Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-08-01
POTOWATOMIES GET
THEIR MONEY
The "Great Father" Pays the
Money Due Them by the Treaty
OF l848 at Pittsville, Wednesday
when Indian Agent Geo. L.
Williams Came from Kansas.

For the first time since the treaty
between the governmental the United
States and the PotOwatOmie Indians
was signed in 1913, the members of
that tribe have consented received
the third of the trust fund set aside
for them. This will amounted to S343
for every P0towatOmie in the United
States and about sixty Indians received
their portion at Pittsville, July 3lSt.
when George L. Williams, the superin-
tendent and special distributing agent
of the Great Nemaha Indian Agency.
came from Kansas to make the
payment, Just how much money was
paid is not known, but it is safe to
state thatSeveral thousands will handed
over to the Indians.
The history of this transaction goes
back many years. The PotowatOmies
were originally from Illinois, and were
first settled on what is now a portion
of Chicago. Later they were driven
north to Milwaukee, and still later to
the section of Wood County in and
around Arpin. In their movement
and aSSOcia tiOn with the WinnebagOeS
there was bad blood engendered, and
| these two tribes were at war with each
other a great share of the time 1t
was out of these wars that the white
men entered, and after long negOti-
aJiOns, their lands were purchased and
thrown open to the white men. The
government according to the treaty
entered into in 1S4S were to pay them
the interest, or annuities each year.
This the Indians have been receiving
regularity, it amounting to about $40
per head. The principal, which was
held in trust, was to have been paid
in three regular inStallmentS, of S343
each.
At the present time there are about
sixty families living in their crude
hutS in and around Arpin. These
Indians came in last summer and
caused no end of comotion, but they
have been peaceful and law abiding.
When the treaty was signed they went
to Kansas to live. on the reservation
but they were soon tired of the life
uOWn there. and came back to WiScOn-
sin. Some of them have acreage in
Kansas, but refuse to return and live
upon their lands, aud therefor they
have been compelled TO live and work
their own way
The reasons for their leaving the
reservation is best described by one of
their tribe, known as Big Frank.
Like all Indians he is loath to talk,
but with the aid of A. B. Cotey, the
friend and adviser of the Potowa-
tonne, he gave the REPORTERS rep
resentative some account of the
Indians mind. He said:
my people they no like it in
Kansas. There is no woods, and no
game, and the Indian he like to hunt, |
and see the trees and woods. We got |
tired of the broad plain, and came
back here where our fathers lived, |
and where the woods and trees are
familiar. Lots of Potowatomies live !
on the Eau Plaine river, Rib River.
and the F'lambeau, and some near
Arpin. We like it here, and when
the Great Father give US our money
we want to stay here and be like |
white man. Good and farmers"
On Wednesday then the Great |
Father paid the Potowatomies
their first trust fund money, and |
they now have something to begin |
their great effort to become like the |
white men, Good and Farmers