The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-12
A GOOD INDIAN.

The Life of Jacob Shenandoah Of the
Onondagas.
In the death Of Jacob Scanandoah,
whose funeral occurred at the Indian
Reservation on Tuesday last, the Onon-
daga tribe lost one of the wisest coun-
sellers, most prominent chiefs and
thriftiAst members. Of kindly dispo-
sition, he always had the interests of
the IroQuois Indians, especially Of the
Onondaga tribe. at heart. and by his
influence and example he aided mate
rally In the spread of Christianity
among the members Of the different
tribes in this part of the country.
Mr. Shenandoah was high in the
councils of his people, being at the
time of his death president of the
Onondaga tribe and head of the Six
Nations Although his father was an
Oneida Indian. his mother was am
Onondaga, and In accordance with tri-
bal laws Mr.. Shenandoah ranked with
the latter tribe. He was brought up
amid Christian SurrnundingS, his faith
or, Thomas, who was q relative of the
famous Oneida Chief Shenandoah, hav-
\
Nearly all of Jacob ScanandOahs life
vas spent among the Onondagas and
he became naturally a power at the
reservation, but well known in this city,
which he frequently visited BY hard
work and thrift he accumulated money
and was possessed of considerable
property at his death. He was one Of
the most prominent members of the
Episcopal Mission at the reservation,
and to a reporter yesterday Rector w.
S. Hayward, who IS stationed there,
said that Mr. ScanandOah'S loss would
be seriously felt in church work among
the Indians He was regular in church
attendance and on the Sunday prior to
his death interpreted into the indian
tongue the rector's announcement re-
garding a Christmas tree, in order that
it might be understood by all of the
children. After the congregation had
been dismissed Mr. Shenandoah re-
manned behind, and finally going to Mr.
Hayward handed him silver dollar
which he said was to be used toward
t buying cO2l to warm the mission house
! Mr., Shenandoah was not only very
/ fond of music, but was Il musician him
! self. For forty eight years he was
leader of the Reservation Band, which
! he organized, playing the bass horn.
! He invariably attended the choir re-
hearsals at the Episcopal Mission and
| frequently expressed the pleasure he
| felt in listening to the musical seIec-
, tions rendered. He was greatly inter-
! ested in the temperance work among
! the Indians, and at the time of his
! death was the treasurer of the Six Ma
| tons Temperance League.
Many years ago while choppinS in the
woods Mr. Shenandoah met with an
accident which famed him for life In
| telling tree his ak slipped and struck
! his knee inficting quite cash. He
| was alone in the woods at the time and
! it was with difficulty that he made his
! way to tire Reservation.
| Mr.. Shenandoah could read and write
| in his native tongue and was more than
| ordinarily educated in the English Ian
| guage both speaking and understand
! ing it. His wife, to whom he was mar
! red forty years and who survives him,
speaks only the Indian tongue, and on
! this account Mr. Shenandoah frequent
| ~ expressed the wish to Rector Hay
ward that services in the Indian tongue,
which were formerly held, might be re-