The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-03

ed to the war path and the hunting
expedition. His intelligence and sa-
gacity about the council fires and In
dealing with the agents of the govern
ment were well known. He was pol
ished orator and maintained the in
terests of his people with untiring
zeal. In the war Of 1872 Waubonsie
and his tribe were among the allies
of Great Britain and engaged in ac-
tive hostilities against the United
States. When the treaty was signed
at Greenville in 1874 Waubonsie was
one of the seventeen chiefs who
buried the tomahawk and ever since
then he was the unfailing friend of
the American government. He was
one of the chiefs who negotiated the
treaty of 1926. After the close Of the
treaty the Indians who We're encamp-
ed on the banks Of the river near
which the town of Huntingdon now
stands. engaged in frolic and INDUCED
rather too freely in fire water. In the
course OF their savage revel a friend
of Waubonsie's plunged his knife
deep into the side Of the chief, severe.
ly wounding him. General Upton, the
agent secured for the wounded chief
the best of medical attention and
nursing obtainable and he survived.
Waubonsie's friend, the innocent per-
petrator of the accident, fearing the
wrath of his chief, fled as soon as his
recovery was evident. In the spring
Waubonsie called upon Gen. Upton
to announce his recovery and thank
the latter for his kindness. General
Upton sought to make peace between
Waubonsie and his fugitive friend.
He explained the accidental nature of
the wound and cleverly depicted the
friends sorrow. Waubonsie quickly
replied: Tell him to come back. A
man that will run off like dog with
his tail down for fear of death is not
worth killing. will not hurt him"
At the time of the treaty of 1928
was closed the chiefs and the braves
in council assembled agreed to the
terms. Later one of the braves, who
was thought to be under the influ
ence of a trader, refused to sign the
treaty unless the commissioners
would give him large sum of money
Waubonsie waved very indignant
when he heard of this circumstance
Said he, An Indian who will lie Is
not worthy to be called brave. He
is not fit to live. If he refuses to sign
what we agreed to in council will
cut his heart out" His comrades
with difficulty prevented his carrying
out tho threat.
During the Black Hawk disturbance
In 1882 Waubonsie and his warriors
joined the United States army, thus
proving their allegiance to the great
white father. In 1888 the Potawattam-
les traded their lands in Illinois and
Indiana to the government and in re-
turn were allotted new lands west of
the Mississippi. Waubonsie and his
band took up their abode in Mills
county and roamed through all the
country which now comprises the
counties of Pottawattamie, Mills,
Montgomery, Page and Fremont. A IA
vorite haunt was the peaceful sylvan
lake in northern Fremont county, and
to this day the lake bears his name
In 1915 Waubonste made a journey to
Washington, D. c.. for the purpose Of
taking his great white father by the
hand, he said
After the flnal-treaty was made ir
1912, eymuny of the Pottawattamies
loathe to leave their familiar hunting
ground and game trails, fingered or
until the thrush of settlers In 1876
| Waubonsie was one who remained un
| til the last. During his sojourn here
Waubonsie had contracted some debts
and after the manner of some Of his
white brethren. prepared to leave
without paying. Thus he became en-
! tangled in the meshes of the law The
following writ OF attachment is among
the oldest records of Fremont county:
State of Missouri SIS.
County of Atchison
Before me, JameH Cummings, JUS
tice of the peace, of the county afore
said, this day personally came Rufus
Hitchcock, who being duly sworn say
eth that Wahbonchey Justly owes him
twenty-five dollars, and that said Wau
bonchey is leaving the country with
out paying him. and that he wants a
writ OF attachment against the goods
chattels, monies of Waubonchey and
| further sayeth not, this November Ii
1886. Rufus Hitchcock
Sworn to and subscribed to before
me. this 14th day OF November, 1916.
(SeaD James CUMMINGS,
Justice of Peace
| That is the last that is certainly