Report-1856, May 3

Transcribed report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Wm Gay Indian Agent Shawnee Agency to A. Cumming Superintendent Indian affairs St Louis, Mo dated May 3, 1856

Shawnee Agency May 3rd 1856

Sir

   I have the honor to state that I have from time to time visited the Shawnee Manual Labor School. [I] am sorry to be obliged to say I find the number of children in attendance but small some days as low as twenty some days twenty five including boys and girls, nearly all small.  Upon receiving tl1e contract between the commissioner and the church I determined I would use every effort [to] fill up the school at once for that purpose I have visited nearly every house in the tribe where they had children to send to school. Upon inviting the Indians to send their children to school I have in most cases received a flat denial with a reply that I will not send my children there all sorts of excuses follows. Some say their little ones have sickened and died there before they knew it their children was buried. Others tell me that it is a bad place for boys because it is so near to Westport that the boys after school go to Missouri and often get drunk and learn other bad habits. Others think it to be an unfit place for young women because of the great number of white men there as they say since the place became the seat of government and the boarding house of others in fact they call it a tavern with all but the whiskey. They nearly all say their children is misused some way or other many say that Johnson is getting rich out of the Shawnees. They are generally displeased with the large reservation granted to the church that they say was not enough Johnson must have six thousand dollars each year for nothing and that is not all he has got our orphan children’s money. How true all these complaints may be I know not but duty demands of me this much. I do think there is too much cause for complaint. I have had an interview with the Rev Thomas Johnson he informs me that his understanding is that the church is to receive six thousand dollars each year for letting any number not exceeding eighty this is tall pay for the small number in attendance these days. I find the Quaker school number about the same as the Methodist South they receive nothing from government or Shawnees this fact is a fact understood by the Indians themselves. I am not aware that my advice is either needed or desired but I think that matter needs overhauling

I remain Your obt Servt
Wm Gay
Indian Agent

to Col A. Cumming
Superintendent Indian Affairs
St. Louis Mo

[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll frames 74-75, by Roger Berg Jr., Jan1993]