The Redwood gazette., 1930-03-19


Minnesota Chiefs. The mother is a
member of a prominent New England
family. They, with their own family,
resided in Minnesota a number of
years. Both of them are authors of
books now in many Minnesota libra
ries. Notable achievements of each
are recorded in volumes of brief bio
graphies, "Whos Who in America"
the only Minnesota family to receive
this double national recognition.
/ The Nomandic trait has been char
/ acteristic of this Minneapolis guest
/ who has lived in several states, east
/ and west, travelled in the far west,
/ graduated from an eastern college,
earned Masters Degree from Column
/ bia University, was a teacher OF
western Indian children but in recent
years, instructor of schools from
many of Minnesota's finest families,
in preparation for college entrance,
now in similar work associated with
Wellesly College.
These few paragraphs will indicate
why both writers and readers will
! have increasing interest in chapter
/ and volumes which have been and
will be written concerning the his
/ tory, biographies, industries, recrea-
/ tions, adventures, tragedies and ro-
mances of the Red Race and the
White Race during the early years
of our marvellous Minnesota.
This may especially be true of st.
/ Anthony Commercial Club whose new
home is on the old Portage trail
where for hundreds of years the Red
Man carried his canoes around the
place Of Hennepin's great discovery.
Reference has been made to the
earliest Indian history of Redwood
County, to which is added for Red
wood Gazette readers, a few nota-
tions, concerning a family residing
here during the latest years Of In
/ dian ownership.
/ Many Lightnings, a full blood
Sioux, who had chosen the name Of
Jacob Eastman, volunteered to be-
come one of the first Redwood Coun-
ty farmers. The Government built a
log house for the home of this family,
which was then the kind of Govern
ment relief offered to Indian farmers.
The mother of the family, Wakin-
tankanwin, Great Spirit) was born
! in an Indian farm colony along the
which was established by her grand
/ shores of Lake Harriet, Minneapolis,
father, Cloudman, who was leader of
what was known at the Calhoun
! Band.
Here she was pupil in the first
Indian School in Minnesota, and at
tended services by Samuel Pond, the
first Missionary to the Minnesota In
dams. Because Cloudman gave the
greatest aid to his people in adopt
ing the west, instead of the worst, in
the white mans civilization and in
maintaining peace between these two
races. the Government built for him
a brick house for his Redwood Coun-
ty hcme.
After the outbreak of 1862. Jacob
Eastman established an independent,
self-supporting Indian farm colony
near Flandreau, S. d. His eldest
daug htcr is now living at Flandreau.
hn oldest son of the family. John
Eastman, was a leading welfare
worker among his people, an ordain
ed Christian minister.
The youngest son, Obi We sa (The
Winner) is well known throughout
America and Europe as a noted writ
er and lecturer who has held import
art official positions, national and in
ter- ational
Twenty years ago the Redwood
Falls Public Librarv Board spon -ored
lecture by DR.. Eastman which in
creased the library book fund.
Later in the same year Eastm"n
was selected to represent the North
American Indian. and to contribute
to the speaking program of the ,rreat
gathering The Worlds Congress OF
Races in London.
His first book, Indian Boyhood,
tells of his own life, first in Redwood
County, then in the wilds of West
eIu 1dHdCd living llc pilulltiNe III
dian life until he was 15 years old,
with no thought of change.
The book is inscribed to "Chiyesa"
the Second, My Son. Ohiyesa East
man, Jr., served in the U. S. Navy
| in the Worlds war and now lives in
Detroit, Michigan.
! This book, and others by Eastman,
are published in more countries and
languages of Europe than those of
anv other living American author and
will be valuable addition to every
school library of Redwood County.
The guest of the Minneapolis Park
Board was Winona, eldest daughter
/ of DIR. Eastman, then principal of a
! school for girls in st. Paul.
I Two years after the Eastman fami-
/ ly were forced to abandon their Red
wood County home, Col. McPhail sell
! ected it to rebuild as the first house
! in Redwood Falls, with six rooms.
The central main portion of it is now
preserved in Ramsey State Park, the
only Indian farm house saved from
the time of the Redwood Sioux Indian