Letter-1846, March 10

Transcribed letter from R.W. Cummins, Indian Agent, Fort Leavenworth Agency to Colonel Wm. Medill, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C. dated Mar 10, 1846

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Fort Leavenworth Agency
March 10 1846

Sir

    This will be handed to you by the Rev. J.C. Berryman Sup’t of the Methodist Mission and M.L. School established among the Shawnees. The confidence reposed in him by the Methodist Missionary Society, as he has been long in the service in the Indian country, and many years of the time at this place, I suppose will be a sufficient recommendation to you of his good character. I will only say, that you will find him a gentleman every way worthy of your confidence.

    I address you this letter at this time which is out of the usual course for the purpose of giving you a general knowledge of the improvements, management and success of the mission and Manual Labour School. At this time there are two large Brick Buildings completed and a third one on hand nearly completed, one of which with an ell for a dining room, the other part of the Building is laid off in convenient rooms, I think there are about nine rooms besides the dining room.

    The other Brick Building that is finished is the school house for the male part of the school. I cannot give the precise dimensions of this house without referring to former reports. I think it is upwards of 100 feet long, two good and convenient rooms at each end, school room in the center, besides those that are in the second story. The third building not completed is intended for the female school, which I take to be about 100 feet long, and two stories high. They have also erected a good steam saw and grist mill, with two run of stones, screws [?l and bolts, and other machinery all complete for the manufacturing of flour as well as corn meal.

    There are also two large frame buildings, laid off into convenient rooms for mechanicks [sic] and families to live in, a blacksmth shop, waggon [sic] makers shop and a shoe makers shop, a large barn with graneries, corn cribs+ stables and many other convenient Buildings such as meat hous, wash house etc. etc. There is also a large and beautiful farm attached to the Institution. I think about 500 acres ten of which is set in choice apple trees. Now sir it certainly would be a very difficult matter for me to give you anything like a correct idea of what I believe are the real benefits derived by the Indians from this mission to say nothing about the school. The very example itself sir has great force on the minds of Indians. The mills are of great advantage to them all or nearly all the fuel is supplied by them and so are the logs for the saw, and they are paid generous prices for all the work they do. The superintendent always pays them better wages than he does white hands for the purpose of encouraging them to work. The Indians get more or less wagons made every year, and every year the number increases. With these waggons [sic] they haul the fuel and saw logs for the mills, the grist mill affords a market for all the corn and wheat they raise, it is now as common to see shawanees [sic] running ox teams and waggons as it is white people in the adjoining settlement.

    It is gratifying to me that I can say I believe they hardly ever turn off an Indian that wants a waggon whether he can pay or not. Satisfied I am that it is a loosing [sic] business to the mission, but they succeed in their object which is to improve the condition of Indians.

    Sir I think I could safely add that thousands are spent in this and many other ways for the purpose of aiding and improving the condition of the Indians. At the mechanicks [sic] shops many of the Ind boys are learned trades. I have seen good waggons entirely made by them as an inducement to get them to learn trades, and industrious habits, they receive fair wages for all the work done by them and the same course is pursued with the females, they receive wages for each and every garment made by them, and for all other labor, which is I think a great stimulus, all the girls that are of any size are neatly clad in fashionable garments, made and earned by themselves. As to the school the re­ port of which is in your office, plenty of good teachers both male and female of good character is [sic] employed to manage the schools which is done immediately under the eye of the supt.

    The Shawnees are not the only Indians benefitted by this Institution, the Delawares, Munsees, Kickapoos, and other tribes. They made a pre­ sent of three large road waggons [sic] at one time to the Delawares.

    I think sir it would be of serious advantage to the Indians and to your self in the management of the Indian Dept. if you could visit each agency, you then could see the condition of various tribes, better understand their wants and necessities, and in some measure  the good done and the prospects of doing good by the various missionaries and schools, and above all the general character of your agents in the management of the Indians in accordance with the fostering care of the Govt.

I am Respectfully
Yr. Mo. Obt. Servt.
Rich. W. Cummins
Ind. Agent

Col. W. Medill
Comr. Ind. Affairs
Washington City D.C.

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[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll 783, frames 101-105 by Roger Berg Jr., Feb. 1992]