Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-09-13

iiduu. uo AHuiuH dttDt was also
required to attach his signature to
an affidavit that these rules had
been complied with in the execu-
tfon of a deed
When the war broke out John
son county was the scene of many
raids by the 'border ruflians,n To-
Gated as it was on the Missouri
line. IL was not comfortable
home for the Shawnees, so they
abandoned their reservation anG
moved into the Indian Territory,
where many of them joined the
Cherokees. During the war the
valuable lands remained unoc.
cupied, and at its close settlers
rushed In and squatted upon the
lands abandoned by the Indians.
In 1866 every quarter section of
the Black Bob reservation was in
possession of a claimant. Spec
ulators then went TO work 90 secure
deeds from the Indians, who were
then in the territory, many Of
them deciding to them 200 acres,
which they were entitled to un-
der the provisions of the treaty
whenever they chose to make
their selection OF deed.
The fret sale OF this kind was
made in October 1868, to j. G.
Irwin, who bought up in the ag-
gregate $500 acres. Other sales
followed in rapid succession, until
soon the entire reservation had
been decided to speculators, the
price alleged to have been paid
the Indians being on the average
$3.50 per acre. A number of pro-
tests against the further issue of
patents to the Indians, setting
forth that gross frauds were being
perpetrated, and that the Indians
were being swindled out of their
lands by the spectators. were re-
ceived by the government, and
Acting Commissioner Mix, on De-
cember 13, 1867 telegraphed Agent
Taylor to suspend delivery of pat
ents to the Indians. This was
done and the further sale OF lands
was arrested in consequence.
Notwithstanding a few of the
settlers had purchased their land
from Indians who had received
their patents, and a great majority
refused to do so, believing that
their title should come from the
government and not from the In
dians. In the meahtime the set
tiers kept on improving their
claims and have now converted the
reservation into one of the finest
and most productive portions of
Eastern Kansas. Both settlers and
spectators have kept an agent in
Washington looking after their
respective interests; the one party
attempting to- obtain from congress
confirmation of the validity of the
Indian patents, the other endeav-
oring to have them set aside and
the title declared vested in the
government. Neither party has
thus far been successful.
In 1879 congress passed a reso-
luton instructing the attorney
general to cause a suit in equity
to be brought in the United States
Circuit court in the name of the
government to quiet and finally
settle the titles to lands claimed
by or under the Black Bob band OF
Shawnee Indians in Kansas or ad-
versely thereto" In accordance
with this resolution suit in equity
was brought in 1880, and the case
has been pending since i l,st that time.
were enabled to find purchasers
for their land before the sale
the same was suspended removed
to the Indian Territory and united
with the Cherokees, in accordance
with an agreement made between
the tribes and approved by the
president OF the united States,
while the greater portion of them
who had returned to Kansas in or
der to sell their lands were, by the
suspension OF the sale, prevented
from doing so, and according to
the report of Commissioner Park er
, were forced to remain in Kansas
without a home; their lands being
occupied by trespassers by virtue
, OF the suspension referred to"
The Indians referred to by Su.
perintendent Hoag did not remain
long in the vicinity Of their old
homes, but one by one they sold
quit claim deeds to SPECTATORS
who have remained to fight for the
title to their purchase with the
settler. The government has
steadfastly refused to interfere
the settlers have continued in pos
? session and the title has remained
= with the government, so that the