The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-17


Affairs for the year 1875, and in looking
it over We fnd much Of interest to the
thoughtful reader, in relation to the man
agement Of these dusky wards of the ma
ton, Thinking the Report of Maicr
Free, the agent for tive Iowa Sues and
Foxes, would interest cur readers as
well as ourselves, we concluded to trans
fer it entire to our columns. II is not
very lengthy and will well repay pcrusal
We believe the present agent is working
for the interest of the Indians under his
charge, and that he will continue SO TO
10. As we publish the entire report we
will not attempt any review of it, but
let our readers exan.i ie IL for themselves:
AGENCY OF THE
SAC AND Fox INDIANS IN Iowa,
Toledo, Iowa, Sep. 23d, 1875.
SIR: Pursuant to requirements of the
Indian Department, have the honor TO
submit my annual report of the condition
Of the Sac and Fox Indians in Iowa for
the year ending August 31st, 1875.
Upon my acceptance of the position of
agent, | found but few of the tribe upon
their lands, and it was not until the
month of June that could call them in
from their winter hunt and trappngs,
when proceeded to enroll the tribe for
payment and other purposes. This tribe
owns 4rS acres of land situated in lama
County, iowa. TIE laHN is held in corn
mon, having been purchased by the diff
ferent agents from part of their annuity |
set apart for that purpose after payment |
and held in trust for them. They num-
her 81 by population, there being 16l !
males and 1870 females. During the last
year there have lecn ten births and |
twelve deaths. There has been some
sickness among them, owing to excessive ,
high water this summer, which over
flowed their lands, inundating their dwell
ings, creating dampness, and causing
malarious types of fever common to low
land. They have in cultivation, by esti
mate, about l25 acres, selected according
10 their individual tastes and conven-
ience. The greater part of this is plant
cd to corn. Beans, squashes, and pota-
toes, being well titled will yield an av
erage crop for the season. They have
made some advancement in farming,
several having purchased harness and
blows and prepared their own ground,
and a great many more would do the
same thing, but they have no means.
The men have shown better DISPOSE
ton to work their land this season than
ever before, but the high water has pre-
vented much enlargement of their grounds
During harvest, all the ablc-bodied men
that could work went out in the fields
and earned good wages. Quite a number
of boys down to twelve years OF age also
went out, and seemed willing to labor
when there was a sure reward. Their
lands are only partially fenced and in
such Il manner that they do not deriYe
Elauch good from it, the fencing being
mostly by railway and by adjoining
Nyhite persons, who have kindly built en-
tire line-fences at their own expense, and
kept the same in repair for years, and
who have patiently submitted to constant
r;respass from their ponies, by reason Of
tthe Indians not having their land fenced
IN for pasturing. What pastureland
fthey have lies in common, and would
have been fenced III but for high water,
which prevented crossing over the Iowa
River. The chief and old men of the
tribe consented to fencing their lands,
but are now opposed to it. 1t is impera-
tive that it should be done, if they desire to
remain here, from the peculiar situation
of their lands. Their stock must be kept
on their own lands, as a large and wealthy
neighborhood surrounds them, and every ,
day engcndcrs trouble from letting
their ponies run at large or attempting to
herd them. They have entirely too many
ponies for the amount of land owned by
them, and the number should be decreas- {
ed by sale, or exchange for other stock,
which l have urged upon them to do.
Their school-house has been completed
aunder contract, and is Il very good and {
substantial building, pleasantly located {
and large enough to meet all wants of
the tribe for some time. 1t is furnished
well, and has upper rooms for teacher |
and family. They are, as a majority, t
opposed to going to school, especially {
I the old men. 1t will take slow and earn i
est labor, dependent upon time, to re- c
move their preiudces and educate their /
young, on whom must depend any de- '
gree of success in the future. Their S
. prejadices against schooling have been
strengthened by some designing whites, t.
who have enlarged greatly upon the ne o
cessity of the scheme to the Indians, and i
! IN such manner that they are suspicious y
; and mistrustfui ofany good result. When ii
once assured that all is well, there can be a
no trouble, for they are apt and intelli-
gent. Their nomadic habits stand decid- C
eddy in the way CT education. They must b
remain continuously on their land, and p
not take their young away on their hunt ri
ing and trapping expeditions and keep II
them every winter. a
| would most earnestly recommend
that the attention of the different aid So 5
cieties interested in behalf of the Indians II
be called to the fact that these children IL
will have to be clothed before sending to e.
school, and also, if it can be done, that g
clothing be sent and placed in the hands a
OF the agent by the Commissioner, not p
only to protect against the inclcmency of p
the weather but as an induccment for the
young to attend school, and to teach them )
the habits Of civilized life. / have not, n
al the date Of this report. opened their 9
school. but shall as soon as matters are II
arranged.
Tie situation of this tribe renders the u
education and government of them very "
difficult, as they are in close proximity to =
several towns. and constantly coming in .
eevmact with Il certain class of whites, :.
from whom they learn profanity, gamb- u
ling, and other evils, and who associate
with them for the purpose of reaping :
gain in secret and unlawful manner. y
This has proved the most serious ques-
ton in the government of the tribe, and =,
nvt unfrequently has been productive of :,
evil The citizens residing near have :,
manifested a kindly feeling. and desire
Sbeir advancement. The men, as Il gen
cra1 rule, are very temperate, and a good
Aoprpa IF lppnCty oyfcfS Th1ro hoe