Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-28
THE LAST OF THE mrAMrs.

An event OF no ntLle ltnpOILauCo III GuiS
vicinity is the coming payment OF large
sum of money by the Government of the
United States to the remnants of the once
famous tribe of the Miami Indians of In
diana. This now almost extinct race were
once the possessors of this broad and feI-
tile valley, and all the changes which mark
the difference between savage life and CIV
ilization in this favored section have been
accomplished during the last half century.
It is the old story Of the white mans re-
sistless energy. Gradually the country
filled up with hardy pioneers, until, in
1910, part of the tribe availed themselves
of the offer Of the Government and sought
a home beyond the Mississippi. The rem
nant stayed, possessing certain reservations
of land and an annuity. Those who re-
manned did so by the terms Of the treaty,
and included only the families (bsnds) of
Pe-she-wah Tor Richardville). the National
Chief; Godfrey, the War Chief and the
Village Chief, Me-shin- go me STA These
were assigned reservations in this and ad-
joining counties, and here they resided,
and their descendants still continue to re-
side upon the homes of their ancestry.
In 1854 the tribe made new treaty at
the Forks of the Wabash. George w.
Manypenny was the Indian Commissioner,
while Nah wah. lin-quar Tor Big-Legs),
Penny -o-tah.mah. aud Me.shin-go -me-sia
drove the last nails In the coffin of the tribe
by selling their perpetual annuity for S22l,-
600, due in twenty-six years, with interest
annually. It is this money now which is to
be paid to their descendants.
What was probably the last official
gathering of the tribe occurred in this city
a few weeks ago. Fourteen heads OF fami-
lies were present, and its object was to ex-
anime the census roll of descendants of
those signing the treaty. According to
this roll, there are 32l persons yet alive
who have enough Miami blood In their
veins to entitle them to share in the dis
tribution. Only about 200 of this number
remain in the counties embraced III the
" thirty.mile reservation" where, fifty
years ago, the tribe numbered l., 800 war
riors, AMI probably ) 600 souls. OF these
200, probably none are more than three
fourths blood, and when the payments shall
have been made, which will be early in
January, the end OF the Miami Nation in
its relations to the Government will have
been reached. The nation will have
passed out of existence officially, and no
man will be able to say, 81 am Miami. !"
When the early traders first penetrated
into the wilderness, establishing trading
posts here and there, the Miamis occupied
a scope of country stretching from Fort
Wayne to Lafayette, and extending thirty
miles south of the Eel river. On the north
were the powerful Pottowatomies. The
principal village of the Miamis was be-
tween Wabash and PerI. The census roll
just completed shows the descendants of
the Miamis, few as they are, scattered over
a wide scope of territory. One family are
at Napoleon, o., thirty seven members of
the tribe resided in Allen county, Indiana,
eleven in Tippecanoe county, about eighty
in Miami county, sixty in Grant county
and forty in Wabash county Forty mem.
bers of the tribe have homes in the Qua
Paw Agency, Indian Territory, where they
have a tract of some 1000 acres of land,
while here and there are scattered Miamis
in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kan
sas, a grandson of the old national chief
residing in the latter State at Fontana-by
name Wah.pe-mun- wan, the "White
Loon, >" and famous in the West as an inter-
prefer. OF the total number alive fully
one half are minor children. Each and
every member-men, women and children
VIII IGCGiNe III tuC Lei oOAhOOd VI gOJO'
The Indians who live in this section of
the country reside upon the land reserved
to their fathers, which they have occupied
until this year free of taxes. They be-
came citizens last January. Some of them
have built fairly comfortable houses, but
many huddle together in little log cabins,
located on clearing of FIVE or ten acres.
Tire majority Of the children are growing
up in ignorance, ard when the Govern
ment wiJhdraws It's fostering care most of
the Miamis will become objects of public
charity. They are idlers, and have 10 care
for the future, and their ignorance makes
them an easy prey for the sharper. Their
lands, now in the market for the first time,
are being eagerly sought after.
The last chief Of the Mianis was Me-
shin-go-me- He lived twenty miles
south of Wabash, and died only two years
ago, in the 9th year of his age. He was
an honorable man, and the Me-shin- GONE
STA band, now numbering thirty-two per-
sons, is composed of provident, law bid-
ing and intelligent men and women.
Nearly all are members of the Baptist
Church, and read and write iutelligently.-
Wabash und.l dispatch to Chicago Trib-
une.