Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-29
Magnificent Exhibition of No
bility of Indian Chiefs Powe-
shiek, Keokuk, Wapello
BIT OF UNWRITTEN HISTORY
Professor Parker Discovers Most In
terestins Incident Connected With
the Ceding of Central Iowa Territory
to the United States by the Chiefs Of
the Soxs and Foxes.

special to Times Republican,.
Brooklyn, June 29.-P.ofessor l.. f
Parker spoke before the teachers in
in the course of his address recounted q
bit of unwritten history that should
be of interest to all residents of centra
Iowa. Professor Parker who has been
connected with the historical depart
ment of Grinnell College and the State
University for forty years or more, be-
lieves that more of the history of the
Indian tribes once occupying Iowa ter
ritory should be recorded. In the
course of his research along this line
| he has discovered an anecdote that is
worthy of a place in all school histories.
Written history records that the In
CLANS We're at first very reluctant 10
| give up the strip of territory in Iowa
! now comprised by Hardin, Marshall,
Tama, Poweshiek, Jasper. Mahaska.
| keokuk Wapello. AppaEocse and Davis
counties. but finally yielded in the
treaty of AZ but nowhere do the records
state why this reluctance Professor
Parker, from letters and old county his
tories, has unearthed the following
story which he told at tie institute:
Prior to 1910 General j. NJ. Street had
been made Indian agent stationed at
Agency City. now near Ot,umwa. Gen.
eral Street was an honest agent a real
friend to the Indians. while the traders
were not. Street wante1 to teach the
Indians the ways of the white man, to
farm and be civilized. while the trader
wanted to keep the redskins wandering
in the pursuit of game that they might
be exploited for the traders gain. The
Indians knew who was their friend.
When Street died, so great was the love
of the Indians for Their friend that
they came to the widow with an offer
TO give her a square n:ie of land and
to each of her ten children a half sec
ton of land if she would allow the body
of General Street to be buried there, d :,
Agency City, upon Indian soil instead of
being taken back east. Mrs. Street ac-
cepted the offer.
In AZ. when Governor Chambers
came to negotiate with the Sacs and
Foxes, thru their chiefs, Poweshiek
Wapello, Keokuk and Appanoose, for the
purchase of their lands in central Iowa,
the Indians finally consented to all the
proposed terms with the single excep-
tion that they insisted upon reservi.S
the land given To the Street family.
Chief Poweshiek, a powerful warrior
with a strong taste for lirewater, yet a
man of his word always, declared he
roically in one of his speeches: There
lies the best friend we ever had. We
Will never cheat his family so long as a
warrior lives among our people
Governor Chambers was insistent.
The sons of Street came forward with
an offer to relinquish their land, but
the Indians still held out for the square
mile for Mrs. Street. Finally Chief
keokuk, the orator of the assembly,
was delegated to close tho negotiations
because he seemed to be the only COM
promiser among them. He stuck for the
square mile. Finally Chambers asked:
We'll, where do you want to reserve
this land ?" Right here" declared Keo-
kuk, sweeping his arm around the spot
where the grave stood. THAT can't be-"
replied Chambers. The United States |
has spent $4,000 on agency buildings |
which are standing on this ground"
Take the $500 out of the money you
will pay us for our land, answered |
keokuk, and this was done
Such was the magnificent exhibition
Of Indian gratitude ana love for
friend that stood in the way of the
treaty of AZ. Old Chief Wapelo. who
afterward died far away from Agency
City. was carried on the backs of his
warriors at his dying request to be
buried by the side of the Indians friend.
General street, at Agency City. Chief
poweshiek and others died out west in
indian Territory.