Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-24
AN INDIAN FINANclER-
How an Old Spokane Indian Chief
tain Turned Granger.
Peoae. shrewdly Calculating on the
Future. Aeeumalates Wealth and Re-
turns 10 His Tepes and Ills squaws
After Many Years
fCor. st Paul Pioneer.l I


Of date, or some other representative
portrayer of savage life and character,
has neglected solemn duty 70 the Ameri-
can people, for which neglect censurs
would be a punishment entirely in
adequate. Peone has reigned as Chief Of
the Spokane tribe for many, many moons
and, by proper attention 10 the develop
ment OF his commercial and financial i'm
stincts, placing a curb upon the natural
tendency OF his savage nature 10 revel in
horse-racing and ard-playing, has risen
60 the proud eminence OF a capitalist, and
now wields power and influence which,
in this day and generation, falls only TO
the lot of bonanza kings and railroad mag
mates. Twenty years ago PeOne's assets
were dirty shirt, blanket and a rifle
To-day his balance sheet shows an amount
10 his cred of about twenty five thou
sand dollars. The manner in which he
achieved financial success is in no manner
sensational or romantic, but il stamps
Peone as an Indian of peculiar manu-
facture and development.
He argued TO himself that at some future
time railroad would be built through this
barren waste, and that an important town
was certain TO spring up at the falls of the
Spokane River He kept his own counsel,
however, and builded wisely and well.
Ten or twelve miles northeast of the pres
ent site of the town of Spokane Falls-on
what is now known as Peone prairie, a
most fertile and attractive agricultural
section-the Chief squatted upon several
large tracts of land, and declared that
henceforth he would devote his life TO
farm ng, and, with his family about him,
would enjoy himself as only a civilized
human can, under his own vine and fig
tree. He started his new life on a small
SCALE but kept his business eye open, and
from year TO year increased his herds of
horses, and gradually added stock-raising
to his other granger amusements. During
all this time, however, he never relaxed
his grip upon the tribe, but retained his
proud title of Chief, and was obeyed and
reverenced accordingly. AS civilization
began to make it's way in his direction
closing in upon him slowly but steadily
he took occasion to protect his interests,
after the methods of the palefaces, and,
long before danger beset l.im, he had Sc
cured legal patents, or titles, to his es-
tates in his own name, or in the names of
different members of his family. He could
not speak word of English, but he was
patient and stoical, and willing to hang on
on until the chance came to close out at a
big bargain-a consurimation which he
shrewdly guessed was inevitable. He i'm
proved his farms by the erection of log
houses and outbuildings. and titled enough
of the land SO that ample sustenance was
afforded for his steadily increasing herds.
-
jealous or discontented because of his sim
gular action, but none seemed TO emulate
Peone's example and make provision for
the future. The tribe lived apart and ad-
hel ed to their aboriginal customs. After it
became known that the Northern Pacific
Railroad would be built across the great
Northwest the restless pioneers began to
appear in Washington Territory and settle
upon the rich lands that were lying idle
upon every hand. 1t was not long before
Peone enjoyed the luxury of paleface
neighbors. He was peaceable and friendly,
as were the tribe, and the sly old fellow
encouraged emigration to the fullest extent
of his influence and ability. He was work.
ing up a scheme, and knew what he was
about. WheA tho railroad was completed,
thriving and fourishing town at once
began to grow, seemingly out of the
ground, at the falls, which embryo city
was christened Spokane Falls, and the un-
occupied portion of Psoff Prairie was soon
taken possession of by white settlers. But
/ Peone had secured the choicest tracts HIM
self. and, of course, his neighbors soon
began to look upon him with jealous
eyes and covet his broad and fertile acres.
/ ho oII - hoH nd rrbo
/ the newcomers began to make offers to him
/ for the purchase of his land he fought shy
and pretended he did not care to sell. He
was coming the jay Gould racket on them
-''roping them in" Inability TO pluck the
/ prize only created greater competition,
and the bidding went on until an offer was
made far above the ruling value of any
other land on the prairie. Then Peone,
with an air of reluctance, relented and
agreed to sell. And he did, retiring from
the agricultural avocation with a snug
fortune. And what did he do then? Did
he 60 farther away in the wilds and squat
ON another piece of land, content to grow
up with the country? Not much. He
simply gathered his tribe about him and
resumed his original mode of existence
tepee, Campfire, harem, rolled -up-in-a a
blanket of the ground, and all the other
Indian accessories. He invested a large
] proportion of his money in Government
bonds. kept an immense herd of ponies, tht
/ proceeds from the annual sales reaching
hundreds OF dollars, invested little hers
and there in town lots in Spokane Falls
Portland, and other cities, and set
tied down in oamp--in a picturesque
spot on the Spokane River. some eight
or ten miles from the farm-to enjoy
bis old age in peace and contentment. HI
doesn't seem to be inflated by his good fort
une. I am sure he wears the same shir'
that be put upon his back when he frs
turned farmer--and which has never beeF
initiated into the mysteries of even an In
dian laundry. he smokes the same pipe
snd-ff appearances are not deceitfui-
stalks about in The same blanket that huns
arnrn1 his form, ten or ffeeop wars $50