An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 34

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524

USA > Idaho > Kootenai County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 34
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 34
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 34
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 34

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).

124

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

entirely without benevolent disposition toward their red-skinned brethren, for they enforced the law pro- hibiting the sale of intoxicants to Indians and were reasonably careful that nothing should be done to de- bauch these children of nature, but it is an undoubted fact that they not only neglected to sow the seeds of a higher civilization themselves, but were opposed to any others who might attempt to teach the Indian useful arts or do anything to render him less absolutely dependent upon the Hudson's Bay Company, the great autocratic power of the Columbia basin.

A civilizing force of a vastly higher character en- tered the Indian country, when the American mission- ary came, actuated by no other motive than the good of the red men, hoping for no other reward than a noble work well performed, an approving conscience and a final abundant entrance into a heavenly home. The honor of pioneership in missionary work belongs to Rev. Jason Lee, of the Methodist Episcopal church, who came with a party of assistants and teachers and settled in the Willamette valley in 1834. Two years later came Dr. Marcus Whitman and wife and Rev. H. H. Spalding and wife, the ladies being the first of their race and sex to venture across plain and mountain to the distant Pacific. Dr. Whitman established his mission at Waiilatpu, not far from where Walla Walla now is, while Spalding cast his lot with the Nez Perces. This devoted missionary was a native of Bath, New York, born in 1804. He graduated at Western Re- serve College at the age of twenty-nine and later en- tered Lane Theological Seminary, the course in which he did not remain to complete. In 1836 he began his missionary labors among the Nez Perces and to his unremitting toil, and that of his efficient helpmate, for the temporal, intellectual and spiritual welfare of these Indians much credit is due for their marked superior- ity over surrounding tribes. Perhaps descriptions of these two people by W. H. Gray of the Whitman mis- sion, who was associated with them in their trip across the plains, may not be uninteresting to the reader.

"The first impression of a stranger on seeing H. H. Spalding," says Gray, "is that lie has before him an unusual countenance. He begins to examine and finds a man with sharp features, large, brown eyes, dark hair, high, projecting forehead, with many wrinkles, and a head nearly bald. He is of medium size, stoop-shouldered, with a voice that can assume a mild, sharp or boisterous key at the will of the owner ; quite impulsive and bitter in denunciation of a real or supposed enemy ; inclined in the early part of his mis- sionary labors to accumulate property for the especial benefit of his family, though the practice was disap- proved of and forbidden by the regulations of the American Board. In his professional character he was below mediocrity. As a writer or correspondent he was bold, and rather eloquent, giving overdrawn life sketches of passing events. His moral influence was injured by strong symptoms of passion when pro- voked or excited. In his lahors for the Indians he was zealous and persevering, and in his instructions wholly practical. For instance to induce the natives to work and cultivate their lands, he had Mrs. Spalding paint

a representation of Adam and Eve, as being driven from the Garden of Eden by an angel,-Adam with a hoe on his shoulder and Eve with a spinning wheel. He taught the natives that God commanded them to work as well as pray. Had he been allowed to con- tinue his labors with the tribe, undisturbed by sec- tarian and anti-religious influences, he would have effected great good, and the tribe been now admitted as citizens of the United States. As a citizen and a neighbor he was kind and obliging; to his family he was kind, yet severe in his religious observances. He was unquestionably a sincere, though not always lum- ble Christian. The loss of his wife and the excit- ing and savage massacre of his asociates produced their effects upon him. Charity will find a substan- tial excuse for most of his faults, while virtue and truth, civilization and religion will award him a place as a faithful, zealous and comparatively successful missionary.

"Mrs. Spalding was the daughter of a plain, sub- stantial farmer, by the name of Hart, of Oneida coun- ty, New York. She was above the medium height, slender in form, with coarse features, dark brown hair, blue eyes, rather dark complexion, coarse voice, of a serious turn of mind, and quick in understanding lan- guages. In fact she was remarkable in acquiring the Nez Perce language so as to understand and con- verse with the natives quite easily by the time they reached their station at Lapwai. She could paint in- differently in water colors, and had been taught while a child all the useful branches of domestic life; could spin, weave, and sew, etc., could prepare an excellent meal at short notice; was generally sociable, but not forward in conversation with or attentions to men. In this particular she was the opposite of Mrs. Whit- man. With the native women Mrs. Spalding always appeared cheerful and easy and had their unbounded confidence and respect. She was remarkable for her firmness and decision of character in whatever she or her husband undertook. She never appeared to be alarmed or excited at any difficulty, dispute or alarm common to the Indian life around her. She was con- sidered by the Indian men as a brave, fearless woman and was respected and esteemed by all. Though she was frequently left for days alone, her husband be- ing absent on business, but a single insult was ever offered her. Understanding their language, her cool, quick perception of the design enabled her to give so complete and thorough a rebuff to the attempted in- sult that, to hide his disgrace, the Indian offering it fled from the tribe, not venturing to remain among them. In fact a majority of the tribe were in favor of hanging the Indian who offered the insult, but Mrs. Spalding requested that they should allow him to live, that he might repent of his evil designs and do better in the future. Mrs. Spalding is buried near the Callapooya, in the Willamette valley."

Of the reception given by the Nez Perces to Mr. and Mrs. Spalding when they first came among them, Mr. Gray says :

"It is due to those Indians to say that they labored freely and faithfully and showed the best of feeling

125

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

toward Mr. and Mrs. Spalding, paying good attention to instructions given them, and appeared quite anxious to learn all they could of their teachers. It is also due to truth to state that Mr. Spalding paid them liberally for their services when compared with the amount paid them by the Hudson's Bay Company for the same services; say, for bringing a pine log ten feet long and one foot in diameter from the Clearwater river to the station, it usually took about twelve In- dians ; for this service Mr. Spalding paid them about six inches of trail-rope tobacco each. This was about four times as much as the Hudson's Bay Company paid. This fact soon created a feeling of unfriendli- ness toward Mr. Spalding. Dr. Whitman managed to get along with less Indian labor and was able, from his location, to procure stragglers or casual men to work for him for a time, to get supplies and clothing to help them on their way down to the Willamet set- tlement."

A full review of Mr. Spalding's labors, his suc- cesses, his trials and discouragements need not be at- tempted here. He was not long to work among the red men in peace for in accordance with the sec- tarian views of those days, the Catholic missionaries considered it their duty to counteract as far as lay in their power the heretical teachings of the Protestants. The task of instructing the Indians in the arts of civilization and the mysteries of Christianity was cer- tainly difficult enough at best; with the opposition of other white men endeavoring to inculcate a belief that the teachings of the first missionaries were wholly false and certainly leading to ultimate damnation, it was practically impossible to perform. There can be no doubt but that the sectarian disputes between Protestants and Catholics nulified the influence of both, but especially the former, reduced greatly the respect of Indians for their teachers and for all re- ligion, and helped sow the seeds which bore fruit in the Whitman massacre, and the consequent abandon- ment for a number of years of Mr. Spalding's mis- sion.

But notwithstanding these overwhelming difficul- ties, Mr. Spalding and his noble wife accomplished much for the benefit of the Indians among whom they labored during the early years of their ministry. When Dr. Elijah White, sub-agent of Indian affairs, visited them, he found their little plantations "rude to be sure," as he wrote under date, April 1, 1843, "but successfully carried on so far as raising the neces- saries of life are concerned." "It was most grati- fying," said he, "to witness their fondness and care for their little herds, pigs, poultry, etc. We visited and prescribed for their sick, made a short call at each of the chief's lodges, spent a season in school, hearing them read, spell and sing; at the same time examined their printing and writing, and can hardly avoid here saying I was happily surprised and greatly interested at seeing such numbers so far advanced

* * " and so eagerly pursuing after knowledge. *

During this visit Dr. White succeeded in per- suading the Indians, in general council assembled, to

adopt, during the final month of the year 1842, the following laws for their government :

LAWS OF THE NEZ PERCES.

. Article I. Whoever wilfully takes life shall be hung.

Article II. Whoever burns a dwelling house shall be hung.

Article III. Whoever burns an outbuilding shall be imprisoned six months, receive fifty lashes and pay all damages.

Article IV. Whoever carelessly burns a house, or any property, shall pay damages.

Article V. If anyone enter a dwelling without permission of the occupant the chiefs shall punish as they think proper. Public rooms are excepted.

Article VI. If anyone steal he shall pay back two- fold; and if it be the value of a beaver skin or less, lie shall receive twenty-five lashes; and if the value is over a beaver skin, he shall pay back two fold, and receive fifty lashes.

Article VII. If anyone take a horse and ride it without permission, or take any article and use it without liberty, he shall pay for the use of it, and re- ceive from twenty to fifty lashes, as the chief shall direct.

Article VIII. If anyone enter a field and injure the crops, or throw down the fence, so that cattle or horses go in and do damage, he shall pay all damages and receive twenty-five lashes for every offense.

Article IX. Those only may keep dogs who travel or live among the game; if a dog kill a lamb, calf or any domestic animal, the owner shall pay the damages and kill the dog.

Article X. If any Indian raises a gun or any other weapon against a white man, it shall be re- ported to the chiefs, and they shall punish him. If a white do the same to an Indian, it shall be reported to Dr. White, and he shall punish or redress it.

Article XI. If an Indian break these laws, he shall be punished by his chief; if a white man break them, he shall be reported to the agent, and punished at his instance.

These laws, as also certain books of the New Testa- ment translated into Nez Perce by Mr. Spalding, were printed on a press donated to the mission by the mission of the American Board in the Sandwich Is- lands. It was the first press in the Oregon territory and in the hands of the missionaries proved a potent factor in the elevation of the Indian.

But an idea of the work of Mr. Spalding during the earliest years of his labors among the Nez Perces, and his impressions of the Indians is best conveyed by incorporating a portion of a letter on the subject written to Dr. Elijah White about the year 1843. It reads :

My Dear Brother .- The kind letter which our mission had the honor of receiving from yourself, making inquiries relative to its numbers, the character of the Indian tribes among whom its several stations are located, the country, etc., is now before me.

I26

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

The questions referring to Indian character are very important, and to answer them demands a more extended knowledge of character and habits, from personal daily ob- servation, than the short residence of six years can afford, and more time and attention than I can possibly command, amidst the numerous cares and labors of the station. I less regret this, as the latter will receive the attention of my better informed and worthy associates of the other stations.

Concerning many of the questions, I can only give my own half-formed opinions, from limited observations which have not extended far beyond the people of my immediate charge.

Our mission is under the patronage of the American Board, and was commanded in the fall of 1836 by Marcus Whitman, M. D., and myself, with our wives and Mr. Gray. Dr. Whitman was located at Wailatpu, among the Cayuse Indians, twenty-five miles east of Fort Wallawalla, a trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company, which stands nine miles below the junction of Lewis and Clark rivers, three hundred from the Pacific and about two hundred from Fort Van- couver. I was located at this place, on the Clearwater, or Koos-koos-ky river, twelve miles from its junction with the Lewis river. one hundred and twenty miles east of Wailatpu. Mr. Gray left the same winter, and returned to the States. In the fall of 1838 Mr. Gray returned to this country, ac- companied by Mrs. Gray, Messrs. Walker, Eells and Smith, and their wives, and Mr. Rogers. The next season two new stations were commenced, one by Messrs. Walker and Eells, at Cimakain, near Spokan river, among the Spokan Indians, one hundred and thirty-five miles northwest of this station, and sixty-five miles south of Fort Colville, on the Columbia river, three hundred miles above Fort Wallawalla; the second by Mr. Smith, among the Nez Perces, sixty miles above this station. There are now connected with this mission the Rev. Messrs. Walker and Eells, Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Eells, at Cimakain; myself and Mrs. Spalding at this station. Dr. Whitman is now on a visit to the States, and Mrs. Whitman on a visit to the Dalles, a station of our Meth- odist bretliren. But two natives have as yet been admitted into the church. Some ten or twelve others give pleasing evidence of having been born again.

Concerning the schools and congregations on the Sab- bath, I will speak only of this station. The congregation on the Sabbath varies at different seasons of the year, and must continue to do so until the people find a substitute in the fruits of the earth and herds for their roots, game and fish, which necessarily require much wandering. I am happy to say that this people are very generally turning their atten- tion, with much apparent eagerness, to cultivating the soil, and raising logs, cattle and sheep, and find a much more abundant and agreeable source of subsistence in the hoe than in their bows and sticks for digging roots.

For a few weeks in the fall, after the people return from their buffalo hunt, and then again in the spring, the con- gregation numbers from one to two thousand. Through the winter it numbers from two to eight hundred. From July Ist to the Ist of October, it varies from two to five hundred. The congregation, as also the school, increases every winter, as the quantity of provision raised in this vi- cinity is increased.

Preparatory to schools and a permanent congregation, my earliest attention, on arriving in this country, was turned toward schools, as promising the most permanent good to the nation, in connection with the written word of God and the preached Gospel. But to speak of schools then was like speaking of the church bell, when as yet the helve is not put in the first ax by which the timher is to be felled, or the first stone laid in the dam which is to collect the water from whence the lumber in the edifice in which the bell is to give forth its sounds. Suffice it to say, through the blessings of God we have had an increasingly large school, for two winters past, with comparatively favorable means of instruc- tion.

But the steps by which we have been brought to the present elevation, if I may so speak, though we are yet ex- ceedingly low. hegin far, far back among the days of nothing, and little to do with.

Besides eating my own bread, won by the sweat of my brow, there were the wandering children of a necessarily wandering people to collect and bring permanently within the reach of the school. Over this department of labor hung the darkest cloud, as the Indian is noted for despising manual labor; but I would acknowledge, with humble gratitude, the interposition of that hand which holds the hearts of all men. The hoe soon brought hope, light and satisfaction, the fruits of which are yearly becoming much more than a sub- stitute for their former precarious game and roots, and are much preferred by the people, who are coming in from the mountains and plains, and calling for hoes, plows and seeds much faster than they can be furnished, and collecting around the station in increasing numbers, to cultivate their little farms; so furnishing a permanent school and congre- gation on the Sabbath, from four to eight months, and, as the farms are enlarged, giving food and employment for the year. I trust the school and congregation will be per- manent through the year. It was no small tax on my time to give the first lessons in agriculture. That the men of the nation (the first chiefs not excepted) rose up to labor when a few hoes and seeds were offered them, I can attribute to nothing but the unscen hand of the God of missions. That their habits are really changed is acknowledged by themselves. The men say, whereas, then once did not labor with their hands, now they do; and often tell me in jesting that I have converted them into a nation of women. They are a very industrious people, and, from very small beginnings, they 110W cultivate their lands with much skill, and to good advantage. Doubtless many more would cultivate, but for the want of means. Your kind donation of fifty hoes, in behalf of the government, will be most timely; and should you be able to send up the plows you kindly proposed they will, without doubt, be purchased immediately and put to the best use.

But to return to the school. It now numbers two hun- dred and twenty five in daily attendance, half of which are adults. Nearly all the principal men and chiefs in this vicinity, with one chief from a neighboring tribe, are members of the school. A new impulse was given to the school hy the warm interest yourself and Mr. Mckay took in it while you were here. They are as industrious in school as they the on their farms. Their improvement is astonishing, con- sidering their crowded condition. and only Mrs. Spalding, with her delicate constitution and her family cares, for their teacher.

About one hundred are printing their own books with a pen. This keens up a deep interest. as they daily have new lessons to print, and what they print must be committed to memory as soon as possible.

A good numher are now so far advanced in reading and printing as to render much assistance in teaching. Their books are taken home at night; and every lodge becomes a schoolroon !.

Their lessons are scripture lessons; no others (except the laws) seem to interest them. I send you a specimen of the books they print in school. It was printed by ten select adults, yet it is a fair specimen of a great number in the school.

The laws which you so happily prepared, and which were unanimously adopted by the people, I have printed in the form of a small schoolbook. A great number of the school now read them fluently. I send you a few copies of the laws with no apologies for the imperfect manner in which they are executed. Without doubt. a school of nearly the same number could be collected at Kimiah, the station above this, vacated by Mr. Smith, the present residence of Ellis, the principal chief.

Number who cultivate .- Last season about one hundred and forty cultivated from one-fourth of an acre to four or five acres each. About half this number cultivate in the valley. One chief raised one hundred and seventy-six bushels of peas last season, one hundred of corn, and four hundred of potatoes Another, one hundred and fifty acres of peas, one hundred and sixty of corn, a large quantity of potatoes, vegetables, etc. Ellis. I believe, raised more than either of the above-mentioned. Some forty other individuals raised from twenty to one hundred bushels of grain. Eight indi-

127

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

viduals are now furnished with plows. Thirty-two head of cattle are possessed by thirteen individuals; ten sheep by four; some forty hogs.

Arts and sciences .- Mrs. Spalding has instructed ten fe- males in knitting, a majority of the female department in the schools in sewing. six in carding and spinning, and three in weaving. Should our worthy brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn, join us soon, as is now expected, I trust, by the blessing of God, we shall see greater things than we have yet seen. From what I have seen in the field, the school, the spinning and weaving room, in the prayer-room, and Sabbath congregation, I am fully of the opinion that this people are susceptible of high moral and civil improvement.

Moral character of the people .- On this subject there is a great diversity of opinion. One writer styles them more a nation of saints than of savages; and if their refusal to move camp for game, at his suggestion, on a certain day, reminded him that the Sabbath extended as far west as the Rocky Mountains, he might well consider them such. An- other styles them supremely selfish, which is nearer the truth; for, without doubt, they are the descendants of Adam. What I have above stated is evidently a part of the bright side of their character. But there is also a dark side, in which I have sometimes taken a part. I must, however, confess that when I attempt to name it, and hold it up as a marked exception to a nation in similar circumstances, without the restraint of wholesome laws, and strangers to the heaven-born fruits of enlightened and well-regulated society, I am not able to do it. Faults they have, and very great ones, yet few of them seemed disposed to break the Sabbath by traveling and other secular business. A very few indulge in something like profane swearing. Very few are superstitiously attached to their medicine men, who are, without doubt, sorcerers. and are supposed to be leagued with a supernatural being (Waikin), who shows himself some- times in the gray bear, the wolf, the swan, goose, wind, clouds, etc.

Lying is very common; thieving comparatively rare; polygamy formerly common, but now rare; much gambling among the young men; quarreling and fighting quite rare; habit of taking back property after it is sold is a practice quite common. and very evil in its tendency. All these evils, I conceive, can be traced to the want of wholesome laws and well-regulated society. There are two traits in the character of this people I wish to notice. One I think I can account for; the other I cannot. It is often said the Indian is a noble-minded being. never forgetting a kindness. So far as my experience has gone with this people, the above is most emphatically true, but in quite a different sense from the idea there conveyed. It is true they never forget a kind- ness, but after make it the occasion to ask another; and if refused, return insults according to the favors received. My experience has taught me that, if I would keep the friendship of an Indian, and do him good, I must show him no more favor in the way of property than what he returns some kind of an equivalent for; most of our trials have arisen from this source. I am, however, happy to feel that there is a manifest improvement as the people become more in- structed, and we become more acquainted with their habits. This offensive trait in the Indian character I believe in part should be charged to white men. It has been the uni- versal practice of all white men to give tobacco, to name no other article, to Indians when they ask for it. Hence two very natural ideas: one is, that the white man is in debt to them; the other is, that in proportion as a white man is a good man he will discharge this debt by giving bountifully of his provisions and goods. This trait in Indian character is capable of being turned to the disadvantage of traders, travelers and missionaries, by prejudiced white men.

The last trait, which I cannot account for, is an apparent disregard for the rights of white men. Although their eager- ness to receive instruction in school on the Sabbath and on the farm is without a parallel in my knowledge, still, should a reckless fellow from their own number, or even a stranger, make an attack on iny life and property, I have no evidence to suppose but a vast majority of them would look on with

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.

An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 34

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1524

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524