The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-01
REMARKABLE INDIANS.

self-Snpportiug, sslE.RCsrncting Chris.
tlans-The story of FlGndreau-A sug-
gcstiVe Lesson.
Elaine GoOdale EdstmGn In Ndr York PoA.
Perhaps no drawer action is recorded
Of wild Indians than that OF small
band Of Santee Sioux in 1868, when they
voluntarily reIinquished all Indian
rights and undertook to secure home
steads on an equal footing with white
men. II was not many years after the
famous Minnesota massacre" and the
men, some fifteen in number, who de-
cided upon this bold step, were mainly
pardoned prisoners, who had accepted
Christianity in prison through the min
istratiOns OF the veteran missionary
Williamson. Doubtless the lesson OF
this fearful crisis had taken strong hold
upon their minds, and they determined
to learn it thoroughly.
These men fought out part OF the
smiling valley of the Big Sioux River,
in northeastern Dakota, which had
struck the fancy OF some Of their num-
Der as they rOamed over that wild region
on their hunting expeditions. They had
recently been assigned small reserya-
ton ut SaEtce, Neb., and when they
chose homes Of their own they were
not allowed to take with them the cat
tie, tools, and farming implements
which had been issued to them there as
aids to beginning career OF self sup
mort. With no dwellings but their
tents, no beasts save the slightly built
Indian ponies, not plough among
them, and no knowledge whateverot
farming, they struck out desperately
like man in deep water who has never
learned to swim.
During the first year or two they lived
chiefly by hunting, selling iurs Of mink,
otter, and beaver at Sioux Falls, then a
frontier trading post, and in the spring
hired sturdy pioneer or two, with his
yoke OF oxen and breaking plough, to
turn up lew acres OF the hard prairie
sod. An abundance of corn was the
result. BY degrees they bought the
necessary implements and seed, and,
Joining work for the sake OF good COM
radeship and encouragement, brought
larger and larger areas under successful
cultivation. At the end of the five
years they "proved mp" on their claims,
aud became the absolute owners OF lG0
acres each OF fertile prairie, having
been Joined in the meantime by friends
and relations till the little settlement
numbered nearly hundred families.
The first church at Flandreau (for
this was the name OF the first indie
pendent civilized community OF Sioux
was built in 1873, and is still used for
regular services. II is aneat frame
chapel, now somewhat weather-worn,
aud near it sleep the honored dead
whose resting places arc nearly all
marked by marbles, costly in proportion
to the means OF those who procured
them. Their first minister, Iron Old
Man, met tragic end while out with q
companion hunting deer. II was u
bright winter day, and the young men
flung off their coats to follow the deer
on foot, but fearful blizzard overlook
them thus lightly clad, and both were
frozen TO death. The second pastor was
William Rogers, the third, the most in
fiuential, and the present one. the Rev.
John Eastman, son OF Jacob Eastman,
or Many Lightnings, WHO was q recog-
lllLGu lSuACA ia tiAS SNAAl AN9 VI thO
The little band Of Flandrcau did not
always find smooth sailing, by any
means. In 1874 came the grasshoppers,
devastating the growing crops, and for
year or TWO afterwards they suffered
by unusual drought. The Indian farm
ers like their white brothers, were hard
pressed and were forced TO mortgage
their farms for the means TO go on with.
This led, in some instances, to their
final loss. in 1889, through the efforts
OF John Eastman and Others, q clause
in the Sioux bill" provided that the
members OF the Flandreau band should
have the right to loo acres each OF land
upon the Sioux reservation, or to pay
ment for such land at the rate Of one
dollar per acre. All preferred the
money, and nearly all devoted it to tile
purchase Of land adjoining that which
they still held at FIandreau. By this
means they have nearly regained that
which they were compelled TO sacrifice.
The Flandreaus are surrounded by
white neighbors, with whom they are
upon the most friendly terms. The
thriving llltte town Of FlaRdreau is