Nebraska advertiser., 1869-08-19
JOHN SIOUX,

JOHN SIOUX
Tn known history of this boy, whose
death you chronicled last week, while
brief, is interesting and worthy of re-
cord. He was an O-gal-lal-lah Sioux
Indian. During the Indian war, on
the plains in 1855, this boy-aged then
about twelve years-With his brother,
somewhat Older, was picked by by the
military as stragglers near TT. Lari'
mic. Their tribe was then on the war
path against the whites. These boys
had a half-blood sister, who had mar
ried a nOn-commissiOned officer in
our army, at some n of the Forts,
and they, disguised with the war,
were looking for her when they were
found. They were sent in to Ft.
Kearney where the Agent of their
tribe, Maj. Vitol Jarrot, was tempo
rarly stationed. They were the only
Indians of his Agency he eve obtain
ed possession of. Maj. Jarret took
them to Atchison, Kansas, then to st.
Louis and from there to Omaha, and
reported to E. B. Taylor, then Super
intendent of the SUPPLEMENTARY in
which they properly belonged. Supt.
Taylor communicated with the De-
partment at Washington, and was or
dered to send the boys to the Omaha
and Winnebago agency, then under
my charge. During the correspon-
dence between Col. Taylor and the
Department, the brother died in Oma-
ha. John was sent up to the Omaha
agency, suppOsing he could be turned
out in common with the Omahas or
Winnebagos. My knowledge of the
natural hostility existing between the
Indians under my charge and the
Sioux, satisfied me that they would
kill the boy Immediately. / therefore
kept him about the Agency. Several
attempts were made, by both Omahas
and W~innebagos to kill him, confirm
ing my impression in that respect.
Not knowing his Indian name, and
he not being able to speak a word in
our language, he was for convenience,
called Johnny Sioux" which name
he retained, and was ever afterward
known by. He was a remarkably
bright, earnest, intelligent boy, and
seemed from the first devoid of those
peculiar characteristics of the Indians,
suIlenness, stolidity and seclusion.
He was social, and from being with
my children, soOn learned to talk.
He was industrious-never idle, and
soon evinced ingenuity both with
edge tools and a pencil, showing rare
mechanical and artistic genius. By
his own efforts he soon learned to
read and ever during his life, was
devotedly studious, and anxious to OBJ
tain an education. When he came to
Brownville he was admitted to our
common schools, and at the end of his
first term, attained a prize for prof.
cheney and honorable mention from
his teacher for good behavior. He
was q regular Sabbath School atten-
dent while health permitted, and at
the Methodist School obtainad q per-
MUM for sMissionery labors among
white children. His efforts at draw
ing. without instruction, were re-
markable, and would have been cred
liable to those claiming proficiency in
in that line. He often spoke with
much earnestness of remaining with
us until he obtained an education and
became a man grown, then he would
20 back among his own people and
learn them how to live like white
fOlks.n He had attracted the attention.
of many who had become acquainted
with his history, and much interest
was felt in his behalf. Arrangements
were made, had not his health failed,
to have given him a finished educa-
ton. He gave satisfactory evidence
of a proper understanding and appre-
citation Of christianity, particularly for.
one Of his age. Interpretations have
been disappointed, and hopes for use
fulness blasted. Consumption, that
almost universal result Of attempts to.
civilize the Indian race, did for this
boy what Il has done for thousands Of
Others under the same circumstances.
John Sioux was a favorite with bis
teachers, and among the boys, his as
s~ociates, and respected by all who
knew him, and an example worthy Of
Imitation.
BY his friend,
R. w. r.