The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-07-14
AN INDIAN ORATOR.
NEE PERCE CHIEF, ONE OF THE
MOST GIFTED OF RACE.
Well Educated He Wears .
Blanket and Lives in Wigwam
Last Of a Family Noted
for Many Years.


Among the more noted Of the Nee
Perces Indians none has greater fol-
lowing than Stephen Reuben, one Of
the sub-chiefs of the tribe, and perhaps
the best known and most gifted Of In
dian orators of the northwest. During
the past six or seven years his oratorical
gifts have been in almost constant de-
mand at gatherings of his own and other
tribes, and many of his word pictures
of present Indian conditions, contrasted
with those when the aboriginal was
master of his own fate, have been pub
lished by eastern newspapers and other
periodicals. Reuben is well equipped
by education and wide reading, and has
travelled to some extent, and always
been somewhat of student of men,
but has preferred to cling to the tradi-
tion of the great past of his family.
He is still what is called a blanket
Indian" living in a wigwam during the
summer months and joining in the more
solemn Of the rites of his tribe, which
are classed as frivolous or barbaric by
the whites. He is prominent at councils
of the tribe. At these meetings he is
always the spokesman for some fac
ton, and frequently II has been noted
that the adroitness of his address. cou-
pied with his apparent command of facts
and their easy presentation, has on
many occasions swung the sentiment
of the council from a position Of oppo-
sition to one Of acquiescence.
Reuben is the last of a family noted
among the Nez Perces for more than a
century. The first Of the Reubens to be
well known by the whites was old James
Reuben. who died in the early '70s at
an advanced age. This James Reuben
was born in the latter part Of the eight
eenth century, his father, then middle
aged chief. being one Of the Indians who
welcomed the Lewis and Clarke COM
pany when 1t reached the Clearwater
at the mouth OF the North Fork. The
older residents here say that old Reuben
although without education, having
been a middle-aged man when the
Spalding mission was established in
and diplomat, with oratorical powers
Of high order. OF his two sons, James
and Reuben, the former during his life
time occupied the position OF adviser
to more of his followers than any other
member Of the tribe.
II was said of James Reuben that dur.
ing the Nez Perces war in 1877 he first
Joined Joseph's band Of warriors and
participated in the first few battles and
then. becoming satisfied that the whites
| must win. deserted Joseph, and, coming
to military headquarters. assisted in or
ganizing a band of scouts among the
Indians. which did splendid service dur
ing the rest of the campaign. The
younger James Reuben died Just after
the allotment of reservatiCn lands was
agreed to By the Indians. the asre men'
being reached largely through his in,
! fluence. Since his death the younger
brother. Stephen, has occupied very
much the same position of prominence
formerly held by the brother. But while
James was a warrior. whose oratory was
rough, though forceful, Stephen has &
polish Of address that even in the India
tongue charms white audience.