Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-09-04
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LEAVE WICWAMS
In the Western Part Of the State
They Secure Farms With ALI
Modern Conveniences

The Indian has deserted the wig
wan in western Wisconsin.
Following the custom of many of
their brethren who learned the ways
of the white man at Carlisle and the
Tomah Indian school, dozens Of Win
nebago families have left the tepee
and established themselves in regular
houses on small farms between New
Amsterdam and Trempeleau, during
the past two years.
Wigwams Are Empty
While one can still see the skeleton
of wigwam here and there in the
bottoms fifteen and twenty miles
north of La Crosse, the former home
of the red man is vacant. Only a
mile or two away, on the ridge lying
between Spring slough and the Trem-
peIeau bottoms, is found one of the
largest settlements inhabited by new.
made Indian farmers, known in the
Winnebago tribe.
Less than two years ago, Frank
Thunder, Charley Winneshiek and two
other Indians prominent in the tribe,
journeyed from Black River Falls TO
the historic Indian camping ground,
skirting the shore of the Mississippi
river south of Trempeleau, and To-
Gated the first farms in the new settle
ment, on a site made famous by their
forefathers seventy-five years ago.
Dozens of New Farms
Now there are dozens of farms laid
out on land which James Doville, old
est white settler in that section, de-
clares will never flood. The Indians,
he AYERS, always selected a burying
ground at point where there was no
danger of flood. He declares there
are hundreds of Indian graves near
the new farms.
The Indian settlers first planted
their crops and, while they were grow
ing, built their homes. The houses
are neat, well built and comfortable.
The corn they raise is of excellent
quality and no weeds are observed be-
tween the rows.
ment is over road leading from
Trempeleau. Approaching the settle
ment, the visitor who expects to hear
the beat of the tom-tom and see blan-
keted Indians stalking majestically
about while squaws labor over the old
time camp fire, are given pleasant
surprise.
Modern Conveniences
They see a squaw operating a sew
ing machine on the porch, while her
husband, son of once powerful
chieftain of the Winnebagoes, does the
family washing and minds" little Red
Bird Winneshiek, direct descendant
of the famous Chief Winneshiek And
after his chores about the house are
done, the head of the family will be
seen in the field busy with hoe, or in
the barn looking after his stock
There is little of the wild red man
to be seen in this colony. Many Of
them have no weapons and do not
hunt anything but potato bugs.
When visitor asked Frank Thun-
der where a good fishing spot might
be found, the massive Winnebago
smiled and said: II don't know;
never go fishing-haven't time.
Speak Good English
Thunder declared he was prompted
to move to the neighborhood made
famous by the Winnebagoes of seven.
ty-five years ago because the soil near
Black River Falls is too sandy to
grow good crops.
All of the Indian farmers speak good
English, and a majority can write
and read
They dress like white people, work
like regular farmers, and send their
children to school. Equally import
ant, they have won the respect Of
their white neighbors, who farm a few
miles away, nearer Trempeleau.