USA > Idaho > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 7
USA > Oregon > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 7
USA > Washington > A history of Indian missions on the Pacific coast : Oregon, Washington and Idaho > Part 7
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On the Pacific Coast.
cited the six verses of the lesson without a mis- take, and some scholars have done so for a whole year.
The temperance work has been as successful as could be expected. Although there is a little drinking, yet the greater portion of it has ceased, especially upon the reservation ; and those away from it drink by no means as much as many of their white neighbors.
In 1878 a small hymn book in the Chinook jargon was published by the missionary. It grew out of the work; for while the younger Indians who understand English enjoy singing our songs, the older ones complained that they were dull, as they could not understand them. These hymns repeat often, and hence are easily remembered, and thus the truths contained in them are retained in the memory much better than the same truths are remembered when preached. Indians learning them have taught them to other Indians far away; to some even in British Columbia, whom the missionary has * never seen.
In February, 1881, the church lost one of its most intelligent Indian members-John F. Pal- mer, who was accidentally killed while at work in the saw-mill at Seabeck. He was a remark- able man. In 1859 he went with the family of James Seavy, of Port Townsend, to ,San
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Francisco, where he remained a year or two, when he shipped on board a vessel, and spent most of the time until 1863 or 1864 about the mouth of the Amoor River in Asiatic Russia. After that he returned to Puget Sound, and was for about ten years interpreter at the Skoko- mish Agency. He understood the Nesqually, Skokomish or Twana, Clallam, Russian and English languages, and could read and write the latter, although he was never at school more than three weeks in his life. Most of his knowledge he picked up in the family of Mr. Seavy and on board ship. He had a library worth fifty or sixty dollars, and took several papers, both Eastern and Western. He was the only Indian to unite with the church at its organization, but he lived to see his wife and her two sisters, whom he brought up, members of it, one of these sisters married, and her child the first one among those of the Indians to receive baptism. Many of his family relations in early days died through the influence of whisky, and this made him very firm in behalf of temperance. His life abroad and other in- fluences and teachings led him to lose faith in the Indian incantations, so that he was far in advance of his tribe, and was constantly labor- ing with earnestness to induce them to aban- don their superstitions.
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About seventy-five persons in both tribes can read, six are apprentices to various trades, while some, having served their time out, have gone forth to labor for themselves. Since July, 1881, the white persons employed as farmer and blacksmith have been discharged, and Indians have been put into their places, while for more than two years previous to that time the car- penter was an Indian. The first Indian em- ployed in that position, and who gave satisfac- tion in his work, until he resigned on account of ill health, was never in school or church until he was about twenty-two years of age, having lived about thirty miles from the reservation. After he was of age he saved his money in order that he might attend school, and he spent three winters in the school on the reser- vation. He was thereafter appointed carpen- ter, a trade which he had picked up in his in- tercourse with the whites.
About four-fifths of the Twanas are located on small tracts of land on the reservation, surveyed and allotted to them, where they have continuously lived during the past six years. Certificates of allotment of land in severalty were issued in the spring of 1881 to forty-five of them by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. This was a great encouragement and warranted them in cherishing the hope that they would
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History of Indian Missions
not be removed to any other reservation, but would be allowed to enjoy the fruit of their own labors.
They have cleared small farms, and have comfortable houses, barns, woodsheds and out- houses, and small orchards. Indoors, many of them keep their floors clean. The rooms are warmed with stoves and fire-places, and some have the walls neatly papered; some of them have chairs and tables, sinks and cupboards, bedsteads, with feather-beds, sheets and pillow- cases, as well as clocks and looking-glasses, with a few sewing-machines. They are annually growing more tidy. As an out-station, the Clallams at the Indian village of Jamestown, near Dunginess, have received considerable at- tention from the Agent and missionary. They are ninety miles from the Agency. Previous to 1873 they were much addicted to the use of strong drink; so much so that the white resi- dents near them petitioned to have them re- moved to the reservation-a punishment they dread nearly as much as any other which can be inflicted on them. The threat of doing this had a good effect, so that about fifteen of the leading ones combined and bought 218 acres of land, and they laid out their village. Most of them have reformed in regard to drunkenness, and they have steadily advanced in civilization.
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On the Pacific Coast. I3I
The head chief of the tribe, Lord Jim Balch, who lives here, has held a strong and firm rein over the others, especially in regard to in- temperance.
In 1874 they began holding occasional ser- vices of some kind on the Sabbath. At the first these consisted mostly in singing Chinook songs; but speaking and prayer were afterward added. In 1878 they built a small church, which was dedicated May 12th. It was the first church in the county, although it had been settled twenty-four years, and now has a population of 537 whites. It was built mostly with their own means, although at that time none of them were members of the church. Six of them have since united with it. In the spring of 1878, at their request a school teacher, Mr. J. W. Blakeslee, was furnished to them. He continued with them until June, 1881. This day-school, which was begun as an experi- ment, has proved a success. The result with them has demonstrated that one advantageous method of dealing with Indians is to throw them on their own resources, induce them to settle on land, make them amenable to law, and provide them with the means of education. Then with the care of an agent to see that the laws against drinking are properly enforced, and that the children are made to attend the
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History of Indian Missions
school until they realize its value, no further drain need to be made on the public treasury; for their necessities and the example of their white neighbors will do the rest.
This settlement has been a light-house to the other Indians along the shores of the Straits of Juan De Fuca. Another band at Clallam Bay, in 1880, purchased land for themselves, and are preparing to follow the example of their James- town brethren, while those at Elkwa are adopt- ing a different plan, yet a civilizing one, by set- tling on homesteads.
Siletz Reservation, Oregon. The Siletz res- ervation is situated in Western Oregon, and contains 1, 119 Indians. In 1855 a treaty was made with fourteen tribes in Southern Oregon, which was never ratified by Congress. The reservation was established in 1855 by order of the President, and curtailed to its present limits in 1865. About 1856 the Indians were placed on it. In 1876 the Indians of the Alsea reser- vation, which was about that time discontinued, numbering 335, were removed to the Siletz.
The hatred these Indians had for each other was only exceeded by that which they had for the whites. The contentions between them, together with the practice of the low vices of the whites and their own vices, while at the same time little, if any christianity was given to
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On the Pacific Coast.
them to elevate them, soon began to decrease their numbers. When they were first removed to the reservation they were reported at 6,000, but in a few years they were reduced to 1,000, and it was not until 1875 that this decrease seemed to be arrested.
These Indians were by the earlier agents said to be the most turbulent on the coast. They were the centre of the Rogue River war of 1855-6, and the terror of Southern Oregon. As late as 1869 a garrison was supposed to be necessary on the reservation in order to keep peace, and was accordingly maintained.
In 1871 this agency was assigned to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in May of that year, when Gen. Joel Palmer was appoint- ed Agent, a more lenient policy was employed. A Sabbath-school was begun and christian in- struction given, but, as he remained less than two years, the fruits of seed sown did not fully appear.
He was succeeded in April, 1873, by J. H. Fairchild, who zealously followed up the policy begun by his predecessor. He held week-day services as well as on the Sabbath, while stringent laws were made against Sabbath breaking, pro- fanity and kindred vices, and soon a better state of things was reported. Licentiousness, theft, fighting and wife-beating in a great mea-
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History of Indian Missions
sure ceased, and the jail for months at a time was tenantless.
In 1873, Rev. W. C. Chattin was engaged as a teacher, who added to his other duties those of a missionary, and the same year a church was organized, which in 1880 numbered 130 members, including probationers. In October, 1875, Mr. Fairchild resigned, and Mr. William Bagley, who had been superintendent of farm- ing under his predecessor, assumed charge. He saw no better way than to continue christi- anity as a civilizer, and the same policy has been continued by his successor, Mr. E. A. Swan, who entered on the duties of his office in June, 1879. Preaching services are now held once each Sabbath by an appointee of the Oregon Conference, and other religious services, often in the form of praise or prayer meetings, are held in the evening. A class meeting is held on each Tuesday evening and a prayer meeting on Thursday evening at the Agency. While there have been some causes which prevented the seed thus sown from bringing forth the fruit desired or even expected, yet some fruit has been plainly seen. Men for- merly most in brawls and fights have exhibited such a change, showing patience under provo- cation, readiness to forgive injury, a spirit of meekness and love under persecution, that
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- On the Pacific Coast.
they have won the confidence of all, and those who have derided them have sought their counsel to aid in settling differences. Most of the drunkenness has ceased, and the medicine men are rapidly losing their influence, compar- atively few now having confidence in them. In 1880 all of them wore citizens' clothes ; nearly all the male Indians were engaged in civilized pursuits ; nearly one hundred children were in school, and one hundred and fifty adults could read ; whereas in 1871 it was report- ed that probably not over six knew their letters. They cultivated 1,956 acres, 400 of which were broken during the year ; they raised 1,500 bushels of wheat, 5,500 of oats and barley, 4,310 of vegetables, and cut 300 tons of hay, against 415 of wheat, 95 of corn, and 6,670 of potatoes in 1871. There were also 144,- 614 feet of lumber cut at the steam saw-mill, which was erected in 1876, most of the work being done by the Indians. Sixty-eight per cent. of their subsistence was obtained by labor in civilized pursuits, four per cent. from Govern- ment, and the rest by fishing, hunting, root- gathering, and the like.
The Quinaielt Reservation .- These Indians are on the western coast of Washington Terri- tory, and number 529 persons. In 1871 they were assigned to the Methodist Episcopal Church,
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History of Indian Missions
and Mr. G. A. Henry was appointed Agent. He had been, however, Agent at the same place previous to the time when the military had charge. Christian, educational and civilizing work has been slow. among them, for, owing to their situation on the coast and the difficulty of farming on the reservation because of the heavy timber, they have retained many of their old habits.
The Agent and employees, however, carried on a Sabbath-school and other christian work, and some of the school children who died gave evidence of conversion.
Mr. Henry remained in charge until April, 1878, when, having resigned, Col. Oliver Wood took his place. The older Indians cling strongly to their superstitions, and the main hope of im- provement seems to be through the school. This, previous to 1878, contained only twelve or thirteen scholars, but during the last two or three years it has increased to thirty-four.
During Mr. Henry's administration, the Quillehute Indians, about 250 in number, who lived to the north of the Agency, were with- drawn from it, and assigned to the Neah Bay Agency. In December, 1879, however, the lower Chehalis Indians, living south of the res- ervation, were withdrawn from the Nesqually Agency and assigned to that at the Quinaielt.
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- On the Pacific Coast.
These Indians are much scattered, but a school house has been built among them on Shoal- water Bay, and a school of twenty scholars begun, in addition to the one already referred to on the reservation.
No missionary has ever been sent to the res- ervation, but the Episcopal Church, with which those now in charge are connected, contrib- uted a gift of books for church and Sabbath- school purposes, and the Rev. E. Davis, of that church, accepted the position as teacher at Shoalwater Bay.
Neah Bay Reservation .- These Indians, like those at the Quinaielt, have made less progress in christianity than some other tribes, owing partly perhaps, to the numerous changes which have taken place among those in charge, but mainly to their own habits. They are situated on the north-west corner of Washington Territory, and are composed of two tribes, the Makahs, num- bering 728 persons, whose home is on the reser- vation, and the Quillehutes, who live about thirty miles south of the reservation, and num- ber 310 persons.
In 1871 the Agency was assigned to the Christian denomination. E. M. Gibson was appointed Agent, and for a time Rev. C. H. Hodges, while serving as teacher, acted as mis- sionary. A Sabbath-school was then kept up,
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which has been sustained and increased by their successors. In 1874 such changes were made that Rev. C. A. Huntington, a Congregational- ist, became Agent, who also performed some missionary work, but, like the others who have been there, devoted most of his time to the children. In 1877, Captain C. Willoughby, who, with his wife, the matron, are members of the Episcopal Church, took charge. The teacher, Mr. A. W. Smith, to whom the Agent gives a large share of the credit for the success of the school, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
It has been said that one christian working forty years among the Indians will accomplish very much more than four such men following each other, and each working for ten years. Hence it is not strange that at this Agency, where the christian work has been in the hands of so many different denominations, the results may not have been as great as if any one true- minded, earnest christian worker, in whom the Indians had confidence, had labored steadily during even ten years.
Another fact which has worked both against their civilization and christianization has been the ease with which the Indians obtain money. They make a large share of their living by seal- fishing, which is very profitable, and of which
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"On the Pacific Coast.
they have had almost the monopoly as far as the Indians in this region in the United States are concerned. A few months' work at this business is enough to support them most of the year, and they have more money in proportion to their numbers than the other tribes in the territory. In 1880 it was estimated that twenty thousand dollars was thus distributed among the tribes belonging to this Agency. Their land, too, is very poor for agriculture, and they say, "What is the use of our working on this barren land where the army worm and rust destroy the crop, or for the Agent for a dollar or a dollar and a half a day, when we can in a few days catch seals whose furs will be worth from twenty to forty dollars." Hence they dislike to work steadily, and as "Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do," they have spent more time in gambling and the old heathenish cus- toms than many other tribes.
For these reasons those in charge for many years have felt that their main chance of suc- cess is with the children in school. For several years they varied in numbers from thirty-five to fifty scholars, but in 1880 increased appropria -· tions were made, and the number increased to sixty-nine. These children have been espe- cially proficient in committing to memory nu- merous chapters in the Bible, which they repeat
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History of Indian Missions
in concert with a perfection that astonishes many whites who hear them, and about which they often converse among themselves, so as to understand the meaning.
The Klamath Reservation .- A treaty was made with the Klamath, Modoc and Snake In- dians in 1864, its ratification with amendments was advised in 1866, and it was proclaimed by the President in 1870, and the Klamath reser- vation in Southern Oregon was assigned to these Indians. In 1869 there were 1,400 In- dians on it ; in 1880, 1,023.
It was assigned in 1871 to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in May, 1872, Mr. L. S. Dyer was sent there as Agent. Previous to this time little if any religious instruction had been given to them. As the climate is cold and the crops uncertain, they have been obliged to keep up their roaming habits more than some other tribes, and this has rendered religious work somewhat difficult, though they are naturally more enterprising than many other tribes. Mr. Dyer began a Sabbath-school, and in 1873 Rev. T. Pearne, a Yakama Indian preacher, labored there for a short time, and thirty-six professed to become christians. The next year Rev. James Hare was appointed commissary in charge of the Yainax station on the reserve, and aided in the missionary work as he was
On the Pacific Coast. 14I
able, a few seeming to exemplify the christian religion in their lives and conduct. As a result of these labors quite an awakening seemed to take place, so that in 1876 ninety persons were reported as being members of the church. The Agent and employees then offered to pay half of the salary of a missionary, so much did they see the need of such a man, if the Methodist Episcopal Church would send him and defray the rest of his expenses ; but the offer did not bring the assistance.
Mr. Dyer was succeeded in 1877 by Rev. J. H. Roork, who reported that a few seemed to have the leaven of truth in their hearts, but the majority who had made a profession had been turned aside to their old ways, being much like the stony ground hearers. In this respect they have, however, been similar to more suc- cessful missions among other tribes ; first, ap- parent success, then a reaction, and then a more permanent step forward.
In February, 1879, Mr. L. M. Nickerson suc- ceeded Mr. Roork, under whom religious services have been constantly held, and although but few became members of the church-twenty in 1879 -yet gradual progress is being made by the people in religious knowledge and experience, and they are being slowly moulded into better men and women. In 1880 a church building was in process of erection.
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History of Indian Missions
No successful school was begun until 1874, consequently not much had been done in regard to education. Since that time, however, sixty have been taught to read, forty-two being members of the school in 1880, with an average attendance for the year of twenty-eight. All dress in citizens' clothes, and the births now slightly exceed the deaths.
As the climate is too cold for successful farm- ing, not very much has been done in that di- rection.
PART II.
REFLEX INFLUENCE OF INDIAN MIS- SIONS ON THE WHITES.
CHAPTER IV.
MISSIONS AND THE NATION-THE POSSESSION OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY-THE GOVERN- MENT OF OREGON.
IT might very easily have been said to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1849, " You have spent there forty thousand dollars, lost three or four valuable laborers, and what have you to show for it ?" and to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, "Mr. Lee raised forty thou- sand dollars in order to take out his last rein- forcement, besides all that you spent previous to that, and you can show almost nothing." But the result has proven that when God says, "Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom," it is as applicable to the missions on the Pacific coast as anywhere else.
Rev. William Warren has written a book en- titled "Our Indebtedness to Missions, or What we Get for what we Give." The Pacific coast furnishes abundant material on this subject.
Indian missions brought the first white wo-
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History of Indian Missions
men overland to Oregon; opened the first emigrant wagon road to the Columbia River; furnished Oregon with the first United States officer, a Sub-Indian Agent; gave the first Gov- ernor to the Territory; established the first permanent American settlement here; aided essentially in the establishment of the Provis- ional Government, five years before the United States formed a Territorial Government and extended her protection over the country; so that without this aid, the Provisional Govern- ment would, without doubt, never have been organized; brought the first American cattle to the Willamette valley; and saved the coun- try, or at least an important portion of it, to the United States.
For a long time Great Britain and the United States had each laid claim to all of the Oregon Territory, comprising what is now Oregon, Washington and Idaho; and for a longer time to that portion which lies north of the Colum- bia River. The difficulty was owing partly to an ignorance of the fact as to who were the original discoverers of the country-a point in- volved in obscurity-and partly as to what constituted the right of possession, according to international law, the principles of which were not thoroughly settled.
· The history of the north-west coast may be
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On the Pacific Coast.
divided into three periods: that of discovery, the beginning of which is hardly known, but which terminated about 1811, when Mr. David Thomson descended Clark's fork of the Co- lumbia River from fifty-two degrees north lati- tude to its mouth; that of joint occupancy from 1790 to 1846; and the period since that time when the country was by treaty acknowledged to belong to the United States.
The first period is involved in so much ob- scurity that we have not space to follow it through its details. The territory had been explored mainly by the Spanish, English, and Americans, and in such a way that each nation laid claim to a portion. France also had claims, because she had discovered the Mississippi River. By right of continuity, she extended her claim to the Pacific Ocean, this being the reason Great Britain advanced for extending her jurisdiction to the Mississippi, by virtue of holding the Atlantic seaboard.
The first national agreement was made be- tween Spain and Great Britain in 1790, in the Convention of the Escurial. The claims of each country were then so strong that joint occupancy was agreed upon between them.
In 1803 the United States purchased from France, Louisiana, and all her rights through to the Pacific coast. In 1818 she bought of
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History of Indian Missions
Spain, Florida and the Spanish rights on the Pacific coast north of forty-two degrees. Thus the question was narrowed down to Great Brit- ain and the United States. The latter based her claim on these purchases from France and Spain, the entrance of the Columbia River in 1792, by Captain Gray, who sailed up for twelve or fifteen miles, and the journey of Lewis and Clarke across the continent in 1804-5-6. She claimed all the country west of the Rocky Mount- ains, between forty-two degrees and fifty-four degrees north latitude, or north to the Russian possessions, thus completely cutting Great Britain off from any sea-coast on the Pacific shores. Great Britain in turn based her claims on her first discoveries, which she stated were prior to those of the Spanish; to the exploration and formal taking possession, in his Majesty's name, of Puget Sound, in 1792, by Vancouver, while in command of a national expedition; and to the exploration of the Columbia River by the same expedition for about a hundred miles above its mouth, a short time after Cap- tain Gray had entered it, and the formal taking possession of the country drained by it, which Captain Gray, in a private ship, and who was in connection with a private enterprise, had not done. She claimed as far south as forty-two degrees, the northern line of California, which
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