Osage Nation, Oklahoma, Newspaper Article: The Indian Herald, Vol. 1, No. 8 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Hamilton sharkay@swbell.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Indian Herald Osage Indian Agency, Ind. Ter. Volume 1, For the Week ending Seventh-Day, First Month 29, 1876, Number 8 The Indian Herald Edited and Published Weekly by the Herald Directors. Positively no Subscriptions received. Address: The Indian Herald. Osage Agency, Indian Territory Indian Rights. We invite attention to the following which we clip from Our Monthly. West Wynne speaks the sentiment of many Indians. A correspondent of the Mo. Republican writes on th?oth last from Checot?, C. N., with such a commendable spirit of humanity toward all men, and more particularly toward the Indians of the Territory, like many of her philanthropists of like zeal, has not treated the Indian question as we (being Indians ourselves) think it should be treated. We can only do him the charity of supposing him to be ignorant of facts that we well do know. That other supposition would be harsh and ungentlemanly. He, like other friends of the Indians, believes in territorializing, selling surplus lands to actual settlers etc. It has often appeared to us that our friends arrive t some very curious conclusions, and so it seems to us with our friend of Checote. He represents the Indians as wise, enlightened and Christian people. Well, if this is a fact, then the most natural and rational inference would be, that just such people are the best judges and conservators of their particular interests. But his friend can arrive at no such inference, and can only regard this enviable state of civilization as the very reason why the United States should at once extend over us a form of government against which the people of the Territory have from time to time protested at fearful cost. Although not possessing the ??h degree of wisdom sometimes attributed to them, the Indians are sufficiently enlightened to understand all this blatant philanthropy,--???railroad humanity. The facts in the case [???] these: on the 25th, 26th and 27th of July [????], certain railroad corporations succeeded in [???] an act through the Congress of the United States whereby millions of acres of Indian lands were granted to them, contingent upon the extinguishment of Indian titles. Their attorneys have decided that a destruction of our idenity as organized political communities will perfect their inchoate titles to the lands. With these fats understood, it is but plain to see the reason for the enormous pressure for territorializing the Indian country. In every territorial project yet proposed this feature of perfecting railroad titles has been observable. The Indians see beyond the siren song of peace and humanity, the form of a dark and deep land plot for their utter ruin and destruction. If our friends are indeed the friends they profess to be, let them labor for the repeal of the act of Congress referred to. Let this be repealed by an act positive and plain of the body that enacted it, and a greater field for humanitarian work will be opened up. Indeed the mere repeal of the act alone will be a blessing to the Indian, and for which their intelligence will place them under lasting obligations. The Indians would then be willing to hear without distrust, their friends on the subject of territorializing, protection of person and property, christianizing, and other like schemes of philanthropy. Yours truly, West Wynne - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lo! THE SAC & FOS.-The remnant of the Sac & Fox tribe of Indians, whose hallowed abiding place has been in Osage and Franklin counties, Kansas, for many years, passed thro Fredonia last Saturday on the way southward to their reserve in the Indian Territory. Their squaws, papooses and other effects were hauled in about forty-five wagons, making quite a train, which was escorted by a Sergeant's guard of U. S. Infanty.-Wilson Co. Citizen. They passed through this place while on their way accompanied by their prospective agent, friend Levi Woodward, and we presume they are now permanently located south of the noble Osages-Osage Gift. PAGE 2 THE INDIAN HERALD The Indian Herald is a publication devoted to the cause of Indian civilization. Articles intended for publication should be sent to "Herald Co." - - - - - - - - - - - - We advertise for 10 cents per line for first insertion; for each subsequent insertion, 5 cents. No advertisement will be published without payment quarterly, in advance, unless otherwise agreed upon. Shrewd advertisers have already learned that it is not the oldest papers whih ay the best, but the new growing papers, that circulate among high- class, well to-do families who have confidence in carefully conducted publications. When writing to advertisers please say you saw their advertisement in the INDIAN HERALD. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To Our Patrons One of the meanest things a man can do is to obtain subscriptions for a newspaper-a new candidate for public favor-and fail within a year without making a proper return of the money entrusted to his care; and this is, doubtless, the feeling of many readers of the HERALD though the publishers never thought otherwise than that the publication of this paper would be resumed, or the money due subscribers refunded. The HERALD is again in your hands. "Truth crushed to earth will rise again. The eternal years of GOD are here." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Osage Agency Three years ago last spring the Agency was located here, ad in looking over the work accomplished in that short space of time, it seems almost incredible, and especially so, when we consider that the work is the civilization of the Osages. In the spring of 1872, the traveler would only have seen an unbroken prairie over which roamed he savage, either upon the warpath or in quest of game. Now we find a village containing stores, a flouring mill, wagon-shops, a magnificent school house &c.; and in the vicinity of the Agency are many farms upon which are Osages engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising. Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the Agency is its school, which has an attendance of over eighty children mostly full bloods, and under the charge of "uncle" Benjamin Miles who has employed two teachers. This is a step in the right direction, for it is easier to train the young than the old, and the interest manifested by the children shows that much has been and can be, accomplished. Agent Gibson has accomplished this work under great difficulties, and, therefore, should receive corresponding credit. No man occupies a place of honor and trust without opposition, and Agent Gibson's case is not an exception. The opposition of his enemies retarded the work in a measure, but his indomitable will carried him through difficulties under which many would have made failures. We do not claim that he has made no mistakes, --that he has not erred, sometimes, from excess of zeal, but all who are familiar with his management of the Agency; who have seen his vigilant efforts to administer affairs economically; who have felt the moral atmosphere that pervades; and above all, who know him personally will bear record that all errors made were of the head and not of the heart. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We have endeavored to give in a brief space the conition of the Agency from an unprejudiced standpoint as this is to be the only issue of the paper and we have "no axe to grind." --Osage Agency Gift - - - - - - - - - - - - - Marriage among Osages. Marriageable parties have but little to say and in fact, not half of those who marry ever converse with each other previous to the performance of the marriage ceremony. Osage parents raise their children with great care, and feel that no member of the tribe can upon just grounds object to the union of his daughter to another's son, or his son to another's daughter. Such being the case, the parents, or whoever else may have had the care of children, feel it obligatory upon them to make selections most desirable and without regard to the feelings of the parties to be united. The girls are brought up with the same care that is given their brothers, and the selections of husbands are nearly as frequent as the selections of wives, and the rule that governs the one regulates the other. After the parents have determined upon the woman who shall be a wife to their son, a large quantity of the choicest buffalo, elk, antelope, bear, or other fresh meat-food for the savage-is prepared after their most inviting manner and taken to the wigwam of the girl's parents where the object of the visit is made known and if it meets their approbation they are feasted upon the richest and most sought articles of food which nourishes the aboriginal race. But if the girl has a brother or sister who is absent, or some valued friend in the distance, the food is not accepted, but the projectors of the marriage scheme are advised to return home, where the food is kept until the girl's most intimate friends have arrived at her residence, when and where the before mentioned delicacies, in conjunction with a number of ponies are again presented, and if the proposed marriage meets the approbation of the parties the food is then accepted and a feast enjoyed. After the feast is over a distribution of the ponies among the woman's relatives and friends takes place.-This occurrence is invariably in the latter part of the day. The proceedings now stop until the afternoon of the following day when she is attired in all the gaudy colors of which they have command, and placed upon the finest steed of which her brother may be possessed. Her father's sister, we-che-me in the Osage language, acts the part of bride's maid, and by the lariat leads the pony from the home of her childhood. Her brother accompanies them with a loaded rifle a distance from the lodge and fires a signal, when the young man's mother and sisters advance and upon a new red blanket stretched from its four corners receive the woman from the back of the proud buffalo horse. While the young woman's soon-to-be father-in-law takes possession of the horse and rifle she is carried into the young man's lodge, where she is re-dressed. After the re-arrangements in her costume are announced the "Town-crier" or "Kettle-tender" calls the young man from a neighboring bush or lodge, and is seated beside her in the presence of two or more clans of their people assembled for the occasion. They now partake of luxuries prepared for the occasion and then comes a performance on the part of the elders of clans assembled, and the exercises for the day now close. Early in the morning of the next ay all the goods owned by the young husband are packed and transported to the lodge of the [unreadable] distributed by her in [unreadable] her friends who failed to get horses in the beginning of the eremony. The young couple are also mounted upon a pair on the best horses to be commanded and escorted to the home of the bride by clans that participated in the ceremonies of the day before. The bride-groom is now re-dressed, and this lodge is made the future home of the newly married warrior. He is accorded privileges that no other of the family is allowed to enjoy. If his newly made wife has sisters, they too, become wives to him as they arrive at the age of maturity.-Osage New Year's Gift. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Obituary. DIED: On Christmas morning, "Bessie," only child of Morris and Fannie Tisdale, aged twenty-one months. This little life-begun and ended at this Agency-has been a gleam of sunshine to all who knew her, and we know how idle words of consolation are to the grief-stricken parents, but assure them that all who knew their darling, are themselves bereaved. This thought should be a happy one to the, it was their gift to the Divine Master-one that will ever be loved and cherished-on the anniversary of His own birth.-Osage Agency Gift. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DIED: At the Osage Agency, on the 5th of 8th month, 1875, No-pa-wal-la, infant son of Isaac T., and Anna M. Gibson, Thy dust mingles with the dust Of an Osage Chief, once strong and brave, Whose spirit now is with the just, In the land beyond the grave. His name is thy sweet young name Given to thee by a father's love For this noble chief, of the western plain, First to obey the law and cease to rove. His name and thine we cannot part, Nor time our love for you destroy, For he was chief of the red man's hear, And thou, of they parents' joy. His name's revered by young and old Thine will be remembered long, While in the tomb your bodies mould, And spirits dwell with the white-robed throng. His arms made strong in the "white man's way," Often he held thee in his fond embrace, And looked with hope to the distant day, When thou couldst plead for his perishing race,-- But death to both in a few short days Has changed our dreams of joy to grief. In God we trust who plan our ways And gathers the bud with ripened sheaf. A. T. H. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PAGE 4 Letter from "Amo." LIGHTNING CREEK, IND. TER. December 19, 1875 DOCTOR DOUGAN: My Dear Sir:--Sunday is a dull day in this portion of the Territories as a rule, and the few Sabbaths that I have spent here have been no exception to that rule. My situation is not an unpleasant one in many respects. I am boarding with Charles Johnnycake, and you would be [unreadable] how comfortably and elegant they are in this wild country. There are three unmarried daughters in the family and no one can know the eldest, "Miss [unreadable, possibly Nin or Hin]," without admiring her deportment. Her education has been liberal and she plays upon the piano with an [unreadable] grace while singing the [unreadable] song-in [unreadable] though she be.-worthy the [unreadable] the purest and most refined white lady. A pleasing incident occurred at the last meeting of the Council which is worthy of record; while Mr. Journeycake was speaking, his daughter, Mrs. Bart'es, came into the hall, he paused and advancing, kissed her in an affectionate manner, then resumed his speech. A'MO. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - That Indian Claim of Adair & Co.'s. With real satisfaction we note that the Indian Commissioners have rejected the claim of Adair for $230,000 for pretended legal services to the Osage Indians. The amount is startling. That any such services could be worth the hundredth part of that sum seems absurd. We learn that in this fat take Sid Clarke had a contingent of $10,000 ostensibly as a retainer as attorney for Adair.-really because at one time when Kansas was cruelly misrepresented by him, he chanced to be on the Indian Committee in the House of Representatives, and knew the secret history of all these enormous jobs and claims for services. That his services to Adair could be worth one cent, except not to tell what he knew, no one believes. Well; the whole think-direct and contingent-near and remote-has gone to the dogs, where all such vast schemes for getting money and giving nothing for it ought to go-Lawrence Journal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE OSAGE AGENCY INVESTIGATION Special to Globe-Democrat. Independence, Kas., Aug. 12th,--Indian Commissioners Neal and Van Vorhest of Ohio and Hawks, of Illinois, are here on their way to the Osage Agency to investigate the charges against Gibson, agent of the Osages. There is great feeling in the matter here, and grave charges are made against Gibson. We don't know who sent the above to the Globe-Democrat, and we see a similar one in [unreadable] evidently some [unreadable] sending those false statements out in the inter- [unreadable] that is now making war on Agent Gibson with a view to the spoils that can be made out of it, rather than from any Christian solicitude for the spiritual or temporal condition of the Indian. There is no "great feeling" here one way or another. The general opinion is that Gibson's opposition comes from a combination (1st.) of the Catholics who want the Indians restored to their charge when they were before the Quakers [unreadable] them in care; (2d.) the clan of bummers that always hover about an Indian agency, like buzzards around a carcass, demanding Gibson's removal because under his administration the opportunities for stealing are cut off and the Indians protected from the merciless swindling of the ordinary trader and others; (3d.) [unreadable] of politicians who are interested in the steal known as the "Adair claim" of about $230,000 and which, as we are informed, is being fought and thwarted chiefly by the said Agent Gibson. We hope this whole matter will soon be ventilated, and if the present investigation proves that Gibson or any one else is guilty of frauds or attempted frauds, let their hands go into the basket. But until further proof is offered the case stands in favor of Gibson and against the Catholics, bummers and swindlers who are fighting him. Let the light shine, the ax fall, the guilty suffer, whoever it may strike.-Independence Tribune. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Eufala, I. T., via Muscogee, I. T., Dec. 25. [unreadable, possibly Tom Grayson] with as much white as Indian blood, invited his brother's wife to take a Christmas drink of crooked whiskey with him last night, and because she refused to be poisoned that way he sent a bullet whizzing through her brain. She died instantly, and the vigilance committee are looking for the murderer. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Washington, Dec. 21.-The chair laid before the Senate [unreadable] communication from the Secretary of the Interior in answer to the resolution of the Senate of December 18th, transmitting various papers connected with the investigation into the affairs of the Osage Indian Agency. Ordered to be printed and laid on the table. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. Hitchcock introduced a bill to transfer the Indian Bureau from the Interior Department to the War Department. Referred. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The question of transferring the Indian Bureau from the Department of the Interior to the War Department, is being agitated before a sub committee on Indian Affairs; and although no vote was taken, the discussion seemed to indicate that the transfer would be desirable. It was determined to solicit the views of General Sherman before taking final action.