Post by Nancy on Apr 16, 2007 10:32:52 GMT -5
I found this paragraph and thought it really went with this picture which I found here at Oyate. Link to story at bottom of page.
![](http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3835/tamahastandingmoosec186pp9.jpg)
Winona County, Minnesota
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: TREATIES WITH THE INDIANS
Pages 137-146 (excluding page 141-142)
From the book
"History of Wabasha County"
Published in 1884
Concerning Wabasha and Winona Counties in Minnesota
This chapter would perhaps be considered incomplete without mention of one of the chiefs of Wabasha's band who was more generally known to the early settlers of Winona county than any other of the Indians who originally claimed this part of the country. The most of the "old settlers" probably remember "Old To-ma-ha," the old one-eyed Sioux, who kept up his rounds of visitations to the settlements until about the time of his death, which occurred in 1860 at about one hundred years of age. When on his customary visits among the whites he was usually accompanied by a party of his own descendants and family relatives ~ from ten to twenty in number. His figure was erect and movements active, notwithstanding his advanced age. His dress on these occasions was a much worn military coat and pantaloons of blue cloth trimmed with red, and an old stove-pipe hat with the same color displayed. He always carried with him a large package of papers inclosed in a leather or skin pocket-book, and also a large silver medal, which he wore suspended from his neck in a conspicuous place on his breast. His large red pipe-stone hatchet pipe, with a long handle, was generally in his hands. It was his usual custom to attract attention by his presence and then allow the curious to examine his pipe and medal, when, if there appeared to be a prospect of getting money for the exhibition, he would produce his pocket-book and allow an examination of its contents, for which privilege he expected, and usually received, at least a dime, and perhaps from the more liberal a quarter of a dollar. This Indian was a historical character. His pocket-book contained his commission as a chief of the Sioux nation, given him by Governor Clark, of Missouri territory, in 1814, who at the same time presented him with a captain's uniform and a medal for meritorious services rendered the government as a scout and messenger. His papers contained testimonials and recommendations from prominent government officials and other persons. Mention is made of him in the reports of officials who had jurisdiction in the northwest territories, one by Lieut. Pike, who was sent by the government of the United States in 1805 to explore the northern part of the "Louisiana purchase," then recently acquired, and to make treaties with the Dakotas. In 1812, when the Sioux joined the English in the war with the United States, Omaha went to St. Louis and gave his services to fight against the British forces. He had the confidence of the military officers, and in all of the frontier difficulties on the upper Mississippi, where fighting was done, he was employed as scout and messenger. When his services were no longer required by government he returned to his Dakota home.
When the Sioux left this vicinity and went to their reservation on the Minnesota river, Tomaha remained to die in the locality where he was born and where he spent his youth. He sometimes visited his friends on the reservation, but never made it his home.
www.rootsweb.com/~mnwinbio/ch15.shtml
![](http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3835/tamahastandingmoosec186pp9.jpg)
Winona County, Minnesota
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: TREATIES WITH THE INDIANS
Pages 137-146 (excluding page 141-142)
From the book
"History of Wabasha County"
Published in 1884
Concerning Wabasha and Winona Counties in Minnesota
This chapter would perhaps be considered incomplete without mention of one of the chiefs of Wabasha's band who was more generally known to the early settlers of Winona county than any other of the Indians who originally claimed this part of the country. The most of the "old settlers" probably remember "Old To-ma-ha," the old one-eyed Sioux, who kept up his rounds of visitations to the settlements until about the time of his death, which occurred in 1860 at about one hundred years of age. When on his customary visits among the whites he was usually accompanied by a party of his own descendants and family relatives ~ from ten to twenty in number. His figure was erect and movements active, notwithstanding his advanced age. His dress on these occasions was a much worn military coat and pantaloons of blue cloth trimmed with red, and an old stove-pipe hat with the same color displayed. He always carried with him a large package of papers inclosed in a leather or skin pocket-book, and also a large silver medal, which he wore suspended from his neck in a conspicuous place on his breast. His large red pipe-stone hatchet pipe, with a long handle, was generally in his hands. It was his usual custom to attract attention by his presence and then allow the curious to examine his pipe and medal, when, if there appeared to be a prospect of getting money for the exhibition, he would produce his pocket-book and allow an examination of its contents, for which privilege he expected, and usually received, at least a dime, and perhaps from the more liberal a quarter of a dollar. This Indian was a historical character. His pocket-book contained his commission as a chief of the Sioux nation, given him by Governor Clark, of Missouri territory, in 1814, who at the same time presented him with a captain's uniform and a medal for meritorious services rendered the government as a scout and messenger. His papers contained testimonials and recommendations from prominent government officials and other persons. Mention is made of him in the reports of officials who had jurisdiction in the northwest territories, one by Lieut. Pike, who was sent by the government of the United States in 1805 to explore the northern part of the "Louisiana purchase," then recently acquired, and to make treaties with the Dakotas. In 1812, when the Sioux joined the English in the war with the United States, Omaha went to St. Louis and gave his services to fight against the British forces. He had the confidence of the military officers, and in all of the frontier difficulties on the upper Mississippi, where fighting was done, he was employed as scout and messenger. When his services were no longer required by government he returned to his Dakota home.
When the Sioux left this vicinity and went to their reservation on the Minnesota river, Tomaha remained to die in the locality where he was born and where he spent his youth. He sometimes visited his friends on the reservation, but never made it his home.
www.rootsweb.com/~mnwinbio/ch15.shtml