Letter-1854, August 31

Jotham Meeker wrote to S. Peck, corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, informing him of conditions at the Shawnee Baptist mission and advising that the Baptists discontinue all labors at the Shawnee station.

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August 31, 1854.

   Dear Brother—The time has arrived when I feel it to be my duty to address you definitely relative to our brother F. Barker and the Shawanoe Station. While attending the Delaware annual meeting at Br. Pratt’s on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday last, I learned that the Shawanoe Agent and Rev. Thos. Johnson of the Shawanoe Meth. Mission, had, a few days previous, called a Council of the Shawanoes—and that, at the said Council, both the Agent and Mr. Johnson said in presence of informed the Indians that the Com. of Ind. Aff’rs had declared in their presence that Mr. Barker could not, and should not, remain in the Indian country, &c.—On Monday evening I called on Mr. Johnson to inquire relative to this matter—who informed me—that Mr. Barker’s letters to the Commissioner and Gen. Cass which letters he says were forwarded to you by the Commissioner, contained several very glaring falsehoods, —that consequently, the Com. of Ind. Aff’rs, the Sec. of Interior, the Senate Committee and the Senate, received Mr. B’s. doing as an insult to the Ind. Department—that only the respect felt for the Baptist Society prevented harsh measures being taken—that the Com. declared in his presence that Mr. B. could not, and should not remain in the Ind. country—that be (Johnson) intends to hold Mr. B. responsible for every false assertion and insinuation B. had made against him & the Meth. Mission; &c.

   You have doubtless seen, before now, the Shawanoe Treaty, together with their agreement to the Senate amendments, in which they apply all their education fund at the Meth. Mission, and barely permit the Baptist to teach their children.

   The above named Thomas Johnson has been the most prominent man in the Shawanoe Meth. Mission nearly all the time for about 25 years past, and is now the superintendent of all the Methodist mammoth concern here. He has taken special pains for two or three years past to accommodate several Agents & their families with homes, &c. in his splendid brick mansions. He met Col. Manypenny at the Missouri landing last fall, took him in his own carriage to his home—carried him to various places in the Ind. country—rendered every possible information and assistance to him, and all other government officers. He was the candidate, and received a majority of the Indian votes, through the influence of Agents, at the sham election, for ‘Nebraska Delegate to Congress’. took his Credentials from ‘Provisional Governor Walker,’ a Wyandotte—remained at Washington during the whole session of Congress—was the only knowing reference man in Washington during all the Nebraska and Ind. Treaty excitements—continued to be the obedient servant of the heads of department, and of Congressman. He informs me that almost every item in every Ind Treaty that was made, was dictated or rather, recommended, by him—that he has invited Gov. Reeder, and Secretary, &c. to make their temporary homes with him—that the Kansas Legislature will probably meet this winter at in his Mission buildings—that he is to furnish the Surveyor-generals outfit, and direct him where to run his first lines. The Shawanoe Agent and the Shawanoe principal Chief, and all others of have joined with him in his deadly hatred to our brother Barker.

   Now, my dear brother, in consideration of the above facts, (together with others I could name, but will not now) I give it as my individual opinion that the better way would be, as soon as possible, to discontinue all labors at the Shawenoe Station.

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[Meeker Correspondence, K.S.H.S.]