The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-06-10

The claim made that the Statue OF
Mahaska, set up In Oskaloosa May IL,
was the first one erected in honor OF
an Indian has started something. ln|
his Washington Correspondence in|
the Chicago Record Herald, william
e. Curtis writes.
Edgar r. Harlan, curator of the
historical department of Iowa, opened
a mine of exceeding interest when he
asked for information concerning
monuments which have been erected
In the United States to the memory OF
Indian chieftains. In discussing monu-
ments that have been erected to
American women | nave already de
| scribed the statues to Sakajawea, the
Mother of Oregon" who guided Lew
is and Clark on their memorable ex-
| petition across the continent In 1901,
and that of Pocahontas, which has
been made by William Ordway Part.
ridge for the "Pocahontas Memorial
Association" to be erected on James
| town Island, and have heard OF
eighteen other statues and monuments
that have been erected in the United
states to commemorate the achieve,
ments and the loyalty to the whites
of warriors, sachems and chieftains
of the aboriginal tribes of North
America There are probably more
and am sure the readers of these
letters will appreciate any inforna-
ton on the subject. The list at
| present is as follows: IS
Mahaska, recently erected in Oska,
loosa g.. ,..f.E. "a ss.
| Red Jacket, In Buffalo.
! Miantonomah, in Boston. +
Sleepy Eye, at Sleepy Eye. MINI.
Shabonne, at Morris, Ill. 'H,ta
| Sakajawea, at Portland. ,.e..
| Osceola, at Fort Moultrie. Charles
ton, S. C. H. ,"...... .-r. 4
Tomochichi, in Savannah.
Uncas, at Norich, Conn.
| Pushmataha, in Washington, ID. T..
Cornplanter, in pennsylvania.
Cornstalk. at Point Pleasant, w. Va.
| Logan, at Auburn, n. Y. v
| Keokuk, at Keokuk, Iowa.
Attacks, in Boston Common.
| Waban, at Newton, Mass. s
| Leatherlips, Franklin County, Ohio,
Brant, (Thayendanegea) at Brant,
ford, Ontario. l...'' ~. g =
| II any reader of these letters knows
of other monuments to American In.
dams shall be glad to receive des-
crlptions Of them, biographical sketch
es Of the Indians so honored and the
circumstances under which they were
erected.
A statue of Joseph Brant, principal
chief and warrior of Six Nations dur,
ing the latter part of the eighteenth
century, was erected In 1886 at Brant.
ford, Ont, "by his fellow subjects, ad.
mirers of his fidelity and attachment
to the British crown" so reads the
statue inscription. -...- ....
| Brant's Indian name was Thayen,
danegea. He was full-booded Mo.
hawk and not half-breed. as has
been represented, or the son of an
Englishman. He was born in 174O,
and at the age of 10 he fell under the
notice of Sir William johnson, the
superintendent of Indian affairs for
the British government, who sent him
and his sister Mary to DR.. Wheelock's
Charity School at Lebanon. Conn. He
there not only became familiar with
the English language but was con
verified to Christianity, Joined the Epis-
copal church. became minister and
settled at Canajoharie, N. Y, as a
missionary among the Mohawks; but
| fate had other work for him to per-
form, and In 1863 he became sol;
der under Sir William johnson and
fought with great distinction against
| Pontiac and other rebell1ous chiefs.
He visited England in 1775, where he
was received with great ceremony
and lionized by all classes. At the
outbreak of the revolution he receive
ed commission as colonel in the
British army, organized the Indians
against the colonists and was the
leader in several of the massacres and
guilty of many barbarities.. After the
treaty of peace in 1888 he retired from
the service on half pay and obtained a
grant of land in Ontario along the
Grand River where he founded the
town and settled down with the rem
nant of the Mohawk tribe. There until
his death he devoted mis- life to the
improvement of his people, teaching
them the gospel and looking after
their moral and physical welfare. He
translated the prayer book and parts
of the New Testament into his native
tongue and he planned to write a HIS.
tory of the Six Nations, which was
never accomplished, however. In 1855
he again visited England, where he
was received with the greatest honors,
introduced into the best society and
presented at court.
/ While there he secured sufficient
funds with which to build church
for his people-the first Episcopal
church ever erected In Upper Canada.
His last days were spent on his es-
tate at the head of Lake Ontario-a
| gift from the king-upon which he
built large residence, and here re-
sided, with his youngest son, John,