Missionary work.-Methodists, Roman Catholics, and Presbyterians have missions among these Indians.

Isabella Reserve.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

December 11, 1854.

SIR: I inclose a copy of a letter from Messrs. George Smith and P. O. Johnson, missionaries of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Michigan, addressed to Rev. Dr. Durbin, and by him forwarded to this office, in relation to certain desired reservations of public lands.

In consideration of certain contemplated arrangements with the Indians in Michigan during the ensuing spring, I have to ask that you reserve from public sale the lands designated in the letter of Messrs. Smith and Johnson.

I have also received a communication from the Rev. J. P. Durbin, corresponding secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, asking for an additional reservation of lands near Iroquois Point, back from the lake.

For the reasons above, I concur in the request, and ask that several additional sections to those already reserved be made of the lands in the vicinity of Iroquois Point. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN WILSON, Esq.,

Commissioner of General Land Office.

GEO. W. MANYPENNY,
Commissioner.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
December 20, 1854.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, addressed to this office, bearing date the 11th instant, and its inclosure, recommending, for reasons stated, the withdrawal from market and reservation for Indian purposes the lands in Isabella County, Michigan, or so much thereof as may be deemed expedient.

The pink-shaded lines on the inclosed printed map show the limits of Isabella County, covering, according to the maps of this office, townships 13, 14, 15, and 16 north, of ranges 3, 4, 5, and 6 west of the Michigan meridian, in the Ionia district, the whole of which are requested to be reserved, and the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 placed on certain townships, show the order of the preference to be given should it be determined to reserve less than the east half of the county.

From an estimate just made at this office it appears that only about two-ninths of the whole surface has been disposed of, although three of the townships have been in market since 1833, and the balance since 1840.

1 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1886, p. 330.

As regards the conditions mentioned in the Rev. George Smith's letter (among the papers), that the reserve be made "for the Chippewa Indians of Michigan, to be purchased under the direction of the missionary society," etc., I have to remark that no such privilege could, in my opinion, be given without legislation of Congress. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith two letters from the Commissioner of the General Land Office in relation to the withdrawal of certain lands in Michigan from sale with a view to the benefit hereafter of certain Indian tribes, in accordance with the intimations of the Indian Office.

The first letter, that of the 20th of December last, has reference to lands in Isabella County, Mich., and that of the 10th instant to land in a new county, called Emmett, in the same State, the former county containing sixteen and the latter twentyseven townships and fractional townships, and the withdrawal appears to be desired by the Indian Office "in consequence of certain contemplated arrangements with the Indians in Michigan during the present spring." The matter connected with the letter of the 20th December has been delayed, waiting more specific information from the Indian Office as to the specific land wanted, which is supplied by this letter of the 10th instant from that office.

The philanthropic policy of furnishing these Indians, who are desirous of becoming cultivators of the soil, with land for that purpose, to the greatest possible extent separated from evil example or annoyance of unprincipled whites, who might be disposed to settle in their vicinity, or within their midst, after farms already opened by them had rendered the surrounding land more valuable is apparent, and I have no hesitation in recommending your sanction to the withdrawal of the lands indicated in each of said communications from the Land Office, but it must be with the express understanding that no peculiar or exclusive claim to any of the land so withdrawn can be acquired by said Indians, for whose future benefit it is understood to be made, until after they shall by future legislation be invested with the legal title thereto.

With much respect, your obedient servant,

The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

[Indorsement.]

R. MCCLELLAND,

Secretary.

MAY 14, 1855.

Let the withdrawal of all the vacant land in Isabella County be made with the express understanding contained in the letter of the Secretary of the Interior to me of the 12th instant.

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

(Superseded by treaty of August 2, 1855, with Chippewas of Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River, 11 Statutes, 633.)

L'ANSE RESERVATION.

How established.-By treaty of September 30, 1854. Area and survey.-Contains 52,684 acres.1 Surveyed. 1 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1884, p. 260.

Acres cultivated.-Not reported separately.

Tribes and population.-The tribes living here are the L'Anse, Vieux de Sert bands of Chippewas of Lake Superior. Total population, 1,000.1

Location. In the north-western part of Michigan. There are about sixteen sections of the land, valuable for deposit of slate stone. The reservation lies too far north for winter wheat, but the Indians raise spring crops successfully. They are in every way self-supporting.2 School population and accommodation not reported separately. (See Isabella Reservation.)

ONTONAGON RESERVATION.

How established.-By treaty of September 30, 1854 (6th clause, 2d art.); Executive order, September 25, 1855.

Area and survey.-Contains 2,551 acres.3 Surveyed.

Acres cultivated.-Not reported separately.

Tribes and population.-The tribes living here are the Ontonagon band of Chippewas of Lake Superior. Total population, 79.*

Location. In the north-western part of Michigan.

The people are self-supporting.

School population and accommodation not reported separately. (See Isabella Reservation.)

SYNOPSIS OF TREATIES WITH THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS.

Treaty with the Wyandotte, Delaware, Chippewa, and Ottawa Indians, made at Fort M’Intosh, January 21, 1785.5

Three chiefs, one Wyandotte and two Delaware, to be retained until the restoration of prisoners. (Art. 1.) Protection of United States acknowledged. (Art. 2.) Boundary fixed between United States and Wyandottes and Delawares as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Cayahoga River, up said river to portage, between that and Tuscarawas branch of Muskingum, down said to forks at crossing above Fort Lawrence, next to portage of Big Miami, along portage to the Great Miami or Ome, thence down on the south-east side of same to its mouth, thence along south shore of Lake Erie to place of beginning. (Art. 3.) Reservations 6 miles square reserved by the United States as trading posts at the mouth of the Miami, at the portage of the Big Miami, at Sandusky Bay and lower rapids of the river. (Art. 4.) No citizens to settle on Indian lands on pain of forfeiture of protection of United States. (Art. 5.) Claim to all land east, south, and west of boundary relinquished. (Art. 6.) Six miles along west bank of Detroit River reserved to use of United States. (Art. 7.) Also 12 miles square at post of Michillimachenac reserved for United States. (Art. 8.) Robbers and murderers to be delivered to United States. (Art. 9.) United States commissioners to distribute goods to tribes in treaty at time of signing same. (Art. 10.) Three Delaware chiefs who fought for the United States to be received and restored to their rank by the Delaware Nation, and they and their families to enjoy their portion of the land. (Separate article.)

2 Ibid., 1886, p. 166.

1 Report of Indian Commissioner, 1884, p. 292. 260. 4 Ibid., p. 400. 5 United States Statutes at Large, Vol. VII, p. 16.

3 Ibid., p.

Treaty with the Chippewa, Wyandotte, Delaware, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, and Sac Indians, made at Fort Harmer, on the Muskingum, North-west Territory, January 9, 1789.

Prisoners restored. Two Wyandotte hostages held for fulfillment of this agreement. (Art. 1.) Boundary lines and cessions of preceding treaty confirmed, and $6,000 worth of goods acknowledged. (Arts. 2, 10, 11, 12, and 15.) United States relinquishes to said tribes lands lying between boundaries. Indians not to sell except to United States. (Art. 3.) Indians to hunt peaceably on ceded territory. (Art. 4.) Any Indian committing robbery or murder on citizens or other Indians to be punished by the United States. Citizens guilty of like offenses to receive similar punishment. (Art. 5.) Horse-stealing prohibited. (Art. 6.) Trade to be established and persons antl property of traders and agents to be protected. Any unlicensed person attempting to trade to be delivered up. (Art. 7.) Indians to give notice of any hostile intention toward the United States. United States to do the same towards Indians. (Art. 8.) No citizen to settle on Indian lands, and said tribes may punish such persons in such manner as they see fit. (Art. 9.) Friendship renewed. (Art. 13.) Pottawatomies and Sacs taken under protection of United States. (Art. 14.) Wyandottes claim lands granted to Shawnees and threaten to dispossess them unless they make peace. Wyandottes claim all country west of Miami boundary to Lake Erie. (Separate article.) Wyandottes to retain without molestation villages on the Rosine River, along the Strait. (Separate article.) Proclaimed September 27, 1789

Treaty with the Chippewas, Wyandottes, Delawares, Shawnees, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Weeas, and Eel River, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia Indians, made at Greenville, North-west Territory, August 3, 1795.

Hostilities to cease and peace established. (Art. 1.) Prisoners on both sides to be restored. (Art. 2.) Boundary line to be as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Cayahoga River, and running thence up the same to the portage between that and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum; thence down that branch to the crossing place above Fort Lawrence; thence westerly to a fork of that branch of the Great Miami River running into Ohio at or near which fork stood Loromie's store, and where commences the portage between the Miami of the Ohio and St. Mary's River, which is a branch of the Miami which runs into Lake Erie; thence in a westerly course to Fort Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wabash; then south-westerly in a direct line to the Ohio so as to intersect that river opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River. Indians cede all lands lying south and east of the boundary line. The following tracts were ceded: At Loromie's store, 6 miles square; at Girty's town, on the St. Mary's River, 2 miles square; at the head of navigation of the Au-Glaize, 6 miles square; at Fort Defiance, 6 miles square; at Fort Wayne, 6 miles square; 2 miles square about 8 miles west of Fort Wayne; at the Ouatanon or old Weea towns on the Wabash, 6 miles square; at the British fort at the foot of the rapids of the Miami, 12 miles square; at the mouth of the river where it empties into the lake, 6 miles square; at Sandusky Lake, 6 miles square; at the lower rapids of the Sandusky River, 2 miles square; and all land about the post of Detroit, Indian title to which has been extinguished by gifts from the French or English governments, and land between the river Rosine on the south and Lake St. Clair on the north and a line the general course whereof shall be 6 miles distant from the west end of Lake Erie and Detroit River; and the land about Michillimackinac, and all land on the island and main land adjacent, Indian title to which has been extinguished by French or English governments; also on the mainland north of the post, 6 miles on Lake Huron and 3 miles back; and the De Bois Blanc Island, being a voluntary gift of the Chippewas; at the mouth of the Chicago River, 6 miles square; at the mouth of the Illinois River, 12 miles square; and at the old Peoria fort, 6 miles square. When boundaries of tracts 1 United States Statutes at Large, Vol. VII, p. 28.

are surveyed, Indian chiefs to attend the survey. Free passage by land and water permitted from post to post. Free use also of all harbors and months of rivers along the lakes. (Art. 3.) United States relinquish all claim to other Indian lands north of Ohio, east of Mississippi, west and south of Great Lakes, according to line of treaty of 1783, except 150,000 acres near the rapids of the Ohio, the post of Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the lands adjacent, or the lands in possession of French or other white settlers, and the post of Fort Massac, near the mouth of the Ohio; $20,000 in presents distributed in gifts, and perpetual annuity of $1,000 each to Wyandottes, Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawatomies; and $500 each to Kickapoo, Weea, Eel River, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia Indians. Money may be expended for stock. (Art. 4.) Indians to be protected on their lands and sell only to United States. (Art. 5.) White settlers on Indian lands to be punished in such manner as tribes see fit, (Art. 6.) Indians may hunt on ceded lands. (Art. 7.) United States to open trade with the Indians. (Art. 8.) Offenders to be delivered up to be punished according to law. Indians to give notice of hostile intentions. (Art. 9.) This treaty to supersede all other treaties. (Art. 10.)

Proclaimed December 2, 1795.1

Treaty with the Chippewas, Delawares, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Munsees, Shawnees, and Wyandottes, made at Fort Industry, on the Miami of the Lake, July 4, 1805. Protection of the United States acknowledged. (Art. 1.) Boundary line to be a meridian 120 miles west of western boundary of State of Pennsylvania, intersecting the boundary line of the United States on the north and the line of the Greenville treaty on the south. (Art. 2.) Indians cede all lands lying east of the aforesaid line and bounded southerly and easterly by the treaty of Greenville line and north by the forty-first degree of north latitude. · (Art. 3.) Perpetual annuity to the Munsees, Delawares and Wyandottes, and to the Shawnees and Senecas residing with the Wyandottes, of $825 annually forever, and $175 in trust from the Connecticut Land Company, proprietors of "Sufferer's Land." (Art. 4.) Ottawas and Chippewas and such of Pottawatomies as reside on the river Huron or Lake Erie have received from aforementioned company $4,000 in hand, and the company has secured to the President of the United States in trust $12,000, payable in six annual installments of $2,000 each. (Art. 5.) Indians to fish and hunt on ceded territory. (Art. 6.) Proclaimed April 24, 1806.2

Treaty with the Chippewa, Ottawa, Wyandotte, and Pottawatomie Indians, made at Detroit, November 17, 1807.

Indians cede land as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the Miami River of the Lakes, and running thence up the middle thereof to the mouth of the great AuGlaize River; thence running due north until it intersects a parallel of latitude to be drawn from the outlet of Lake Huron, which forms the river Sinclair; thence running north-east the course that may be found will lead in a direct line to White Rock, in Lake Huron; thence due east until it intersects the boundary line between the United States and Upper Canada, in said lake; thence southwardly, following the said boundary line down said lake, through river Sinclair, Lake St. Clair, and the river Detroit, into Lake Erie, to a point due east of the aforesaid Miami River; thence west to the place of beginning. (Art. 1.) Ottawas receive $3,333.33; Chippewas, same; Wyandottes, $1,666.66; Pottawatomies, same. Also a perpetual annuity to the Ottawas and Chippewas of $800 each, and Wyandottes and Pottawatomies $400 each. (Art. 2.) Annuity may be commuted. (Art. 3.) Blacksmith provided for Ottawas and Chippewas for ten years. (Art. 4.) Hunting and fishing allowed on ceded lands. (Art. 5.) Eight reservations set apart within ceded land, two on Maumee, one on Miami Bay, one on river Rosine, two on river Rouge, one on lake St. Clair, one to be United States Statutes at Large, Vol. VII p. 49. 2 Ibid., p. 87.