Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1896-04-02
DEATH OF a yANkroN PIONEER.

DEATH OF "A YANkToN PIONEER.
Charles +. Picotte, u Pioneer and Ono Of
the Original Owners of the Yankton
Townsite, Dies at Greenwood.
Armour Chronicle Tribune: Chas.
e. Picotte, one of the most intelligent
and influential men Of the Yankton
tribe of Indians and who has held the
position of government interpreter for
the past 25 years, died at his home in
Greenwood last Friday night, Of pneu-
mOnia.
The early settlers OF Yankton and
Yankton county will remember Charley
Picotte. He was among the first citi-
zens Of the city-if not the very first.
He was here before the city existed
before the townsite was surveyed. 1t
may be said that this was his native
heath, though he may not have been
born within the present confines of the
city or county. Charles f. Picotte was
an Indian half breed, and one of the
Yankton Sioux tribe. He had been
educated in the schools Of ST. Joseph,
Missouri, and when a young man of
about 26 years of age, became known
to the early pioneers of Dakota who in
1851 went to work to secure the pur-
chase from the Yankton Sioux Indians
Of this portion of Dakota-by "this
portion" is meant nearly all the do
main included in South Dakota east of
the Missouri riYer. Picotte had been
we'll educated and had adopted the
habits and customs of white people.
He spoke the English language fluent
ly and was also master of the Ian
guage of his own people, and for q
young man welded greater influence
in his tribe than any other individual
Indian. His services were secured in
behalf of the treaty of cession and the
result was the accomplishment of the
plan in 1859 by which the vast domain
of South Dakota east of the Missouri
was purchased by the government and
| thrown open to settlement. BY the
terms of the treaty Picotte was per-
mitted to select for himself and with
out cost one section of land atany point
in the ceded territory; he was to re-
ceive in addition an annuity of SO, 600 q
year for ten years, making $4,000.
Picotte's choice of land was large
portion of the present town site OF
Yankton. Beginning at the Missouri
river near where the present east line
of Douglas avenue intersects that
stream. running north from thence
about one mile, thence east one mile,
thence south to the Missouri river,
EN- bracing' all OF the city east of Doug
lass avenue and extending east to the
west line OF Maj. Stones farm. Fully
one-half the residence portion of the
city and much the choicest portion has
been built upon his tract. Picotte did
not enjoy the advantages of his appar-
ent good fortune. His annuity and His
realty were of little practical benefit
and a quarter of a century ago he had
but a small remnant of his great estate
left to him. He disposed of large
portion of it in 40 acre tracts, and later
in smaller parcels until he had nearly
nothing left. Picotte with his Indian
family resided for time in a log
dwelling at the foot of Picotte street,
and later he built and occupied the
residence still standing on the north.
east corner of Picotte and Second
street. For about ten years after
Yankton was laid out Picotte made his
home here, and then he quietly with
drew to the Yankton Indian reserva
tion were his people had preceded him
His education and familiarity with the
language and customs of the white:
made him an invaluable counselo,
among his own people, and his services
as advisor, interpreter and general re
preventative, have been frequently re
quired in the various affairs of hi
tribe. His career since settling at tn,
agency has been uneventful. Notwith
standing his early associations will
the whites and his education, h,
seemed much better contented anon.
his own people and kindred, and he re
mained with them to the end of hi
life. His age was not far from IS years
Z He leaves wife and number OF child
.ren two of them young men who ar,
we'll educated and Industrious, ant
among the prosperous citizens o
Charles Mix county. Press
-
The Discovery Saved His Life.
Mr.. G. Caillouette, Druggist, Bea
~. 1.