The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-10-17
Child ADOPTED
BY NEE PERCES
Stolen From Crib Beside
Mothers Bed "a
Years Ago
SEARCHED YEARS


when Idaho was a frontier and TO
nance still lived in the forests and
the hills. six-months-old baby was
stolen from his crib beside his mothers
bed In a little log cabin in the noun.
tains. the San Francisco Chronicle
states.
A few weeks ago Mrs. Erick e.
Denley Of the Oakland apartments,
Oakland, CAL, found her boy at Lap.
wal Ferry, Idaho. He was living on
an Indian reservation as Howard VIII
son, adopted son Of a squaw man and
an old Indian woman, both now dead.
and lawful member of the tribe of Nez
Perez.
A soldier from Idaho came to the
Preside last January and related at
party in Oakland a strange ira
ditfOnal story Of white baby that had
been stolen from q cabin near a mill
tary reservation one June night III
1895. Mrs. Denley heard of the story
and at the end of the trail to which
1t led she found her son. Her husband
died eleven years ago after thirteen
years vain search for their son.
Will Sell His Indian Lands.
AS soon as Howard Wilson can sell
the lands and the cattle left to him
by the old Indian woman who
mothered him for years he will 20 to
his mothers home in Oakland and be-
come Robert Denley, a man of the
cities.
Mrs. Denley was born in Vermont
and her mother died when the daugb-
ter was one year old. Her father went
to Idaho to seek wealth in the mines.
Years after, when the girl was fifteen,
he became seriously Ill.
The daughter and the son of the
fathers partner were called to the
bedside and there they were married.
A year or SO later Robert Denley
was born.
That day in June, 1895. the young
husband was forced to go to a near
by settlement for supplies. His wife
laughed at his fears for her safety.
But while the mother slept, the baby
was stolen from his crib that night.
Indians Confirm Story.
Howard Wilson, who will be Robert
Denley, has heard from the Nez Perez
Indians the story of his life.
A white man and two white women
appeared among the Indians at lap
wal In June, 1895, and asked the
Indians to care for baby boy. The
Indians refused and the white persons
vent away, leaving the infant on n
pier.
A young Indian mother took the
baby for her own. When the Indians
vent away on hunting trip the child
vas left with white persons and when
he Indians returned the baby again
was missing.
1t developed that Wilson, squaw
nan, had cow he didn't want. He
lid want the white baby. The trade
vas made, and as Howard Wilson the
10Y grew up. He saw the squaw man
'eat the aged Indian woman, who took
he beatings stolidly and said she
Hoped the white boy wouldn't be like
hat.
The squaw man died and Howard
wilson was adopted into the Nez
'erce tribe. The adoption entitled the
ribe to draw government rations for
lin. When the old woman died the
10y received all her property and built
yer her grave a tombstone such as
ever was seen before at the Indian
emetery at Lapwai Ferry.
Mrs. Denley took up the case with
overnment agents at the reservation.
hey traced the story of the lost white
oy and found it was her son. They
old the young man about it. He was
oubtful, for he didn't know what a
'hite mother would be like.
The night of July IL, Mrs. Denley
let her boy. Soon he will be living
18th her, for now he Is convinced that
he is his mother and that it is better
Dr. him to live as white man than
8 an Indian.
--sfs- n,