Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-08-14

team. The fair closed with about
$500 in the treasury and it was on
tinued from year to year during Rey-
nold'S nine years administration. Com
missioner Leupp in his annual report
gave a great deal of space to the re-
suits of the fair in stimulating interest
among the Indians in their farm pro-
gram.
In the taking of the census and the
other changes incident to getting the
Indians on a basis OF individual land
ownership, Major Reynolds had the as
sistance of an unusually competent
staff at the agency. The chief clerk
a Fred Miller, who had already
served a number of years among the
Grows and was thoroughly acquainted
with the work. Henry and Richard
Throssel, who have some admixture of
Indian blood from Pacific coast tribes,
were other employees. While on the
reservation, Richard Throssel became
official photographer for the Wanna
maker expedition and laid the founda-
tons for his u~nequalled photographs of
Indian camp life.
Another assistant at Grow Agency
at that time was Frank Shively, a half
blood Grow who was brought up in the
tribe but afterwards obtained a good
education at Indian schools. Mr..
Shively both through his own writ
ings and assistance to other students
of Grow history and customs, has added
greatly to the knowledge of frontier
events.
"Buckskin" Williams Daughter
Matte Williams, the office clerk, also
gave efficient help in the census work.
She was the daughter of "Buckskin"
Williams, justice of the peace at juno
ton City, in the early days. He had
intermarried in the Grow tribe, but his
daughter was taken to Massachusetts
when small and educated there, only
returning to enter the Indian service.
She afterwards married Henry Small,
a s%torekeeper at Grow Agency, and for
a number Of years, until her death a
few years ago, ran a stock ranch on
the Little Horn river.
In Eastman's From Deep Woods to
Civilization" the noted Sioux writer
and leader recounts similar work which
he was engaged in about the same time
in connection with Sioux allotment
rolls. He says that Hamlin Garland
and DR.. George Bird Grinnell inter-
ested themselves in the matter and
were instrumental in getting President
Roosevelt to act, forseeing the diff
culties and complications that would
result to inheritances through the abb
sence of family surnames.
Confusion had resulted by admission
to official rolls of vulgar nicknames, in
correct translations and English
names bestowed on children in schools.
DR.. Eastman'S task was to select from
the personal names of a family one
that was reasonably short and easily
pronounced or a short translation that
preserved the essential meaning and
then group all brothers and their wives
and children under it.
II Old Men Give Aid
With the Sioux also there was much
difficulty because of questionable mar
riages and orphaned children. Older
men who knew the family history in
a band for three or four generations
aided in the work.
Many Indians thought it a plan to
take away their remaining lands and
sat in the office for days before they
became convinced the plan would work
out for the benefit of their heirs. A
plurality of wives was not recognized
and each man had to choose one wife
to- bear the family name. The work
among the Sioux occupied six years
and gave IN insight into the relation
ship of 10000 Sioux.