While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
The Otoe, calling themselves Watoohtahtah, were known to the French as early as
1673, under the name of Otontanta; were originally part of the Missouria, and,
with the Iowa, claim to have migrated to the Missouri with the Winnebago. They
have long resided on the south side of the Platte River, in mud lodges,
confederated with the Missouria, who formed one village with them. The two
tribes now number 457 souls. Under the care of the Friends, many are laying
aside their Indian dress and habits, and learning to labor. In common with many
other tribes, their annuities are payable only in return for labor per formed,
which exercises a most beneficial effect.
List of illustrations
480. Ar-Ke-Ke-Tah. Stand by It.
Is a full-blooded Otoe Indian. He was a leading warrior in his tribe, and during
the early settlement of Nebraska, when an emigrant train had been attacked on
Big Sandy Creek, and robbed of all they had by a party of Pawnees, Ar ke-ke-tah,
leading a band of Otoe, fell on them, and, killing the entire party, re stored
the goods back to the emigrants, for which he gained notoriety, and received
papers commendatory of this and other valuable services rendered the whites. By
being a man of deep scheming and cunning, he succeeded in gaining the position
of head chief of the tribe, while on a visit to Washington, in 1854, when the
treaty was concluded, in which the Otoe ceded to the Government the southeastern
part of Nebraska. He was deposed from his chief ship in 1872, re-instated in
1873, but has been inactive as a chief since, and has lost his influence in the
tribe. He is still living, about 65 years of age, and 5 feet 8 inches high, with
square, well-built frame.
482, 492-4, 502. Shun-Gech-Hoy. Medicine Horse.
His father was an Otoe, and his mother a Missouria Indian. By hereditary descent
he became, in 1854, head chief of the Bear band of Otoe, and being am bitious,
worked himself finally into the position of head chief of the Otoe and
Missouria. In 1874 he led a portion of the tribe away from their reservation, in
violation of law and agency regulations, for which he, with five others, was
arrested and confined for a time at Fort Wallace. In consequence, he became
alienated from the agency and main part of the tribe, and lost his position as
chief. Has features remarkably coarse; has a very stern, fierce disposition; is
a deep schemer; would be willing to sacrifice almost any interest of his tribe
in order to maintain a supremacy over them, and has been engaged in many
stratagems of the kind. He is tenacious of old Indian customs, op posed to
improvement that makes innovations thereon, and is a heavy clog on the tribe in
their endeavors to advance in civilized pursuits. In stature, he is about 5 feet
9 inches, with a heavy-set, well-developed muscular frame; about 60 years of
age.
487, 489, 490. Lod-Noo-Wa-Inga. Little Pipe.
Is a son of Hick-a-poo or Kick-a-poo, formerly a prominent chief of the tribe.
The chief ship had been hereditary through many successors, and after the death
of Hic-a-poo, the present Little Pipe, in 1858, took his place. He was one of
the followers of Shun-gech-hoy in 1874; was arrested and imprisoned with him,
and has not since been recognized as a chief. He is of a mild disposition, well
disposed toward improvement, but quiet and without much individual force of
character. Has been under unfavorable influences, and therefore makes but little
progress. He is about 50 years of age, 5 feet 7½
inches in stature, head 23 inches, chest 36, and weighs 155.
488. Pah-Ho-Cha-Inga. Little Iowa.
Generally known by his more proper name of Baptiste Devoin, is a son of John
Devoin, who is half French and half Missouria Indian. His mother is half Omaha,
one-quarter French, and one-quarter Iowa Indian. He was partially educated at
the Pawnee Mission, at Belleview, Nebr.; can read, write, and speak the English
language tolerably well; also speaks Pawnee, Omaha, and French. He married into
the Otoe tribe, and has been employed at Otoe agency in the several positions of
teamster, farmer, interpreter, and miller, under former agents. In 1869, he was
employed as interpreter for the tribe, and has continued in that office until
the present. In height he is 5 feet 9f inches, head measurement 23½
inches, chest 44 inches, and weighs 220 pounds. He is about 40 years of age, and
quite corpulent.
495.Tcha-Wan-Na-Ga-He. Buffalo Chief.
Is an Otoe Indian, though his grandfather belonged to the Iowa tribe. He was,
when a young man, a self-constituted chief, leading a portion of the Buffalo
band of Otoe, at a time when Sack-a-pie was chief, and at whose death he became
the recognized head chief of the band, which position he held until 1874. He is
still living; is about 80 years of age, in stature 5 feet 6 inches, and weighs
about 160 pounds. He is of rather a mild disposition, though decided in his
ways; conciliatory to the whites, and has gained many friends among them.
497. Baptiste Devoin and Tcha-Wan-Na-Ga-He.
The same as given and described in Nos. 488 and 495.
500. E'en-Bhick-To.
Blackbird.
500. Op-Po-Hom-Mon-Ne.
Buck Elk Walking.
The first is Half Otoe and
Half Omaha; The Second, Who is Represented
Sitting, is a Full-Blood Missouria.
501. Insta-Muntha. Iron Eagle.
501. Ko-Inga. Little Thunder.
501. Op-Po-Hom-Mon-Ne.
501. E'en-Brick-To.
491. Little Pipe, With Missouria Chief and
Interpreter.
496. Medicine Horse, Babtiste Devoin, and
Interpreter.
Descriptive Catalogue, Photographs Of North American Indians. United States Geological Survey
of the Territories, 1877 by W. H. Jackson, Photographer of the Survey,
F. V. Hayden, U. S. Geologist.
