Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-03-25
PROMISE OF CITIZENSHIP
FOR CATAWBA INDIANS

II ASN IN AHWOfA ktN1AfAlNS
After occurring for the last 79 years
the unenyiable position of wards of the
State. there ID now the prospect of cit
izenship being granted the Catawba In
dians as the result of the passage at
the 1920 session of the General Assem-
bly, Of joint resolution introduced in
the house by Mr.. Bradford of York
county. The resolution provides for
the appointment by the governor Of a
committee of three citizens to investi-
gate the claims of the Catawbas against
the State and to report their findings
to the 1921 session Of the General As
sembly. ., -. .'
For many years the State has appro-
priated annually $500 for the Cataw-
bas, $500 Of which was to be used in
running school for the Indian children
on the reservation, nine miles below
Fort Mill in Catawba township, leaving
the balance Of the appropriation for
the maintenance of the Indians. In
recent years, since the cost of living
has advanced so appreciably, this sum
has proved inadequate to meet the ac-
tual needs Of the Indians and some Of
the older members Of the tribe, unable
to leave the reservation to supplement
their meager income. have been in want
of food, clothing and fuel. A consider
able number have moved away from
the reservation, some going to Rock
Hill, others to Columbia and q few to
farms in this section to become day
laborers.
The reservation consists of 652 acres
Of land, most of which Is denuded of
timber and is so rough, rocky and nom
productive that less than three-horse
farm can now be cultivated by the In
dians. about rs of whom still live on the
reservation. In their present relation
to the State, the Catawbas cannot
acquire real property in their own name,
they cannot vote and are generally de-
MED the ADVANTAGES Of citizenship. The
amount of mouey provided for their
children Ii unable to employ good
teacher and the children of the families
which have moved to Rock Hill are be-
ing denied an education, aimee ths trus-
tees of the public schools Of that city
have refused to admit them to, the
school for white. children, It is said.
and the Indians will not send their
children to the schools for negroes,
having consistently refused throughout
all the years: TO recognize the negroes
in any way as their equal socially.
Up to 20 years ago Catawba Indians
were frequently seen on the streets of
Fort Mill, many coming here prior to
that time to sell the pottery they were
adept at making and to trade with local
merchants. In more recent years, how
ever, not SO many Cstawbss have Wis
tied Fort Mill. Most of those still liv-
ing on the reservation now 60 10 Rock
Hill to purchase their supplies and sell
the pottery which they still make in
limited quantities. ..r. f,.E
The Catawbas have always been
peacefully inclined toward the white
people of this section. In the Reyolu-
tionary war numbers of them bore arms
for the colonists. They were equally
patriotic in their devotion to the cause
of the South in the War Between the
Sections and in recognition of their SER
vice as soldiers in the Confederate army
there was erected in Confederate park
in Fort Mill in 1900 q monument to the
memory Of "some Of the Catawbas who
served in the Confederate army" The
monument was erected by the late J.
NJ. Spratt and the late Capt. s. f.
White and bears the names of the fol-
lowing Indians. all Of whom are now
dead, 30 far as is known: jeff Ayers.
John Harris, Jim Harris. Peter Harris,
Peter Harris, Jr.. John Scott, VIM.
Canty, Robt. Marsh. John Brown, Alex
Timins, Billy George, Bob Crawford,
John Sanders. Bill Sanders, Gilbert
George, Epp Harris, Bob Head.