The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-02-07

Is nearing the completion of one. OF the
most remarkable tasks undertaken by
a citizen of the United States.
This task was the seemingly almost
impossible one of giving family names
to some 10000 or more Indians
Dr.. Eastman is himself full-blood,
ed Sioux and is a graduate of Dart
mouth College Of the class Of 1887 and
OF Boston University Medical school.
His Indian name was Ahiysea.
The necessity for this work is large
~ because Of the fact that the allot-
ment of lands makes it particularly
desirable that family names be as
signed to the Indians, SO that deeds
can be given and records made. The
demands of modern civilization in
many other respects make it highly
desirable that such names of Afraid
of-a-Bear,'' 'Rain-in-theFace etc,
should give way to regular family
names
DR.. Eastman is native Of the state
OF Minnesota and is SO years old,
though one would hardly credit him
with such years. He bears all the
characteristics of an Indian, tall and
straight, and is most striking fig
ure.
He received his appointment four
years ago. The matter of remaining
the Indians has been considered dur
ing several administrations, but no
systematic work was begun until
Roosevelt's administration began. The
president became particularly inter
ested in this matter. He gave his per-
sonal attention to it, and DR.. Eastman
then received the appointment to do
the work.
The Indians own much land and
property but not having a family sur
name it became difficult to transfer
such property
To some extent a remaining had been
carried on by missionaries and Indian
agents, but no systematic work was
done until Dr. Eastman took the mat
ter in charge.
DR.. Eastman is particularly inter
esting man to meet He is quantity
original, lives in a modest cottage
house, has a library well-flled with
good reading and reference books. He
enjoys fireplace and has the walls
OF, his den decorated with the many
souvenirs he has secured in the In
dian country.
He married Elaine Goodale, the we'll
known poetess and former teacher
and supervisor Of Indian schools. Five
pretty girls and one boy make up his
family. If not for his bronzed features
one would take DR.. Eastman for a ty-
pical hospitable New Highlander. He
is interesting to talk with, much in
terested in his work and outskopen and
determined in his tastes.
A few evenings ago Sunday Post
representative met him before the
cheerful fireplace Of his Cottage street
home Yes, I'm happy in my home
happy in my work" he said.
MY work is done in the summer
during the four or five months Of
warm weather Usually take up res
ervation and endeavor to cover it
thoroughly in one season unless it is
large one.
II overhaul the land records of the
various families and also take CEN
sus so that no one will escape me. In
many instances / even revise the
names of Indians who have been dead
Is or % years, because they owned
tracts of land that are not transfer
able for % years.
In remaining my principal idea is
to eliminate names that are too long,
and the system | follow is to select
the shortest name of the generation
from the grandfather down.
when | have the surname deter
mined upon l then attach the Christian
name of each member of the family.
Practically all Indians under 35 have
been to school and have Christian
names.
LAS a rule the Indians take kindly
to this work
MANY names symbolic by some
gesture or act of animal or bird an ex-
plot or "a characteristic. 4Bear-Look-
ing-Around' recognizes the alertness of
some ancestor symbolized by bear
that was watchful as to what was go
ing on about him.
English equivalents consisting Of
two words are commonly united in one.
Such are Reuben Anotherday, Albert
Blacktomahawk, Alfred Greyeagle,
James Brownsinew, Ezekiel Brown
thunder.
Many impossible, unwieldly names
are got rid of by using the English
translation or modification OF it. ABB
nnhnro rnnnailnuanlra mhnsa surname