The Potawatomie Indians of Kansas

Potawatomie Indians - Page 2

<< Previous 1 2 Next >>

An accurate census of the tribe was then taken, showing the names and ages of those desiring lands in severalty, and of those desiring lands in common, and designating the chiefs and head men of the tribe. Each adult then chose his own allotment, and each head of a family chose for the minor members with chiefs assigned one section; head men, one half-section; heads of families, one quarter-section; and other members of the tribe, eighty acres each.

Article 4 provided that those members of the tribe desiring to continue tribal relations and hold lands in common should have an undivided tract, equal to the same quantity for each person, as those received who chose allotments.

Article 5 provided for the sale of the remainder of the lands to the Leavenworth, Pawnee & Western Railroad, at $1.25 per acre, under certain conditions.

Chief Strong Arm, Potawatomi, photo by C.F. Squires, 1909.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

Lands were conveyed to John F. Diel, John Summaker, and M. Gerilain, in trust, for school and church purposes, for St. Mary's Catholic Mission, and a reservation of 320 acres, including Baptist Mission buildings to the Baptist Board of Missions.

This treaty was made at the Potawatomie Agency at Rossville, Kansas on November 15, 1861, between William W. Ross on the part of the United States, and the chiefs and head men of the tribe. It was signed by Shawque (chief), To-penubbee (chief), We-weh-seh (chief), Shomen (brave), and Joseph N. Bourassa, George L. Young, B. H. Bertrand, M. B. Beaubien, L. H. Ogee, John Tipton and Lewis Vieux.

When the Leavenworth, Pawnee & Western Railroad Company (Union Pacific) did not buy the Potawatomie lands, a treaty was concluded in 1867, that provided for the sale to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company.

In 1870, those of the Christian or Mission Band who so desired, moved to Indian Territory (Oklahoma), the last payment to the tribe being made in that year. The annuities, which amounted to about $80,000, had been for many years paid at Rossville.

The Prairie Band, which numbered 780 at the time of the treaty, was given 77,357 acres in whole, or a tract of about twelve miles square, upon which they still live in Jackson County, Kansas. In 1883, there were about 440 Potawatomie in Jackson County, Kansas, 280 in Wisconsin, 30 in Iowa and 24 in Indian Territory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today the Prairie Band of the Potawatomie continue to hold their reservation in northeast Kansas. More history and current information regarding the tribe can be found at:

Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation

16281 Q Road

Mayetta Kansas 66509-8970
785-966-4000

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is located in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Citizen Potawatomi Nation
1901 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801
405-275-3121

More Potawatomi continue to live in Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada.

The Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation hosts a pow-wow

each year where visitors are invited to attend. Photo

courtesy Travel Kansas.

Compiled by Kathy Weiser/Legends of Kansas, April, 2009

About the Article: The majority of this text was published in Kansas: History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler; SA. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL, 1883. However, the text that appears on these pages is not verbatim, as additions, updates, and editing have occurred.

<< Previous 1 2 Next >>

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Native American Postcards - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected numerous Native American postcards - both new and vintage. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!