Native American Heritage Month ... 13th Post The Agency for the Stray Wisconsin Ho-Chunk Bands. The Ho-Chunk remained quiet during the four years that Oliver H. Lamoreaux was agent. In 1867 he reported that there had not been one report of any difficulties with the whites that year. The Ho-Chunk had no desire for education and very little interest in the white mans religion. They lived a nomadic life, supporting themselves by hunting, trapping, fishing, and picking and selling berries, raised considerable amount of corn and potatoes in Juneau County and also made a business of raising riding ponies for sale. In the spring of 1869, John T. Kingston of Necedah, Wisconsin was briefly Special Agent for the stray bands of Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi Indians of Wisconsin. Kingston received the appointment on April 14, 1869, but resigned with a short time. Captain David A. Griffith, an Army officer detached for the duty, became the new Indian agent on July 5, 1869 making his headquarters at New Lisbon, WI. In August 1869, Dandy died at Dexterville, Wood County, Wisconsin in his late 80s. In his last moments, he told his people: ... not to leave the State of Wisconsin, If they attempt to drive you away, go at once to the Great Father at Washington; he will have pity on you and protect you. A large portion of the Wisconsin Ho-Chunk attended his funeral at Dexterville where he was buried. Dandy was the last Wisconsin Ho-Chunk who had general influence as a peace chief, and even he had indicated that the Wisconsin Ho-Chunk bands were too scattered for him to control. The year of 1870, Captain Griffith, gave his annual agent report. No conflicts. No problems had occurred. The whites benefited from the trades made with the Ho-Chunk from their maple sugar, berries, etc. A large number of the Ho-Chunk were employed in lumbering, harvesting, and hop picking. The Ho-Chunk were reported to be steady and hard working. The Ho-Chunk again expressed a strong desire to remain in Wisconsin and the state legislature proposed that a reservation be set aside for them on the headwaters of the Eau Plain River in western Marathon County. Agent Griffith felt that if that were done there was no reason why the Ho-Chunk couldnt become as settled and useful as the Brothertown Indians of Wisconsin. In 1870 a bill was passed by Congress which prohibited officers of the army from holding civil appointments. Since the duty of Indian Agent was considered to come under this prohibition, Captain Griffith asked to be relieved of his duties as Indian Agent. He was assigned to the 3rd Infantry on December 3, 1870, and transferred to Fort Larned, KS. This left the wandering bands of Ho-Chunks in Wisconsin without an agent.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:44:26 +0000
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