Letter-1862, October 18

Department of the Interior
Office Indian Affairs

October 18th. 1862

Sir.

   I have the honor to report that on the 5th. day of March 1855, a contract was entered into between George W. Manypenny, the then Commissioner of Indian Affairs, on behalf of the Shawnee Indians, of the first part, and the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, by E.W. Sehon, of the second part, in which the party of the second part agrees to board, clothe and educate any number of Shawnee Children, of both sexes, not exceeding eighty, between the ages of seven and seventeen years, for which the party of the first part agrees “to pay per annum to the party of the second part, in consideration hereof and of the premises aforesaid, in quarter yearly payments, commencing from the 1st day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty four, for any number of Shawnee Children not exceeding eighty, the sum of Five thousand dollars in money, arising under treaties as aforesaid, and to credit the said Missionary Society per annum, with one thousand dollars of the ten thousand agreed to be paid by it to the Shawnees for the three sections of land provided to be patented to the Society in the 6th Article of the Treaty last made with them, provided that when said sum of Ten thousand dollars should have been thus liquidated by the Society, the Shawnee Scholars shall be reduced to such a number as will, at seventy-five dollars per head, consume the aforementioned sum of Five thousand dollars.”

   Since said contract was entered into, complaints have been made to this office that the benefit derived by the Shawnees from the institution of the above named Missionary Society, Called the “Shawnee Manual Labor School,” was not sufficient for the amount of money paid said Society, and therefore, on May 28th 1861, a letter was addressed to Supt, H.B. Branch, in which he was directed to call on Agent J.B. Abbott for a full investigation and report upon the subject. Said report has not yet been received at the Office, but in his Annual Report for the present year, Agent Abbott says,—

   “I visited this school during the last term, and was agreeably surprised to find it in so prosperous condition, I found the children tidy, well clothed and apparently well fed, appeared happy and contented, and what was better seemed to take a deep interest in their studies. Their Head Teacher Mr. Meek appeared to possess their confidence and affection and I am satisfied that this school will compare favorably with the most of the white schools in this state, and whatever cause of complaint the Shawnees may have had in the past, the present appearances are that those in charge are trying to carry out the stipulations of their contract to the letter, and I hope to be able to fill up this school this fall to the stipulated number, (80)”

   Mr. Thomas Johnson the Superintendent of said school has now presented to this office, accounts for six quarters commencing April 1st. 1861 and ending September 30th 1862, duly certified by Agent Abbott.

   The contract went into effect on the 1st October 1854 and the Society has been paid for the time from that date to the 1st. April 1861, at the rate of $5,000 per annum, six years and a half, $32,500, and has been credited with $6,500 towards the $10,000 due by it to the Shawnees.

   The Society still claims as due it $7,500 for one year and a half, from the 1st April 1861, to 30th September 1862, when the contract was annulled, and $1,500 to be placed to its credit towards the $10,000 above mentioned, which leaves $2,000 still due the Shawnees by the Society which it proposes that I should retain out of the $7,500 in money, and grant it a patent for the three sections of land before mentioned.

   As the Indians themselves have complained that this school has not been properly conducted I deem it proper to submit the matter to you together with the papers in the case, for your direction.

Very respectfully
Your Obdt. Sevt.
Wm. P. Dole
Commissioner

Watt J. Smith Esq.
Acting Secretary of the Interior.

[Photostat copy in vault K.S.H.S.]