“Father: Some years ago, when we had our homes on Turkey River, we had a school for our children, where many of them learned to read and write and work like white people, and we were happy.
“Father: Many years have passed away since our school was broken up; we have no such schools among us, and our children are growing up in ignorance of those things that should render them industrious, prosperous, and happy, and we are sorry. Father: It is our earnest wish to be so situated no longer. It is our sincere desire to have again established among us such a school as we see in operation among your Omaha children. Father: As soon as you find a permanent home for us, will you not do this for us? And, Father, as we would like our children taught the Christian religion, as before, we would like our school placed under the care of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. And last, Father, to show you our sincerity, we desire to have set apart for its establishment, erection, and support, all of our school-funds and whatever more is necessary.
“Father: This is our prayer. Will not you open your ears and heart to us, and write to us?”
This letter was signed by thirty-eight of the chiefs and headmen
of the Winnebagoes.
In March, 1865, a new treaty was made between the United States and this long-suffering tribe of Indians, by which, in consideration of their “ceding, selling, and conveying” to the United States all their right in the Dakota Reserve, the United States agreed “to set apart for the occupation and future home of the Winnebago Indians forever” a certain tract of 128,000 acres in Nebraska—a part of the Omaha Reservation which the Omahas were willing to sell. The United States also agreed to erect mills, break land, furnish certain amounts of seeds, tools, guns, and horses, oxen and wagons, and to subsist the tribe for
