USA > Idaho > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 4
USA > Oregon > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 4
USA > Washington > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
In addition to the Rev. H. T. Cowley and wife, Mr. Spalding had about eight Indian as-
69
On the Pacific Coast.
sistants, on whom he greatly depended. Mr. Spalding also wrote: "It is hard work to ride horseback, and lie on the ground with the In- dians, but it is healthy; and, oh ! what prayers in class reservation meeting, almost every night on the route. . Jay Cooke, of Philadelphia, has sent me a good tent and equipage, which adds to my traveling comforts."
The next year, at the request of the Spokanes, he visited and baptized a number, and also more of the Nez Perces. The whole number of the latter tribe which he baptized during the last three years of his life was 694. It was to be expected that, amid so much excitement, many would be received whom it would be necessary to sift out. This has been done, as we shall see hereafter. Notwithstanding, a great work was accomplished by him.
About this time Rev. S. N. D. Martin, for- merly of the Chinese mission, went to Mr. Spalding's assistance; and Rev. George Ainslie and Miss S. L. McBeth, formerly of the Choc- taw mission, who were employed as teachers by government at Lapwai and Kamiah, also served as missionaries. The latter, who arrived in October, 1873, has remained to the present time.
Thus Mr. Spalding continued in labor until his last illness, when he laid himself down to
70
History of Indian Missions,
die at Lapwai, among those for whose benefit he had spent the best part of his life, and was transferred to his reward, August 3rd, 1874, at the age of nearly 71. He was born November 26th, 1803, in Steuben County, New York, grad- uated at the Western Reserve College, Ohio, 1833, and studied theology at Lane Seminary, Ohio.
"Perhaps," says the Oregonian of August 22d, 1874, "it is to his influence more than to any other single cause, that the Nez Perces are indebted for the distinction they enjoy of being regarded as the most intelligent and the least savage of all our Indian tribes. Amid the grateful remembrance of those who came in after him to enjoy the blessings his sacrifices purchased, he rests from his labors, and his works do follow him. "
Rev. W. J. Monteith, father of the Agent, while making his home with his son for the last few years of his life, became greatly interested in the tribe, and gave his services to them, as he was able, until his death, August 31st, 1876. In May, 1877, Rev. J. R. Thompson, of Olympia, Washington Territory, visited the reservation, and received 30 persons into the reservation church.
During all of this time Miss McBeth con- tinued her labors as teacher, translator of the
71
On the Pacific Coast.
Bible, and theological professor at Kamiah. The following is an account of a visit to her by General O. O. Howard, in the Chicago Advance of June 14th, 1877:
"In a small house having two or three rooms I found Miss McBeth living by herself. She is . such an invalid from partial paralysis, that she cannot walk from house to house, so I was sure to find her at home. The candle gave us a dim light, so that I could scarcely make out how she looked as she gave me her hand, and welcomed me to Kamiah. The next time I saw her by day, showed me a pale intellectual face, above a slight frame. How could this face and frame seek this far-off region ? Little by little the mystery is solved. Her soul has been fully consecrated to Christ, and He has, as she believes, sent her upon a special mission to the Indians. Her work seems simple, just like the Master's in some respects. For example, she gathers her disciples around her, a few at a time, and having herself learned their language, so as to understand them, and speak passably, she instructs them and makes teachers of these disciples. There is the lounge and the chair, there the cook stove and the table, there, in another room, the little cabinet organ, and a few benche's. So is everything about this little teacher, the simplest in style and work. The
72
History of Indian Missions
only Nez Perces books thus far are the Gospel of Matthew, translated by Mr. Spalding, and the Gospel of John, by James Reuben, the In- dian assistant teacher, who was aided in the translation by Rev. Mr. Ainslie. It is evident these must be largely used in this work of in- struction. I hear that the Indian Department is afraid that Miss McBeth is teaching theology, and order her back to the rudiments. Certainly not theology in the way of "isms " of any kind, I am ready to affirm. I told her to call it the- ophily, if a high sounding name was needed for God's love. For as Jonah, the Sub-Chief, brok- enly said, 'It makes Indians stop buying and selling wives ; stop gambling and horse racing for money ; stop getting drunk and running about; stop all time lazy, and make them all time work.' It is filling this charming little village with houses, and though she cannot visit them, her pupils' houses are becoming neat and cleanly. The wife is becoming industrious within doors, sews, knits and cooks. The fences are up, the fields are planted. Oh, that men could see that this faithful teaching has the speedy effect to change the heart of the in- dividual man; then all the fruits of civilization begin to follow."
Some of her class were looking forward to the ministry, and in June, 1877, three of them,
73
On the Pacific Coast.
Robert Williams, James Hines and Archie Law- yer, visited Portland, Oregon, and Puget Sound -the first time they had seen a town of more than 1,500 people. During their stay in Port- land they were examined by a committee ap- pointed by the Oregon Presbytery and licensed to preach. They made short addresses at Port- land and Olympia, W. T., were well received by those they met, and received some flatter- ing notices from the press.
Their visit to Oregon was also very bene- ficial to their people, as they carried back in- formation which was received with more cre- dence than when told them by the whites. They were able to converse in English, translate English into Nez Perce, and Nez Perce into English, and write in both languages.
After this came the war with Joseph and his band, in which some of them aided our troops very materially, as recorded in Chapter VI, after which they settled into regular christian work.
Robert Williams, who afterwards was ordain- ed, has charge of the church at Kamiah, which numbers over 200 members. "He alone," writes Miss McBeth, "I count ample reward for five years of isolation. He is a born pastor, as well as successful preacher, and his people love him much and trust him." In 1880 the members of
74
History of Indian Missions
his church raised $125, with which a three- hundred pound bell was purchased for their church, and they also contributed $100 to their pastor's salary.
James Hines has a small congregation of his own people, on the north fork of the Clear- water.
Archie Lawyer, together with James Reuben and Mark Williams, left their homes and went to the Indian Territory, as missionaries to Jo- seph's band, who had been sent there after the war. The first went to preach to the Indians, the second as school teacher, and the third as his assistant, and also as teacher of agriculture and civil government. The latter plays well on the cabinet organ, and is a good singer. All were employed by Government. After re- maining a time, Archie Lawyer and Mark Wil- liams were obliged to return to their homes, on account of long-continued ill health, chills and the like, but James Reuben still continues, with good results; the Sabbath being well observed; the school kept in successful opera- tion; and a good share of the band drawn away from the influence of the medicine men, and a church organized.
A committee appointed by the Presbytery of Emporia, to visit the Nez Perces Indians in the Indian Territory, organized there the Pres-
75
On the Pacific Coast.
byterian church of Oakland, with 93 members. On October 21st, 1880, Rev. S. B. Fleming baptized 59 of them, and on Sabbath, Novem- ber 7th, 34 more, and ordained three elders.
Miss McBeth gathered a second class of nine young men, who were studying in order to be- come teachers and preachers. Most of these, like the first class, were married and were support- ing themselves and their families by their work, while studying. The work was strength- ened by the addition of Miss Kate C. McBeth, as teacher of the women, who not only imparts a knowledge of books, but also that knowledge which makes a wife a true help-meet for her husband. Both are now under commission from the Presbyterian Women's Board of Missions.
About the latter part of 1878, Rev. G. L. Def- fenbaugh was sent by the same Board to take charge of the whole christian work in the tribe. Since that time he has managed affairs with a clear head and an even hand.
When Father Spalding worked among them during the few years previous to his death, al- though he baptized nearly 700, yet he organ- ized no formal church. As there has been some excitement in his work, a " weeding out " process was necessary. When this had been accom- plished, after Mr. Deffenbaugh's arrival, two churches were formed; one at Lapwai, with a
76
History of Indian Missions
membership of 100, and the other at Kamiah, numbering 203 members. By September, 1880, 75 more were added, making a total member- ship of 378 in the tribe, having two church buildings.
The scholars have varied in numbers from being merely in a school on paper in 1871, to 124 in 1872; 48 in 1878; and 34 in 1880; the de- crease during the last year being accounted for in a great measure by the burning of the school- house at Lapwai. At first it was conducted by Mr. Spalding in the native language of the In- dians, but during most of the time since the es- tablichment of the agency it, as all other Gov- ernment schools on the Pacific Coast among the Indians, has been taught in English, so that IIO of them can read. The school has been in charge of Mr. P. B. Whitman, a nephew of Dr. M. Whitman, who has been in the country 37 years, a large portion of the time being among the Indians.
The amount raised by farming has also varied at different times. In 1847, when the first mis- sion was broken up, the wheat harvested was counted by thousands of bushels. During 1861, 1862 and 1863, while the mining excitement of Orofino, Florence, and other camps near them, was at its height, they furnished a large amount of produce and vegetables to the miners. In
77
On the Pacific Coast.
1871, 2,807 Indians were reported as culti- vating 1,055 acres, and raising nearly 20,000 bushels of wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes, and owning 9,000 horses, and 1,250 cattle. In 1880, while the number of Indians reported was only 1,208, yet the acreage had increased to 3,780, more than 600 being broken during that year, and about 48,500 bushels of grain and vegetables raised. The horses and mules had increased to about 13,000, and the cattle to 3,780.
Further, they have also about 3,000 fruit trees growing on the reservation, and some nurseries; that of one Indian containing 2,000 small trees. . Ninety per cent. of their subsistence is gained from civilized pursuits, and more than two- thirds of them clothe in citizens' dress.
The decrease in the number of Indians during that period is in a great measure due to the removal of Joseph's band to the Indian terri- tory, and to the fact that some who were wan- derers, and some who had entered land for a homestead, and others, numbering 500 in all, were off the reservation.
The Spokanes .- These Indians live in north- eastern Washington, and number about 685 persons. The early mission among them was closed in June, 1848, with no Indian as a mem- ber of the church. It was discouraging. In
78
History of Indian Missions
October, 1847, Mrs. Eells wrote: "We have been here almost nine years, and have not been permitted to hear the cries of one penitent, or the songs of one redeemed soul. We often ask ourselves the question, Why is it? Yet we labor on, hoping and waiting, and expecting that the seed, though long buried, will spring "up and bear fruit. We feel increasingly inter- ested in the work, and though we do not see the immediate fruit of our labor, we cannot find it in our hearts to leave our people. We can- not say that they have persecuted us, so that we should be authorized 'to flee to another city.' They listen to the word respectfully, but it ap- pears to produce no saving effect."
Facts afterwards seemed, however, to say that, although none were members of the visible church, some were members of the invisible one.
In 1851 some of them made a journey of about 400 miles to Oregon City, to ask for their teachers to return. About 1855, a company of men went from near Mr. Eells' residence to the Colville mines, and in doing so it was neces- sary to pass through the Spokane country. When they reached the Spokane River, they had no means of crossing, but having found some of these Indians near by, their help was asked. When the Indians learned that the men were aquainted with Mr. Eells they were glad
79
On the Pacific Coast.
to aid all they could; indeed, it seemed as if they could not do too much for their white - friends. When they were across the river it was time for a meal, and when it was ready the whites asked the chief to eat with them, as he had been of such service to them. The chief waited before beginning and looked as if he ex- pected something. The white men looked at him, but could not comprehend what was wanted, and after a little of this singular look- ing at each other the whites began to eat. The chief then bowed his head and asked a blessing. This was what he had been looking and wait- ing for. The white men, in relating it to Mr. Eells afterwards, said : "Those Indians made us ashamed of ourselves-they were better christians than we were."
In 1855-56 the Yakama war occurred, in which that band among whom missionary labor had been spent took no part, as related in Chapter VI.
In 1859, as soon as the country east of the Cascades was declared open for settlement, Mr. Eells visited Walla Walla, which is about 150 miles south of his former station. The next year he moved there, where he remained until 1872. During all those years he received fre- quent visits from these Indians, who came to him to obtain more instruction. In 1862 he
80
History of Indian Missions
spent a Sabbath among them and then they talked well. Some of them came fifty miles to hear him.
During several seasons a number of them went to Walla Walla to work, in order that they might receive more religious instruc- tion. When there, many of them attended the Congregational Church, for although they could not understand the English language, yet they said : "We like to be here, because it is God's house, and we know that God is being talked about and worshiped." After church Mr. Eells regularly met a Bible-class of them in the Sab- bath-school, where they received instruction and sang in their own language a hymn which Mr. Eells had prepared for them about 20 years previous.
When the peace policy was adopted in 1871, these Indians were put in charge of the Colville Agency, though they were not removed to the reservation. This agency was assigned to the Catholics. The majority of the Indians connected with it belonged to that church. Some years previous to this, a Catholic mis- sion was established about forty miles above the old mission station at Tshimakain, and a number of converts were made to their faith. But the Protestant portion would not accept the Catholic teachings; and as an Indian in his
81
On the Pacific Coast.
ignorance cannot be conservative, the feeling between the two factions is said to have been about as bitter as between Orangemen and Ribbonmen, and for a time trouble was appre- hended between them.
In 1872, Mr. Eells house was burned at Walla Walla, and he removed to the residence of his son on Puget Sound, out of their reach. As they now despaired of getting any more in- struction from him, and as the Catholic pres- sure was very strong, the Protestant portion sent deputations to Mr. Spalding, then among the Nez Perces, to go and preach to them. He accepted the invitation, and in 1874 visited them, and without organizing any church, he baptized 253. Over 100 more were baptized after his death.
In the summer of 1874 Mr. Spalding died, but so strong was the aversion of these Indians to the Catholic influence that they would not send their children to the agency school, hence the agent made application for a Protestant teacher to be furnished them. In answer to this request Rev. H. T. Cowley, who had been a teacher and missionary among the Nez Perces till July, 1872, went among them in 1874, where he has since resided.
The year after he went there the Indi- ans built a house for him, and also a school-
82
History of Indian Missions
house, without any assistance from Govern- ment. William Three Mountains, who, in the early history of the mission, more than 30 years previous, had been in Mr. Walker's family for two years, gave his whole crop of wheat for the year, his most important article of food, for the latter building.
Mr. Eells, as has been stated, moved out of their reach in 1872; they, however, were not out of his reach. When he heard of the re- markable work among them, he felt a desire again to visit them; hence in 1874 he spent a few months in a journey and visit, traveling for this purpose about a thousand miles on horseback, and crossing the Cascade Mountains twice.
The next year he made a somewhat similar journey, and spent six weeks with them, par- ticipating in twenty-four public religious ser- vices at five different places. "Generally," he says, in a report to the Congregational As- sociation of Oregon and Washington, in 1876, "the number present varied from 60 to 360. At a celebration of the Lord's Supper, there were 60 communicants; I made note of the pro- priety of language used in prayer. Mr. Cowley reports at a late communion service, 108 com- municants. During the past winter a school of 40 scholars was taught ; with diminishing num-
83
On the Pacific Coast.
bers it was continued until April. They sub- sist much as they did 35 years ago, hence their migratory practices still continue, slightly changed. When food fails they move to new root grounds, and take their children with them."
No treaty has ever been made with these In- dians, but in 1872 a reservation, which was large, and which embraced with them many other Indians, was established by an order from the President. The agency was, however, 60 miles from them, and consequently they have not received as much civilizing aid from it as they would have done had they been nearer. Their country, too, is not very suitable to ag- riculture; hence they have not progressed in this respect, as they would have done under more favorable circumstances.
The great difficulty of late with these Indians has been in regard to their land, as no treaty has been made with them, and they have re- ceived no equivalent for what they once pos- sessed. Says Rev. H. T. Cowley, in a letter to the Advance of December 9th, 1880 :
" In 1877 the Government sent a commission to locate them on a reservation. The council resulted unsatisfactorily to the Indians, and they yielded to discouragement and alienation from the Government, relaxed their efforts at self-
84
History of Indian Missions
improvement, and in their disappointment and dejection fell an easy prey to the vile beings who stand ready, on the whole frontier, to drag the Indians down to their own level by vend- ing them whisky.
" A second effort was made in 1879 to induce them to go upon one of the reservations in Eastern Washington. Gen. O. O. Howard and Gov. E. P. Ferry were appointed to the task of inducing them to unite with the famous " Chief Moses" in locating on a reservation which had just been granted him west of the Okinakin River. But the Spokanes simply saw in the proposal a plan of Moses to subjugate the minor chiefs and arrogate to himself the supreme chieftainship of the entire region. Several of Moses' Indians obtained whisky during the ses- sion of the council, and riotously proclaimed the Spokanes as the future slaves of their great chief. It is needless to say that matters were made worse. Still the Spokanes were unwilling to believe that some honorable provision would not be made for them by the Government.
"This year they have been visited by Col. H. Clay Wood as a special agent of the Interior Department to induce them to locate upon some reservation or take up land in severalty. The only inducements he could offer them were that on a reservation they would be compar-
85
On the Pacific Coast.
atively exempt from the molestation of vicious whites, and farther out of the reach of whisky, and that in taking land under the Indian homestead act, they had the privilege of paying the land fees like white people. This also " failed in the solution of the question.
"In the month of September, Gen. Howard, on the occasion of finding a suitable location for a new post in the Spokane country, accom- panied by the writer and a scout, made a week's tour among their various camps, traveling about 150 miles. The object of the General was to show his solicitude for their welfare, and dis- abuse them of the impression that he sought to drive them from their country, or shed their blood." * *
A little later he adds : "In a former let- ter I sketched briefly the missionary efforts among the Spokane Indians, and some of the results and obstacles. I aimed to show that not only a feeble response had been made by church and Government, to their creditable ef- forts at self-improvement, but that they were directly checked and disheartened by the action of the Government on several occasions to force them on to a foreign reservation, without any prospect of provision for improvement or com- pensation for the territory they would have to relinquish. Still, though confused and indig-
86
History of Indian Missions
nant, they are unwilling to believe that 'Wash- ington,' as they style the Government, will countenance any injustice toward his red chil- dren. And so the majority have for the present abandoned their efforts at improvement, and trust that 'Washington ' will yet get accurate knowledge of their sad condition and deal hon- orably with them. But a small number are too radical to wait. They have learned the pro- verbial tardiness of the Government and look only for Divine help. Actuated by christian principle, and accepting what the Government has done for them in the provisions of the In- dian homestead law, they have withdrawn from the rest of the tribe and have located on farms, and are working out their own problem. The leader in this movement, a chief and elo- quent preacher, is William Three Mountains. Although of feeble frame and consumptive, he is a man of remarkable faith and unceasing act- ivity. With a following of only three families they separated themselves from their tribe, a very unpopular act under any circumstances, and put thirteen miles between them and the ancestral camping-grounds. This was nearly three years ago, and in the face of great hard- ships and no little persecution from their rela- tives and former friends, they have increased to fourteen families, and with some aid from the
87
On the Pacific Coast.
Government, after hearing of their creditable enterprise, and under the superintendence of the writer, they have nearly completed a school- house with rather humble quarters for the teach- er, besides several log dwellings, barns and root-houses for themselves. School is in ses- sion with fourteen scholars, and a prospect, as soon as the severity of the winter is over, of twenty-five or thirty more from the tribe, show- ing the weakening of the prejudice on their part against Three Mountains' movement, and their anxiety to have their children educated, as no inducements of food and clothing can yet be offered.
"The religious meetings are faithfully attend- ed by every man, woman and child who can leave their dwellings. Twenty-three were in attendance at prayer-meeting this bitterly cold evening, one coming on foot nearly three miles through two feet of snow, and nearly all took part."
There is another colony of the lower Spo- kanes about ten miles west of Walker's prairie, under the charge of Lot. The patriarch Ah- ma-mel'-a-kin is their preacher. To themselves they are gratifyingly successful, and in the es- timation of others they are worthy of encour- agement. They have over 1,000 acres under fence. Says Rev. C. Eells in 1880 : "Limited
88
History of Indian Missions
assistance has been afforded them. One old Indian said to me : 'I purchased my plow.' About dark his son came from the harvest field. He said : 'I am tired. It is good to be tired.' He evidently was pleased to become weary in such employment. At two different times dur- ing the early autumn [of 1879] I was at that place. Work in the erection of a church build- ing was progressing. I met Ah-ma-mel'-a-kin going to timber with horse and harness to haul material with which to forward the building."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.