The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-01-26

A&C A~RAS
ed the United States. The Indian
tribes were represented by Keokuk,
P~ash-e-pa-ho, Black Hawk and other
chiefs. The negotiations were con-
Quoted in a large tent erected on the
west bank Of the river. It is describ.
ed as al unusually interesting scene.
In contrast with the gay Informs Of
the soldiers and the painted warriors,
adorned in their very best costumes,
were the hardy hunters and trappers
who hung about the council to watch
the proceedings.
June 1, 1888, was the date when the
first Iowa purchase was thrown open
to the settlers. Antoine LIE Claire
acted as interpreter for this treaty.
He had long lived among the Indians
and had married an Indian wife. To
show their strong friendship for him
they had reserved for mis- wife GAO
acres Of land where Davenport now
stands and an equal amount for him
self north of Davenport, where the
town of LIE Claire is now located.
By this treaty the Sacs and Foxes
coded to the United States a tract of
land containing six million acres ex-
tending from the northern boundary
of Missouri to the mouth of the Up
per Iowa river, having an average
width Of fifty miles west of the Mis-
sissippi river.
The consideration paid for this
grant Of land was the payment Of an
annual sum of twenty thousand dol
lars for thirty years, and also the sum
OF fifty thousand dollars of indebted
ness which these tribes owed to GER
tain Indian traders on the river. 1t
was estimated that the cost to the
government was about nine cents per
acre for this splendid session of lands.
At this time the Sacs and Foxes num-
bered about thirty-five hundred per.
sons. They moved their families over
near the Des Moines river between
Ottumwa and agency City, which lat
ter place became the new Indian.
agency.
On Oct. IL, 1912, a final purchase
was made from the Sac and Fox In.
dams of all their remaining lands west
of the Mississippi. The treaty was
negotiated at Agency by John Cham.
bers, governor of Iowa Territory.
These deliberations took place also
in a large tent. To insure good order
a. troop Of dragons from Fort Des
Moines were present under the COM
mand Of Captain Allen. There was
always considerable display on these.
treaty occasions. The Indians loved
show and parade and the government
officials encouraged it so that the dig
nified chiefs and their braves might
be properly impressed. The governor
at this treaty wore a brilliant uniform
of a ~brigadier general of the United
States Army. He and his staff sat at
one end of the tent on a Slightly ele-
waited platform. The chiefs were
seated in front of this platform and
the interpreter occupied a position be-.
tween the two representative bodies.
The Indians were likewise attired in
their best, Each had purchased a
new blanket at the agency. Leggins
Of white deer-skin, feathers, beads,
rings and painted faces made up their
apparel. 1t is said also that each
chief carried a ~profusely decorated
war club to give decorum to the &C.
casion. There was much talk, for the
Indians love to make speeches and
listen to them. The words Of each
speaker were translated by the inter
prefer that it might be clearly under
stood.
The Indians pleaded ~eloquently for
their charming hunting grounds with
their beautiful forests and meadows.
They loved Iowa as dearly as the
white man does today. The compen.
satiopsemed a large sum to them, but
it was as trash compared with the
home Of their f~orefathers.
The winter of 1923 was the sever.
est that had yet been known in Iowa.
1t was a trying winter on the settlers
as well as the disheartened savages
The chief medicine man of the tribes
who had strongly opposed giving up
their lands, now said to the Indians:
This cold weather and these hard.
ships have come upon you because the
Great Spirit is angry at you. You
have parted with the last of your pos.
sessions. You have sold the home
OF your fathers. Manitou is displeas
ed"
The Indians had confidence in their
prophet and observed solemn cere.
monies 10 pacify the Great Spirit.
This grant of land comprised per.
haps two-thirds of the present state
Of Iowa, containing 10000, 900 acres,
for which the disheartened and re
treating red man received $500, 900 in
annual payments, with FIVE per cent
interest per annum.
It was this purchase from the Sacs
and Foxes which included the terri
Tory from which Mahaska county was
surveyed, the history and growth Of
which should be of absorbing interest
to every citizen within it's limits.
The early settlers almost always
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