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• The area that became known as the Quapaw Agency Lands contained 220,000 acres and was located in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma where that state adjoins Missouri and Kansas. This area was settled prior to 1874 by 24 Indian groups. These range from full Indian tribes down to the remnants of several larger Indian groups whose main body settled elsewhere.

• Among the tribes who settled peacefully in these lands were people of the Algonquin and the Iroquois tribes who, in the time of Champlain, were great enemies. Here also, plowing and harvesting their fields together and sharing each other's native ceremonials, was a tribe of the mighty Sioun nation, as well as one of the Lupuamian linguistic family. Within the memories of their grandfathers, these old and powerful tribes had owned many hundreds of thousands of acres in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Oregon. 

• Since early territorial days of 1867 an agency had existed to the benefit of these Indians. This was in order that members of these tribes could be in contact with the agent of the federal government. But not all of the business handled by the agent was tribal business. The Indian Agent often found himself being the mediator in settling neighborhood and family disputes, as well.

  John D. Miles, a Quaker, was employed as the Indian Agent from 1872 to 1884. Daniel B. Dyer was employed as Indian agent at the Quapaw Indian Agency from 1881 to 1884. [note this dates appear to different from the newspaper accounts¹] The Daniel B. Dyer Collection located at The University of Kansas Libraries, Kenneth Spencer Research Library includes photographs of Quapaw and Osage Indians and the Quapaw and Modoc Methodist Mission. The collection also contains picture post cards of scenes in Oklahoma and Indian portraits from 1889 to 1908. A part of the peace policy of President Grant was to assign Quakers as Indian Agents.

• Because the land was originally given to the Quapaw Tribe, it became known as The Quapaw Agency Lands. Prior to this, it and other nearby areas had been know as The Neosho Indian Agency, The Shawnee Indian Agency and the Seneca Indian Agency. It was originally located four miles west of Seneca, Missouri, and later moved to Wyandotte in the Indian Territory. In 1920, two agencies were established; the Seneca and Quapaw. In 1922 they were combined and became the Quapaw Agency.

  Due to the close proximity of their reservations, there were many intermarriages between the tribes and several of the tribes eventually merged. Therefore, some of the individually listings will lead the researcher to the tribal name they are known by today.

  

Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties.
Vol. II (Treaties) in part. Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler.
Washington : Government Printing Office, 1904.
Table Of Contents (Treaties By Year)

The Treaty of Greenville
1795 Treaty between the United States and several of these tribes.

 

Message Board for Queries

Tribes	Chippewa	Modoc	Eastern Shawnee
	Ottawa	Quapaw
Illinois Confederacy	Cahokia	Kaskaskia	Illinois
	Michigamea	Moingwena	Peoria
	Pepikokia	Piankashaw
	Sioux	Tamaroa	Wea
Confederated Miami  aka United Peoria and Miamis	Eel_River	Miami
Seneca Confederacy	Cayuga	Conestoga	Erie
	Mohawk	Oneida	Onondaga
	Seneca	Tuscarora	Wyandot

 

 

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  1
  Arkansas City Traveler, March 5, 1884.

  We are sorry to announce that Agent Miles' resignation has finally been accepted by the department, to take effect as soon as his successor is appointed and qualified. The new agent has been nominated by the president, who has sent in the name of Daniel B. Dyer, of the Quapaw Agency, for the office. The appointment has not yet been confirmed by the senate. Mr. Dyer, the newly appointed agent, is a progressive man, and has the reputation of having strong executive ability. Transporter.
  Source: April 2002 http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cowley/Oldnews/papersup/trav63.htm 

  [FAREWELL TO U. S. INDIAN AGENT JOHN D. MILES.]

  Arkansas City Republican, April 19, 1884.

  Hon. John D. Miles, for so many years the popular and efficient agent at this place, took his final departure from the Agency on Wednesday, the 2nd inst., after having been relieved by Col. Daniel B. Dyer on the 1st inst. Agent Miles has been in charge of this Agency since 1872, during which time he successfully carried the affairs of his agency through many emergencies, and gathered around him a corps of faithful employees who stood by him through many trying and dangerous ordeals, while the Cheyennes and Arapahos were disposed to go upon the warpath. His honorable and firm treatment of the Indians finally won their deep respect, and they made many expressions of regret upon his departure. The friendly ties so long binding together this little community were reluctantly broken, and genuine regret was expressed on all sides upon Agent Miller's voluntary retirement to private life, while the best of wishes follow him with the hope that rest and relaxation will soon restore him to full health and strength. Col. Miles joins his family at Lawrence, Kansas, where they are now domiciled in their new and commodious home. Cheyenne Transporter.
  Source: April 2002 http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cowley/Oldnews/papersup/repub2.htm 

   

  Suggested reading:

  The Last Trek of the Indians, by Grant Foreman Handbook of American Indians, by Hodge Quapaw Agency Indian, by Charles Banks Wilson

 

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