Letter-1840, November 11

Transcribed letter from John B. Succ, Washington to T. Hartley Crawford, Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated Nov 11, 1840

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Washington Nov. 11, 1840

Sir,

    In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit the following statement concerning the Manual Labor School, recently established, under the Superintendence of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Fort Leavenworth Agency.

    As my visits to their institution were without any particular design of procuring information for the Department, the observations were not as careful, nor the results noted as accurately as could have been devised; Therefore, only a general idea of the institution can be given.

    There were in August last, I think over 50 Scholars boys and girls in mainly equal proportion. There are taught the branches usually comprised in a “common English education”. I called at the boys’ school one morning when such a visit could not possibly have been anticipated, and remained some time, while the teacher, Mrs Kinnear went on with the ordinary routine of instruction. The scholars ranged from 6 to 18 years of age, and gave very gratifying, in fact surprising evidence of improvement. Nearly all could read; many composed and wrote sentences; and the number that could readily give answer to questions in the ‘Rule of Three’ without referring to book or slate, was astonishing. It is due to both teacher and Scholars to say that nothing appears to be learned by rote. It was evident that pains had been taken to make the boys understand what was taught them. For instance, many of them readily told what were the characters indicating addition, subtraction etc. at the same time illustrating the use on the blackboard, It may not be amiss to add that one of the two or three white boys who attend the school, an intelligent youth, told me that in his opinion Indians were generally apter scholars than whites — an opinion in which many of their teachers concur.

    Out of the school room, the boys are taught to split rails, plough, mow etc — When the workshop now in progress is completed, it is intended to teach them the carpenter blacksmith and other mechanical trades; but I did not understand that they receive such instruction at present.

    As I happened to call on the day set apart for working, the girls’ School was not in operation. They are taught the Same branches, but in a separate room. Besides ordinarily household duties, they learn spinning weaving &c, and it is expected that they will ultimately make most of the clothing used in the establishment.

    Two three story brick buildings, one for the farmer, the other for the boys’ school and lodgings, have been erected and are nearly finished. A third for the girls, is under way There is also a frame building occupied by the principal, Mr. Browning –another for the blacksmith’s residence — a blacksmith’ shop, barn, stables &c.

    Between five and six hundred acres of land are fenced and under cultivation. The crops gathered this year were abundant, and it was thought that grain to the amount of $1,500 would be sold in the fall.

    When the improvements now going on are completed, the Superintendent says he will be enabled·to receive 200 Scholars at an expense not exceeding $70 per head. It is not considered desirable that the students’ labor should be sufficient to cover their expenses, because it might lead the Indian, naturally suspicious in such matters, to think their children are imposed upon, and thus defeat the benevolent design of the Institution, which as at present conducted, is exceedingly popular — So much so, that applications for admission are constantly refused, the accommodations being insufficient for those already there. This popularity is not to be wondered at, as every attention is paid to the comfort as well as the instruction of the children. On several occasions I dined at the same table with them; they always had an abundance of wholesome food, were well clad, and I understood from one of the scholars that very few, and those chiefly new comers, were dissatisfied.

    I cannot close this report without [advising?] to the great progress in civilization made by the Indians in the Fort Leavenworth Agency, Many of the Shawnees and Delawares live as comfortably in houses of their own building, on as fine farms broken & fenced by themselves, as an equal number of frontier settlers any where Selected. It is not uncommon to see them employed by the whites as blacksmiths, carpenters etc. During the last summer the Delawares sold the Government contractor the greater part of the beef furnished the recently emigrated Stockbridge band. The Shawnees have a semi-monthly newspaper, edited, and if I mistake not, printed by a Shawnee, extensively circulated thro’ the nation. Warriors violently prejudiced against the whites and their customs have been known suddenly to abandon their savage habits and join the ‘Christian’ party. Some of them even voluntarily giving up the use of spirits, and exerting their influence to induce others to do likewise.

    Without intending to [denograte?] from the merits of other denominations, or of the Government agent, much of thier improvement must be ascribed to the efforts of the Methodist Society. Their agents, by combining agricultural and mechanical with religious instruction; have practically met the Standing objection to Missionary operations — that civilization Should precede Christianity. And their efforts among the tribes alluded to having been so eminently successful, there is strong ground for hoping that the Manual Labor School will give the world additional proof that Indians can be civilized.

Very respectfully
Your most obdt Servt.
John B Succ

Hon T. Hartley Crawford

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[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm Series M574, roll 6J, frames 280-283 by Debby Williamson, July, 1992]