Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-01
Eephm Newand Uptoa 7 No
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Indians, as untamed and ungovern-
able as the mighty Missouri which
bore them in their rude boats over
it's turgid waters. Many acts Of
these aboriginal inhabitants of the
western plains are lost to us, while
other historic events are handed
down from traditional tales and pic
tographic inscriptions, interpreted
with ease and accuracy.
The word Dakota, is an Indian
{ name of special significance, suggest
| ing broad and great domain, peOpled
by confederated or allied tribes.
More than two hundred and fifty
years ago, French voyagers and fur
traders from France found warlike
race Of Indians along the southern
shores of Lake Superior, whom they
called "Nadowe-Sioux" which is the
French plural of the name Nadow-
essi, meaning hated foe. Coming
nearer to them. both trader and
Jesuit priest found numerous bands
of this nation fighting their way
westward to the head waters of the
Mississippi. But. no definite know
| ledge was obtained regarding this
great war-tribe, sometimes called the
"The Iroquois of the West," until
Hennepin and his companions were
captC-o' by them in 1880. They
took him and his two comrades Of the
voyage, to their village on the head
waters Of Rum river, and around the
shores of Knife Lake, within the
boundaries of the state of Minnesota.
The Ojibwas, coming in contact
with the white race, were first supplied
with firearms, which gave them such
advantage over their warlike enemies
the Sioux, that in the next century
we find the confederated bands Of
a great nation driven south and vest
ward onto the plains OF Minnesota
and Dakota, where the scattered
tribes of "The Seven Great Council
Fires" fought their way to the Mis-
souri, river.
The glowing description of the
| upper Missouri country given by
Lewis and Clark, caused many adven-
turers to voyage up the great river
where they established trading posts
among the Indians, following the
buffaloes in their migrations over
the plains OF the two Dakotas. No
longer will the old Dakota trapper
voyage up the winding channel of the
Missouri river. His glory has depart
ed, never to return! A struggling
wanderer may still be seen pitching
his lonely tent along the shallow
| waters of some remote tributary, but
he will soon disappear, and his songs
will die away like the echoes they
awaken. S..
The names of many old hunters
and trappers are interviewer in nara
tives of adventure, enacted near the
sacred precincts of historic land
marks. bordering along the great
river, regarded by rising generations
as poetic images who moved along
the borderlands of traditional roman
ce and authentic history buried in
| the land OF their adoption.
The bones of the elder Durion,
| Lewis and Clark's Sioux interpreter
and guide) lay undisturbed in his
grave on the nights Of Calumet Bluff
for many years, but the trespassing
ploughshare has cut away the sod
covering and his remains were un-
covered and scattered. Many relics
were found in the old Frenchman's
grave while excavating for a brick
yard, which were collected and sold
to a Yankton gunsmith for three
i dollars. At the death Of the purchas-
er, the collection was given to Yank-
ton college by his son.
The territory OF Dakota was organ
lied in 1861, and settlers soon began
1 to locate homes in the valleys Of the
/ Big Sioux and Missouri rivers.
The war of the rebellion ragged
with unabated fury. The battles OF
Bull Run, Mill Springs, Fort Donald
son and Shiloh were fought with