The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-02-20
OD1HUNDER IS DBHD.
"A Famous Minnesota Indian. who
Fought Good FIGHT and
Died Victorious
The Funeral on Monday After
noon, and a Brief Sketch Of
His Career.


Andrew Good thunder, known in
Minnesota history by the latter
name only, died last Friday evening
at his home near the Agency church.
He had been near death S door for
several days preceding his demise
from an attack Of pneumonia, and
his death was not unexpected. His
last hours were gladdened by a
telegram from his dearest white
friend, Bishop Whipple, II the fol
i lowing terms, as full of meaning as
they are brief in expression:
8 MAITLAND, + La, Feb. Is.
Chief Goodthunder: Our hearts
with you. Trust the Savior. We
pray for you, we love you, brave.
true brother
BISHOP WHIPPLE.
! Goodthunder was a devout Chris
tian for many years before his death,
j and was attended in his last days
4 by Rev. VIM Mitchell Of this city as
well as by Mr.. Sinclair, the resi-.
i dent minister of the church.
The funeral on Monday was a
i simple one, in keeping with the his
tory Of the deceased. Rev. w. III.
Knowlton, the former pastor and
personal friend Of the dead chief,
d came up from Iowa to join with Rev.
VIM. Mitchell in the last sad honors.
q In the course of his remarks Mr..
q Knowlton told Of his last visit to the
q old chief, when the latter expressed
y a wish to go home to his Savior. S
B Going home was his happiest
n thought. Mr.. KnoWlton told the
Indians through the Interpreter
that they had not realized the great
Enesss Of their old friend That his
greatest pride was in being per
4 fectly honest, paying his debts and
keeping faith with all men. Good.
thunder once said to hin, 81 al.
ways feel sorry ffor my sins, but 4
can very gladly say, have always
kept my promises.
Rev. Vim. Mitchell S remarks re-
a lated mainly to Goodthunder's last
sickness, which was attended with
much pain. When he had asked the
old chief if he had any message for
B his friend Bishop Whipple, with a
y smile on his face the ans wer came,
y 'Tell Bishop Whipple I love him
always. Say good bye! Mr..
Mitchell closed with the exordium,
well done, good and faithful ser
want, and the casket was conveyed
to its last resting place near the
church by three aged Indians and
the same number Of white friends
Of the dead chieftain.
Goodthunder was born at Mendotain in
1877, The bent of his mind in early
, manhood is indicated by the statement
s that he was the first Indian TO ask
& Bishop Whipple for the services of a
missionary at the Lower Agency in
1859, and was among the first to be
baptized by Rev. SD. Hinman.
During the outbreak of 1852, Good
thunder was instrumental in saving
the lives Of many white people. He
was a volunteer scout under Gen. Sib
ley and Col. Crooks in theirexpeditions
q against the Sioux, and had letters
signed by Bishop w nipple, Gen sibley
and others, certifying to his loyalty t
the whites.
The generous nature of the old chic
in his later days was illustrated by hit
gift to the Agency church of one-fourtI
of his little farm Of so acres. OF thit
gift Bishop WI ipple says It was The
largest gift in proportion to the mans
wealth / have ever received for ths
church.
In letter from r. g. Hinman, in
structor at the Indian agency school
the above facts are given, concluding
\ with an extract from an interview with
J, Goodthunder written about 9 year ago
in which.he said $ + have ALWAYS been
friend to the whites and have done
5 what Z could to help them Some d
my people do not like ME for the part ]
took il the outbreak. But know !
did right, and it makes my heart feel
good to know it. But it matters not
{ what some think, as I am now an old
J man, and have not many year more o1
& life. know God will not forget what
did, and after ] am gone the white
!. people will learn what / did for them,