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Introduction
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Page 531
John Blair was still the agent. There was little to report that was new. The population was 447. The salary of the agent was given as $1,000 per annum. It stated that heads of families all occupy and cultivate tracts of land distinctly separated from those of other persons. There was no instance of where any Indian had interfered with his neighbor's premises.
Commissioners had appeared at the agency to confer with the Prairie band about selling the reservation, or at least the surplus after allotting a certain amount to the individuals. The Indians declined to discuss the matter. They had seen how soon the Indian with an allotment he could sell was both landless and moneyless. The proceeds from grazing privileges amounted to $7,.929.
Blair was still the agent. The Prairie band on the reservation numbered 462. There were 120 fields on the reservation. In size they ranged from 3 acres to 200 acres. The fences were neat and good, and said to be the best in that country. Stables were provided for most of the horses. The cultivation of most farms was equal to that of the white farmers of the region round about. The orchards were prospering. All livestock was increasing.
J. A. Scott was agent this year. He found some discouraging features on the reservation. Things which had been developing some years came to a head at this time.
The population of the Prairie band numbered 517. The statistics concerning agriculture remain about as in the preceding year or two. The school buildings were wearing out and becoming dilapidated. There was a lack of room for the agency work.
Trouble arose this year on the reservation. It was caused by the government of the United States. September 1, 1890, the President issued an order requiring the Prairie band to make selections of land for allotment in severalty to the individuals of the band. This was done in direct opposition to the wishes of these Pottawatomies. Such action by the government is always the result of invisible intrigue by powers who wish to despoil the Indian. Often some broken-down politician, usually a
Page 532
congressman who has been relegated to the political graveyard, is at the bottom of such intrigues. He has a knowledge of usages and affairs, which he capitalizes. He becomes active as a disreputable lobbyist sometimes, but usually he seeks to rob some poor Indian, knowing that he is the most helpless object in America. The course of procedure is to cause a clamor in the county or community where the reservation is located. The unreliable part of the population may be caused to complain because the Indian land is not taxed.
 |
MARGARET WABAUNCE, Prairie band, Pottawatomi Indian. Mayetta, Kan., 1917. |
This always results in bringing in the local taxing authorities--petty politicians entrusted with business they are often wholly incompetent to transact. The reigning congressman is then involved through complaints, lies, petitions, misrepresentations, and often by a promise, or at least a hope, of some of the pork. The plot thickens, the Department of the Interior is besieged, and too often in our history has been prone to lend a helping hand. The plan is worked out and carried to the President through the combined aggregation. Usually the
Page 533
desires and interests of the Indians are not considered. When the intrigue is perfected "commissioners" appear on the reservation with matured courses of procedure, to the consternation of the helpless Indians. They are told what must be done, and done at once. Their lands are seized for a pittance and they are hustled out to some desert supposed to be worthless for the uses of the white man, and a treaty solemnly entered into that they shall have that tract as long as sun shines and grass grows and water runs. But as soon as they make the barren tract worth something, the white man comes and kicks them off of it, as he has the former one.
The prairie band had gone through more than one such experience. When the treaty to allot the original reservation of thirty miles square on the Kansas river was made the Prairie band protested. They knew they could not live in white communities in competition with white people. They knew they were not fitted for that. They knew the white people would not long endure their presence. They knew they could support themselves and raise their children only in a community life, where the property they owned could be made secure from seizure by the unprincipled white men. They refused to accept their lands in severalty and become citizens of the United States. They demanded their share in a body to be held in common, and this was reluctantly granted. Their brethren, the Forest and Christian bands, became proud American citizens. The surplus land was sold to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company for one dollar an acre--land that then should have been sold for ten dollars an acre; land which the railroad sold much of for far more than ten dollars an acre; land now valued at two hundred dollars an acre.
The Prairie band had seen what they were confident would happen to their brethren with the proud American citizenship. When the white man had secured their lands and the proceeds of the sales also, they were homeless outcasts. Many of the citizen Pottawatomies, after their proud experience which ended in calamity, wanted to move onto the little reservation of the Prairie band and get homes there. They had held the members of the band in contempt during their American citizen experiment. There was opposition to these citizens coming back to absorb the homes the Prairie band had saved for themselves. Mabsai, the chief of the reservation, had made an order about 1865 that these "citizens" should be excluded from the reservation. But as time went by this attitude softened to some extent and by the year 1870 quite a number of the "citizens" were living on the reservation of the Prairie band. Knowing the determination of the Prairie band to maintain themselves in community life and never accept their lands in severalty, these "citizens" believed it to their interest to hold the same views. By so doing they supposed they would be more welcome on the reservation, and in this they were right. The authorities attributed their course to shrewd self-interest solely, and perhaps rightly so. However, they may have remembered their own bitter experience with severalty allotments and the exercise of the proud franchise of American citizenship. In any event, the "citizens" were always
Page 534
more violently opposed to the severalty plan than were the members of the Prairie band themselves.
When this pressure to allot the reservation began to be felt more and more every year, the Prairie band took some measures to meet it with organized resistance. An order or band of "braves" was formed. These "braves" were outspoken against the allotment plan, and they were expected to be. The authorities and outsiders must have believed that most of the opposition to allotment came from the "citizens" and the "braves." The authorities had ordered the "citizens" to leave the reservation in 1884, and again in 1886. These orders were disregarded, possibly at the instance of the "braves." On the 3d of March, 1891, another order for them to leave the reservation was issued. The President had made an order September 1, 1890, that the Prairie band should select lands in severalty. The "citizens" were violently opposing this order. The "braves" proclaimed that they would protect the "citizens" against the order for their removal.
Thus matters stood in the summer of 1891. The government could not be thwarted in its design, and a detachment of the Seventh United States cavalry, under Lieut. J. C. Gresham, removed the "citizens" from the reservation. The Prairie band saw that it would be useless to try to resist the government. They were helpless, and they began to take their allotments. No more high-handed, arbitrary and unrighteous act than that of forcing the Prairie band to take their land in severalty can be found to the credit of the government.
J. A. Scott was the agent. The report, 1892, contains an account of the old reservation and of the allotments in process for the Prairie band.
It appears that the number of the Prairie band, when computed under the treaty of November, 1861, was 780. It was the land that this number were entitled to which made up the reserve of the Prairie band.
The allotting agent was Henry J. Aten, of Hiawatha, Kan., a soldier for the Union from Illinois in the Civil War, and a just man. The report says:
"Under date of September 1, 1891 [1890], the President granted authority for making allotments to the Prairie band and Kickapoos under the provisions of the act of February 8, 1887, and under date of February 9, 1891, Henry J. Aten was designated by the honorable Secretary of the Interior to make said allotments. As the impression largely prevails that the reservations of the Indians contain much more land than can be allotted to them under provisions of the act referred to, and the amendatory act passed subsequently thereto, it may be well to give a short history of them. The Prairie band reservation, as originally established by the fourth article of the treaty of June 5 and 17, 1846, contained 576,000 acres, lying on both sides of the Kaw river. From this quantity allotments were made under provisions of the treaty of November, 1861, to over 1,600 members of the Pottawatomie Indian Nation, and under the fourth article of said treaty the 77,357 acres contained in the present diminished reservation was set apart, in the same quantities given to individuals of the allottee class, for 780 persons ascertained to belong to the Prairie band, all of whom declined to take allotments. In addition to the allotments made under this treaty, all of which, with very rare ex-
Page 535
ceptions, are now owned by white people, 339,000 acres were sold under provisions of the treaty of August 7, 1868, to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway for $1 per acre. Hence it appears that 500,000 acres of the original reservation has been absorbed by white people, and that the quantity remaining has been specifically set apart for a definite number of the Prairie band.
"The reservation of the Kickapoos as established by the treaty of May 4, 1854, originally contained 150,000 acres and of this quantity 130,863 acres have been absorbed by the whites, through sale and otherwise, and the 19,137 acres remaining was set apart as in the case of the Prairie band. Both of these tribes, as now existing, strenuously opposed allotments when made to the majority of their people in 1863, and their leading men have since continually taught that the principle was ruinous to the Indian, and must be combated with every means at their command. The misfortunes of both citizen Pottawatomies and Kickapoos, and the residence on the reservation of a large number of absolute paupers and vagabonds of this class, who, idle and worthless, encouraged like vices in those belonging there, aided in intensifying and spreading their dislike of allotments. Indeed, this feeling became so strong that when the work of allotting actually commenced the few who realized that their best interests would be subserved by making selections, and that it was the determination of the government and the best friends of the Indians that all reservations should be so disposed of, were actually afraid to have it known that they had done so. Up to this date but ten heads of families of the Prairie band and one of the Kickapoos have voluntarily asked for allotments, and an organized opposition has existed in both tribes, which has greatly retarded the success that should have been obtained from that constant argument and persuasion that has been exerted on every individual of mature age of both tribes.
"Notwithstanding all this opposition, as well as frequent threats of violence, the allotting agent has succeeded in allotting to 236 members of the Prairie band and 65 members of the Kickapoos. Many of the allottees of both tribes have fenced their selections and are developing an un-looked-for aptitude for business in the care of their property. A large majority of the allottees of both tribes are full-bloods, and embraces some of the most influential and intelligent members of the tribe. A list of 115 allotments made to the Prairie band was submitted to the Department for consideration the 17th of March last, and was approved by the honorable Secretary of the Interior under date of June 6 last. This action has not only assured the allottees that they will be protected by the government and encouraged to improve their selections, but has also convinced the opposition that their efforts to prevent the work are useless."
The school was improved this year. The dormitory was repaired and
painted. Sidewalks
were built about the school. Cribs, sheds for cattle and new fences were
constructed, and a
windmill to pump water was installed. The farm and garden produced 600 bushels
of corn, 150
bushels of potatoes, 45 bushels of turnips, 50 bushels of apples, 10 bushels of
onions, 43 tons
of hay, and quantities of melons, cabbage and other vegetables. Sixty pupils
were enrolled, and
the average attendance was a fraction above 44. Greater interest was apparent
in the pupils
than for some years before.
Agent, J. A. Scott. The number of the Prairie band on the reservation, 532. The course pursued by the government in forcing allotment of lands in severalty had paralyzed the ambition of the Indians. In the seventies and eighties, each report was one of progress in agriculture.
Page 536
Now the reports show apathy and lack of enterprise. This is attributed in the report to another cause--naturally. The language of the report is as follows:
"The Kickapoo Indians, having for a number of years drawn but small annuities, have been forced to exert themselves for a livelihood, and the result is they farm intelligently and industriously and obtain practical results. In their case farming is not pursued as a disagreeable duty to provide a small part of the subsistence and clothing, very nearly provided for by liberal cash payments, but as a duty and necessity that is as inexorable as the want of food and raiment; and a long existence of these conditions has brought about a cheerful compliance therewith on the part of the most of them. There is, however, in this tribe, as in the Prairie band, a faction, smaller proportionately in their numbers, that resists good example and grasp at every opportunity to indulge in romantic barbarism under the disguise of religion.
"This reservation produces largely of all crops required for the subsistence of themselves and stock and they will this year, as usual, have a liberal quantity of corn for sale. They have but few more than a sufficiency of horses for the prosecution of their farm work. They also keep cattle in small numbers, and differently from some other tribes in the agency, utilize the cows for milking and butter purposes.
"The existence of the same conditions among the Iowa Indians as to small annuity payments in connection with the excellence of their lands, the nearness of good markets for their surplus produce, and the fact that they are naturally bright mentally, has developed them into a fairly successful community of farmers. All of their reservation, with the exception of some brush land and small quantities bordering on the Great Nemaha river and creeks, has been in cultivation for years, and is made to yield abundantly by good farming.
"There are but few lands left for grazing purposes in inclosures or otherwise in the reservation, and as the income of the Indians must necessarily be derived from the sale of farm products, only just sufficient stock for their cultivation and for the production of milk and butter and meat are kept.
"These Indians generally have roomy, comfortable houses, barns and orchards, all nicely inclosed.
"The Sac and Fox of Missouri Indians, unlike the two last tribes named, draw a large annuity amounting to over $100 per head per year, and the fact that 6,800 acres of the 8,013 in the reservation are in cultivation is greatly due to the energy of a single member of the tribe, who for over twenty years was engaged breaking tracts for them, generally for one crop, and afterwards farmed them at a liberal rental. A number of the houses now standing on the reservation were built by him with the rents thus made due the Indians.
"The liberal income derived from these lands, in addition to the large annuity of the Indians, produces carelessness as to the future and furnishes them with means for indulgence in vicious habits, to which they are greatly addicted. This I regret to say is true of half, if not a majority, of them.
"As in the case of other tribes noted, those who have cultivated habits of industry and refrain from the practice of dissipation and kindred vicious habits present radical contrasts to their brethren in blood, and not only live happily and comfortably, but acquire stock and money. One full-blooded Indian of this tribe now has several thousand dollars loaned that he has made principally from wheat crops in the last few years. These Indians also have good dwelling houses, with some barns, though but few orchards, and own stock, consisting of horses, cattle and hogs, only in limited numbers.
"The Chippewa and Christian Indians farm their small tracts of land to very good advantage, and sell not only field products, but vegetables, to
Page 537
contribute to their support, as their small annuity furnishes but a small percentage of their wants. Were it not for their association with the worst elements of the white community surrounding them they would be a model tribe. As it is, there is very much in their farm management that is commendable, and there is but little doubt of their being able to care for themselves in this respect. They have comfortable houses, outhouses, orchards, and fair fencing, and raise horses, cattle, and hogs in small quantities profitably.
"Allotments of land in severalty.--The Chippewa and Christian Indians all received allotments under their treaty of June 9, 1860, and the only surplus lands to be disposed of in the future are 200 acres now held by the Moravian Church for missionary and school purposes. These people received but 40 acres each, and as many children since born have not received land, the quantity held by the heads of a number of families is really inadequate for their support. Under these circumstances it would seem just to set apart from the funds of the tribe, when final settlement may be made, some small pecuniary consideration in lieu of land for these children.
"Allotments were made to all the members of the Sac and Fox of Missouri tribe in existence during the year 1890, and patents for their selections have since been issued to them. After these selections were concluded there was left in the reservation about 2,000 acres of surplus lands, which the tribe are unwilling to sell and are anxious to dispose of by allotment to children born since 1890 unprovided with land, of whom there are ten.
"Under orders from the Office of Indian Affairs, I allotted lands to 142 Iowa Indians during the year 1891-'92. Although there were then ten more new-born children entitled to allotments, they could not be made, for the reason that there was no lands for them, the reservation upon survey having been found to contain 4,600 acres less than reported in official statements. Up to date eight more children have been born, making eighteen in all unprovided with land, and for whom a money consideration should be arranged, as I think is provided for in the act under which the lands were allotted.
"Owing to the want of sufficient land, the grasping propensities of the more intelligent and wealthy members of the tribe, and the constant interference of unscrupulous white men living in towns adjacent to the reservation, I had great difficulty in doing justice to the less active and aggressive members of the tribe who had previously been pushed upon inferior lands, such in some cases as were unsuited to agricultural utilization at all. White men whose children under the intermarriage law of June 10, 1888, were not entitled to allotments, unprincipled members of the tribe who were not permitted to dictate just how allotments should be made, incited frequently by knavish attorneys and others, expecting to accomplish the twofold purpose of making profit and embarrassing the Indian work, all seem to have combined in making complaints and charges as to the correctness of the work for more than a year, and indeed it has only been during the last few months that they have ceased. Knowing the difficulties I had to contend with in this work, I commenced it with the determination to allow no real cause for complaint to exist, and would at any time have been glad to have it investigated by a competent officer."
The opposition to allotments continued, as shown by the report:
"The fact that satisfactory progress has not been made in allotting to the Prairie band of Pottawatomie Indians is not due to the want of effort upon the part of the alloting agent or others, but to the persistent, constant and untiring action of a faction in the tribe who resist good example, wise counsel and every elevating influence that can be brought to bear upon them. They oppose education; would gladly destroy every
Page 538
improvement of the reservation, and drive advanced Indians from it, if they could, and have no other ambition than to live as their fathers did before civilization was known among them. Although the leader of this faction is entirely ignorant of the business of the tribe, and is known as a fanatic, he has convinced his followers, by the most absurdly false representations, that he will finally accomplish the cancellation of the allotments already made and prevent any further development of civilized ideas on the reservation. This faction embraces the very old and poorest with some of the intensely superstitious Indians, none of whom pretend to work; hence their whole time can be and is given to abuse of allottees and the principle of allotments. The leader of the faction and two other Indians have visited Washington twice within the last year, and in this manner and by feeing lawyers have spent over $2,500 collected by contributions from individual Indians of their belief.
"Notwithstanding all this opposition, 287 allotments have been made to date, out of a tribal membership present of 532, and a few are being made weekly. Many of the peaceable and easy-going Indians are deterred from making their selections by the threats of the antiallotment faction, and the fear that they may be able to destroy allotments, as they allege they can.
"A singular fact in connection with these Indians is that a number of the people who have resided in Wisconsin for over twenty-five years, and labor daily for a livelihood, upon their return here join this faction, and are among the most zealous and unreasonable opponents, not only of allotments, but education."
A commodious school building had been erected, and facilities provided for all the children on the reservation. The good effects of this should be apparent in the coming year.
Agent made no report for 1894, at least none has been found.
The agent this year was Louis F. Pearson. He says: "I have the honor to herewith submit my first annual report." This would lead one to believe that Scott probably continued as agent in 1894.
Agent Pearson found only thirty-two children in the agency school. This was the result of the policy of forcing the Indians to accept allotments of land in severalty. The agent requested permission to withhold the annuities of those who refused to send their children to the agency school. This was agreed to by the Secretary of the Interior. The superintendent of the school was Kate W. Cannon. Her report for the year 1895 showed an attendance of 70 children out of a total of more than 100 on the reservation of school age.
The erection of an agent's residence was recommended, as well as other improvements.
The allotment question still remained the issue in the Prairie band. Col. Henry J. Aten, of Hiawatha, was still the special allotting agent. There was no complaint of the manner in which he performed his duties. The discontent was with the system. One hundred and fifty members of the band persistently antagonized the allottment plan. An inspector, one Faison, was sent out to in some way allay the opposition to allotment. This he supposed he had accomplished, but a lawyer named J. B. Bottineau, from Minneapolis, Minn., was said to have undone his good work.
Page 539
The account of Bottineau's visit is contained in the agent's report and in a certificate issued by him as follows:
"POTTAWATOMIE AND GREAT NEMAHA AGENCY,
HOYT, KAN., September 23, 1895.
"I hereby certify on honor that there was held a so-called council of the Kickapoo tribe of Indians upon their reservation, this agency, said to have been held from the 2d to the 5th, inclusive, at the schoolhouse of the mission school, and altogether, without my knowledge or consent, and to meet one John B. Bottineau, purporting to be from Minneapolis, Minn., and a lawyer, and to have come to consult with the Indians at their request.
"The purpose of his visit upon the reservation is said to have been to draw up a petition for adoption and enrollment in the tribe of certain citizen Pottawatomie and Kickapoo Indians who have no possible claim whatever upon this or any other tribe, having been duly allotted and subsequently squandered their property in years past. Said J. B. Bottineau also visited this office and the Pottawatomie reservation with the same avowed intent, and with the additional intention, so I am informed by a number of the Indians, to break up the allotments. He was requested to leave the reservation and vicinity, but repaired to Holton, Kan., a town near by, and there held council with a very considerable number of that faction in the Pottawatomie and Kickapoo tribes that has been so violently opposed to allotments and who have occasioned this office and your department so much trouble during the past four years, since the inception of the allotments. His invitation to meet them was in both instances extended by those Indians of these two above- mentioned tribes representing this element of dissatisfaction and hostility to the government, the boarding schools, and the agency in general. He avowedly represents the best interests of the Indians of the tribe, but his agreement and his contract to receive his pay is to come from out the funds of the tribe, while his services are altogether in the interests of the outside citizen Indians seeking admission into the tribe.
"This certificate was requested after the council had been held. and, as before recited, without my knowledge or consent.
L. F. PEARSON,
United States Indian Agent."
Agent L. F. Pearson. The issue remained the same in the Prairie Band. The progress of the band was paralyzed by the allotment. The agent, of course, favored the allotment plan. He had to favor it to get his office, and he had to favor it to hold his office. His view was the view of the Indian Office and Secretary of the Interior. The following from his report is a fair statement of the conditions, and the agent's explanation of why they existed:
"Were it not for a comparatively small but extremely obstinate and unprogressive element among them, the largest tribe within the agency, the advancement would be yet more marked and satisfactory, but said element exerts an unfavorable influence upon many members of the tribe that otherwise would identify themselves with the progressive element, and said influence proves decidedly injurious, even beyond their own immediate following. This element still clings to their inherent idea of a 'romantic barbarism,' and it will require years of time and patient care and the exercise of much tact and kindly consideration to bring them to a full realization of the error of their ways and place them fairly on the way to a level with their more advanced brethren.
"This same element still persistently refuses to recognize their allotments of land in severalty, or the right of the United States government
Page 540
to make such disposition of their lands contrary to their wishes, and they are the means of continuing a feeling of uncertainty among some of the more timid ones as to the permanency of the allotments, thereby hindering some of them from openly acquiescing in said action of the United States government in thus allotting to them, as individuals, their proportion of the land formerly held in common. A certain proportion of them resist every effort that has been exerted tending to the placing of their children in school. The withholding of annuities has served to break the resolve of a minor few, and they have reluctantly acceded, but it produced no effect whatever on the more aggressive of them. Happily, their numbers are comparatively few, and even they are not beyond the power of example and persuasion, and my efforts in their behalf will not be any relaxed."
George W. James, agent. Total number of the Prairie band on the reservation, 523. The amount of the trust fund held by the United States for the band was $597,031.57. There were 186 houses on the reservation. The agricultural progress was arrested. The production of 1897 did not equal that of 1896. This was attributed to the system of leasing Indian land. While this was detrimental to the Indians, the antipathy to allotments was at the root of the decline of agriculture among the Pottawatomies of the Prairie band. The leasing system had its evils, the worst of which was the bringing of unprincipled white men into business relations and daily contact with the Indians. The agent says of this class:
"The system also introduces among the Indians a large number of vicious but shrewd men, who not only manipulate the Indians, but attempt to accomplish their purposes at the agency through them. For instance, on assuming charge of the agency I soon learned that in some cases the Indians were bringing the work of these men to the shops, and in many other ways they inject themselves into the business of the agency and render the already complicated and arduous duties thereof more difficult. In addition to these phases of the question, the development in several of the tribes of lease brokers, who seem to be utterly without conscience, is to be deplored, and in one of the tribes these men are responsible for the alleged accomplishment of a large number of leases that have never been reported to the office at all.
"In connection with the subject of increasing the income of Indians, already sufficient for their reasonable wants, I will express the opinion that it is of very doubtful expediency as a factor in civilizing them, and that it is questionable if any rich tribe in which the full-bloods are largely in the majority can be civilized in any reasonable time; in fact, the added experience of many years convinces me that the most efficacious plan for their civilization and evangelization is over the plow handles or in some other practical pursuit requiring application, study and work."
The agent reported that the allotment of land had been completed. There remained to be assigned lands only to those born after the allotment began, in 1891. There remained about 16,000 acres of land unallotted, and this was becoming a disturbing factor. Some wanted to sell it and others desired to retain it.
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Introduction
nIshnabe'k The People mzenegenek books bode'wadmimo speak Potawatomi |
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Next section nizhokmake'wen resources/help Home Page: news & updates BWAKA - about us |