Newberry Library - C. H. Barstow papers, 1870-1891

C. H. Barstow papers, 1870-1891

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Open book C. H. Barstow papers, 1870-1891

Title C. H. Barstow papers, 1870-1891

Creator Barstow, C. H. (Charles H.), -1908

Date 1870-1891

Place Montana--Crow Agency, Montana--Rosebud

Language English

Subjects United States, Crow Indians, Frontier and pioneer life, Little Bighorn, Battle of the, Mont., 1876, Pioneers

Summary Mainly correspondence, 1870-1891. There are18 letters written by C.H. Barstow at the Crow Agency in the Montana Territory to his sister Eliza, his brother Rogers L. Barstow, and his cousin Sarah, in Massachusetts. Of the other 14 letters, there are several from Barstow's wife Lizzie to his sister and brother, and a few other miscellaneous letters among family members and friends. Also, three small clippings and a November 10, 1887 issue of The Montana Stock Gazette reporting a skirmish at the agency between the Crow Indian followers of Crow-Bannock Indian, Sword Bearer, and the U.S. Army. Subjects covered in Barstow's letters include the observance of the tenth anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn and a visit by battle participant Frederick William Benteen; Barstow's heavy workload; arson attempts at the agency's Rosebud location prior to its 1884 move to the Little Big Horn Valley; Indian Service politics and officials; agency appointments and Barstow's own job problems; his marriage and Lizzie's illness and the care of their daughter after Lizzie's death; and legal transfers of Barstow Kansas farm property.

Biographical/Historical Note United States Indian Service employee.

Extent 0.4 linear feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)

Format Sources, Manuscripts, Correspondence

User-Contributed Transcription was ended and my force of employes were resting. I commenced the trying labors of office work etc, and for several months labored very late at night. The first freight train that left this agency I assisted in breaking the trains and harnessing same to the wagons. I have so conducted myself in intercourse with the Indians, that their respect and confidence has been gained. I have refused absolutely every present offered to me either robes or trinkets, and my purse has been ever open to their sick and needy. Mr Earle who inspected this agency in 1879 gave me honorable mention in his report published in the Report of the Board of Commissioners for 1879. And last year I unclear honorable mention in the agents report of affairs at this agency, published in the Commissioners Report for 1884. The agent does not however state the facts as he credits me with only 100 Indians taught to farm separate pieces of ground that season, whereas I actually had one hundred and fifty heads of families. (Indians the majority of whom had never touched a plow unclear or hoe previous to that season) working as industriously as beavers and as the agent states at the close of the season their different gardens were as clear of weeds as any garden need be. A New England farm was not more clear of weeds, this is no exaggeration. We worked very hard and had I not been favored with a fair lot of men the work could not have been accomplished as I had but half the force of labour under my control.) Another point I can make is this that we have managed to employ the best men obtainable regardless of politics and it is a fact that there are now employed as unclear Agency, Ten Democrats actually appointed by Republican officers, and two Democrats appointed by the present Commissioner making unclear (12) democrats in our Rolls today and only 5 Republicans including the agent. The politics of the Matron I do not know. None of these Democrats mentioned has been discharged by the agent without good cause. He appointed them because they were good men. Surely at this agency

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number VAULT Ayer MS 3014

BibID 991290268805867

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2407px × 2984px 20.59 MB

Filename 991290268805867_Ayer_MS_3014_fol_004_00003.tif

Unique Identifier NL11E6GE

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