flow of the stream as that snow melted more rapidly than ever. One day Prentice and Olson were at the stream when John Carter came along with his team and wagon. The wagon box floated away, but Carter held the reins tightly and eventually his horses pulled him out of the water. Getting across he went into town for groceries. On his return the water had receded four feet and the horses did not have to swim.
"But the water was still pretty high on the day Olson had to go to town for Dr. Goss. On the way out they forded the Pipestem but Dr. Goss had to lift his feet high to keep from getting wet. It was night when Dr. Goss was ready to go back to town, the baby having been brought safely into the world. When they got to the Pipestem, Olson was stumped for he could not see the spot where by daylight he could travel without dropping into a deep hole. It was a rainy night, and lightning flashed occasionally. That was the cue for Olson. He waited until one flash was brilliant enough to light up the ford. Then Olson got his bearings and crossed the stream without incident.'
During the late summer months this same stream would be nearly dry.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 7