Mellette County, South Dakota
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Indian Day Schools in Mellette County in the 1890's
Written by Mrs. Bess Adrian, White River, SD - April 28, 1961
Retyped and submitted by Donna Adrian - March 14, 2008
Links to additional information and formatting changes were added by the site host.
The first School System of Mellette County was set up by the Federal Government for the Sioux Indians starting about in the year of 1890. These Schools were built at the Indian Camps that were scattered throughout the County. Most of the older Indians could not speak English so it was a great advantage to teach the Children English in School. All School Children were issued new clothing and furnished their noonday meal. Thus it was necessary to hire a Teacher and a Cook and Housekeeper. Often they hired a man as the Teacher and his wife as the Cook.
l. Lower Cut Meat School -was located in the southern part of what is now Surprise Valley
Township in the Earl Adrian Pasture. Some of the pupils who attended that school, who still
live in Mellette County are: Sam Yellow Robe of Westover from 1895 to 1907; Clyde
Otterman from 1906-1914; Mrs. Ed Eagle Bear from 1898-1904. Also Clyde Otterman’s
two brothers, Tom and Allen, who lost their lives in World War I. The Otterman Legion Post
is named for these two Brothers.
Percy Hanson was one of Clyde Ottoman’s teachers at this School. J. H. Bratley taught this
school from 1895 until 1898. His wife was the housekeeper and cook. Mr. and Mrs. Thorne
were the next teacher and cook. By 1918, the Indians had moved to their Allotments so the
Lower Cut Meat School was no longer used. It was sold to Frank Eloe. He moved it into his
place northeast of Parmelee. Frank Halligan later bought the place and it is still used as the
Ranch house. School was located SD1/4 Sec. 34, Twp 40 – Range 31.
2. Upper Pine Creek School -was located about 14 miles southwest of the present town
of White River , in what is now Robert Adrian’s Pasture. In a story related by the late Frank
Perry, we learned that his parents came there to teach and as a housekeeper in September 12,
1906 . Ed Eaglebear of Norris mentioned meeting a Professor at Carlyle School in Pennsylvania,
who had taught in the Pine Creek School. His name was Whitewell. Soloman Runs Forward had
a frame house quite close to this school.
In later years after it was no longer used as a School, Olaf Nelson of the Circle M Cattle Company used the building as his headquarters for a while. School was located in SD ¼ of Sec. 32 – Twp 41 –Range 30.
3. Lower Pine Creek School - Frank Perry’s Mother and Father transferred to the Lower Pine Creek School in the fall of 1907. They continued to each there through 1908. J A Brown and Alex Bordeaux Sr. opened a store close to this school. It was close to where Pine Creek flows into the Little White River. School was located in SW ¼ Sec 34 – Twp 42 Range 29.
4. Ring Thunder Day School – This School was located at the top of the Little White River Hill, east of the present road leading to Mission , in Ring Thunder Township . There was a large Indian Camp located along the River. Dave Blue Thunder, who now lives a few miles south of there attended school there in 1898. He remembers the following Teachers: George Olson, Mr. Thorne, Mr. Kingsley, Mr. Scovel and Mr. McKenzie. This school was still being used in 1912, when Mr. Raffensperger of White River was teaching the south School in Ringthunder Township , he remembers Mr. Toole was the teacher. In later years, the School building stood empty. It was used for a while by the Nelson Brothers when they ran the Circle M Cattle Company in this county. Later it was sold to the Episcopal Church and used as the living quarters for their Catechist. In 1959 it was moved to Red Leaf to be used as part of the meeting house for their Church. School was located in SW ¼ of Sec 36 Twp 40 – Range 30.
5. Blackpipe Day School -This school was located on Blackpipe Creek, north of the Paul Berry place, and east of the Episcopal Church, a few miles north of the present town of Norris . Henry Eagle Bear of Norris attended this school in 1894. He has a picture that was presented to him by the Teacher, J B Tripp of the pupils. Henry was one of the youngest children on the picture. Anna Skunksfather – Quick Bear of Norris was also a pupil t that time. Ed Eagle Bear of Norris attended in 1896. He was only 5 years old so Mrs. Tripp kept him at the school during the winter. There were about 30 pupils at the school when Ed went there. The children were just taught the subjects through the third grade at all of the Day Schools at that time but the girls were taught sewing, cooking and general housework. The boys were taught some manual training and helped with the chores around the school It was located SE ¼ of Sec 23, Twp 41 Range 33.
6. Corn Creek Day School - This school was located about 7 miles north of the present town of Norris . It was probably built about the same time as the other Day Schools of Mellette County. Some of the early pupils were: Mrs. Abbie Red Fish of Norris; Alex Dog Eyes, Norris, A C Long Warrier; Henry and Jennie Medicine Blanket; and Luke Leading Cloud. This school house was remodeled in about 1934 and continued as a Day School until it was moved into Norris , SD to be used as an Integrated School for both Indians and Whites. It was located SE ¼, Sec 35 Twp 42 Range 33.
7. Little White River Day School - This school was located at an Indian Camp about 6 miles northeast of the present town of White River , west of the C W Gregg place. Mrs. Sam YellowRobe of Westover attended this school when she was 5 years old in 1895. Frank Perry’s sister and her husband were teachers and housekeepers there in 1907. Two other teachers were Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Wright. The School was located on SE ¼ Sec 28 Twp 43 – Range 28.
8. Little Crow Day School -This school was built about 1 ½ miles southeast of Mosher on the Little Crow Allotment. In 1895 G G Davis taught there, Mrs. Felix Knife of Norris said her Mother attendee school there at that time. Later Mrs. Knife went to school there and after the remodeled it, her daughter who now attends Dakota Wesleyan at Mitchell attended school there. Soloman Gary, a Negro teacher taught there for 24 years. It was closed about 1948. This school was located SE ¼ Sec 4 Two 40 Range 25.
9. White Thunder Day School - This school was built just southwest of the present town of Wood . Robert McLean and Martin Iron Shooter were pupils of this school. It was located north ¼, Sec 19 Two 40 Range 27.
10. Butte Creek Day School - This school was located on Butte Creek about 3 miles northeast of Wood. Joe One Feather attended it. It was located SW ¼, Sec 21, Twp 41, Range 26.
11. Whirlwind Soldier Day School -This school was built in the Bad Nation Indian Camp about 10 miles northeast of Wood. Narcisse Jackson attended this school. It was located West ½, Sec 2, Two 42 – Range 25.
This is a list of the Teachers and Housekeepers employed in 1897 to teach and care for the Indian Day Schools of the Rosebud Reservation. This list was furnished from the Library of the Department of Interior, Office of Indian Affairs, Washington D. C. on September 11, 1931 , to J. H. Bratley, Miami, Florida and sent to me by his daughter Hazel Bratley of Miami to be used in our County Books.
I have numbered the Schools that were in Mellette County .
School Teacher General Housekeeper
l. Little White River J. M. Corbin Martha A Cortin
2. Blackpipe Creek John B Tripp Emelina Tripp
3. Corn Creek Hattie F. Eaton Rose Etta Ray
4. Lower Cut Meat Creek Jesse H Bratley Della R Bratley
5. Upper Pine Creek D L McLane Louisa McLane
6. Pine Creek William A Light Libbie C Light
7. Ring Thunder Camp J F Estes Anna J. Estes
8. White Thunder Creek Charles E Shell Ida A Shell
9. Butte Creek Elmira R Greason Freddie Brunner
10. Little Crow Camp George G Davis Cora Davis
11. Whirlwind Soldier Camp Henry J Barnes Susie A Barnes
(other day schools not in Mellette County )
Ironwood Creek George M Butterfield Captola C Butterfield
Upper Cut Meat Creek Henry W Shaw Catherine C M Shaw
Milks Camp E A Thomas Libbbie S Thomas
Spring Creek Z A Parker William M Parker
He Dog Camp J Franklin House Drusilla House
Red Leafs Camp Morton E Bradford Fannie Bradford
Ponca Creek Mabel C Bennett (no housekeeper listed)
Oak Creek Lovena Van Horn Cora Dillon
.
Written by Mrs. Bess Adrian, White River, SD - April 28, 1961
Retyped and submitted by Donna Adrian - March 14, 2008
Links to additional information and formatting changes were added by the site host.
The first School System of Mellette County was set up by the Federal Government for the Sioux Indians starting about in the year of 1890. These Schools were built at the Indian Camps that were scattered throughout the County. Most of the older Indians could not speak English so it was a great advantage to teach the Children English in School. All School Children were issued new clothing and furnished their noonday meal. Thus it was necessary to hire a Teacher and a Cook and Housekeeper. Often they hired a man as the Teacher and his wife as the Cook.
l. Lower Cut Meat School -was located in the southern part of what is now Surprise Valley
Township in the Earl Adrian Pasture. Some of the pupils who attended that school, who still
live in Mellette County are: Sam Yellow Robe of Westover from 1895 to 1907; Clyde
Otterman from 1906-1914; Mrs. Ed Eagle Bear from 1898-1904. Also Clyde Otterman’s
two brothers, Tom and Allen, who lost their lives in World War I. The Otterman Legion Post
is named for these two Brothers.
Percy Hanson was one of Clyde Ottoman’s teachers at this School. J. H. Bratley taught this
school from 1895 until 1898. His wife was the housekeeper and cook. Mr. and Mrs. Thorne
were the next teacher and cook. By 1918, the Indians had moved to their Allotments so the
Lower Cut Meat School was no longer used. It was sold to Frank Eloe. He moved it into his
place northeast of Parmelee. Frank Halligan later bought the place and it is still used as the
Ranch house. School was located SD1/4 Sec. 34, Twp 40 – Range 31.
2. Upper Pine Creek School -was located about 14 miles southwest of the present town
of White River , in what is now Robert Adrian’s Pasture. In a story related by the late Frank
Perry, we learned that his parents came there to teach and as a housekeeper in September 12,
1906 . Ed Eaglebear of Norris mentioned meeting a Professor at Carlyle School in Pennsylvania,
who had taught in the Pine Creek School. His name was Whitewell. Soloman Runs Forward had
a frame house quite close to this school.
In later years after it was no longer used as a School, Olaf Nelson of the Circle M Cattle Company used the building as his headquarters for a while. School was located in SD ¼ of Sec. 32 – Twp 41 –Range 30.
3. Lower Pine Creek School - Frank Perry’s Mother and Father transferred to the Lower Pine Creek School in the fall of 1907. They continued to each there through 1908. J A Brown and Alex Bordeaux Sr. opened a store close to this school. It was close to where Pine Creek flows into the Little White River. School was located in SW ¼ Sec 34 – Twp 42 Range 29.
4. Ring Thunder Day School – This School was located at the top of the Little White River Hill, east of the present road leading to Mission , in Ring Thunder Township . There was a large Indian Camp located along the River. Dave Blue Thunder, who now lives a few miles south of there attended school there in 1898. He remembers the following Teachers: George Olson, Mr. Thorne, Mr. Kingsley, Mr. Scovel and Mr. McKenzie. This school was still being used in 1912, when Mr. Raffensperger of White River was teaching the south School in Ringthunder Township , he remembers Mr. Toole was the teacher. In later years, the School building stood empty. It was used for a while by the Nelson Brothers when they ran the Circle M Cattle Company in this county. Later it was sold to the Episcopal Church and used as the living quarters for their Catechist. In 1959 it was moved to Red Leaf to be used as part of the meeting house for their Church. School was located in SW ¼ of Sec 36 Twp 40 – Range 30.
5. Blackpipe Day School -This school was located on Blackpipe Creek, north of the Paul Berry place, and east of the Episcopal Church, a few miles north of the present town of Norris . Henry Eagle Bear of Norris attended this school in 1894. He has a picture that was presented to him by the Teacher, J B Tripp of the pupils. Henry was one of the youngest children on the picture. Anna Skunksfather – Quick Bear of Norris was also a pupil t that time. Ed Eagle Bear of Norris attended in 1896. He was only 5 years old so Mrs. Tripp kept him at the school during the winter. There were about 30 pupils at the school when Ed went there. The children were just taught the subjects through the third grade at all of the Day Schools at that time but the girls were taught sewing, cooking and general housework. The boys were taught some manual training and helped with the chores around the school It was located SE ¼ of Sec 23, Twp 41 Range 33.
6. Corn Creek Day School - This school was located about 7 miles north of the present town of Norris . It was probably built about the same time as the other Day Schools of Mellette County. Some of the early pupils were: Mrs. Abbie Red Fish of Norris; Alex Dog Eyes, Norris, A C Long Warrier; Henry and Jennie Medicine Blanket; and Luke Leading Cloud. This school house was remodeled in about 1934 and continued as a Day School until it was moved into Norris , SD to be used as an Integrated School for both Indians and Whites. It was located SE ¼, Sec 35 Twp 42 Range 33.
7. Little White River Day School - This school was located at an Indian Camp about 6 miles northeast of the present town of White River , west of the C W Gregg place. Mrs. Sam YellowRobe of Westover attended this school when she was 5 years old in 1895. Frank Perry’s sister and her husband were teachers and housekeepers there in 1907. Two other teachers were Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Wright. The School was located on SE ¼ Sec 28 Twp 43 – Range 28.
8. Little Crow Day School -This school was built about 1 ½ miles southeast of Mosher on the Little Crow Allotment. In 1895 G G Davis taught there, Mrs. Felix Knife of Norris said her Mother attendee school there at that time. Later Mrs. Knife went to school there and after the remodeled it, her daughter who now attends Dakota Wesleyan at Mitchell attended school there. Soloman Gary, a Negro teacher taught there for 24 years. It was closed about 1948. This school was located SE ¼ Sec 4 Two 40 Range 25.
9. White Thunder Day School - This school was built just southwest of the present town of Wood . Robert McLean and Martin Iron Shooter were pupils of this school. It was located north ¼, Sec 19 Two 40 Range 27.
10. Butte Creek Day School - This school was located on Butte Creek about 3 miles northeast of Wood. Joe One Feather attended it. It was located SW ¼, Sec 21, Twp 41, Range 26.
11. Whirlwind Soldier Day School -This school was built in the Bad Nation Indian Camp about 10 miles northeast of Wood. Narcisse Jackson attended this school. It was located West ½, Sec 2, Two 42 – Range 25.
This is a list of the Teachers and Housekeepers employed in 1897 to teach and care for the Indian Day Schools of the Rosebud Reservation. This list was furnished from the Library of the Department of Interior, Office of Indian Affairs, Washington D. C. on September 11, 1931 , to J. H. Bratley, Miami, Florida and sent to me by his daughter Hazel Bratley of Miami to be used in our County Books.
I have numbered the Schools that were in Mellette County .
School Teacher General Housekeeper
l. Little White River J. M. Corbin Martha A Cortin
2. Blackpipe Creek John B Tripp Emelina Tripp
3. Corn Creek Hattie F. Eaton Rose Etta Ray
4. Lower Cut Meat Creek Jesse H Bratley Della R Bratley
5. Upper Pine Creek D L McLane Louisa McLane
6. Pine Creek William A Light Libbie C Light
7. Ring Thunder Camp J F Estes Anna J. Estes
8. White Thunder Creek Charles E Shell Ida A Shell
9. Butte Creek Elmira R Greason Freddie Brunner
10. Little Crow Camp George G Davis Cora Davis
11. Whirlwind Soldier Camp Henry J Barnes Susie A Barnes
(other day schools not in Mellette County )
Ironwood Creek George M Butterfield Captola C Butterfield
Upper Cut Meat Creek Henry W Shaw Catherine C M Shaw
Milks Camp E A Thomas Libbbie S Thomas
Spring Creek Z A Parker William M Parker
He Dog Camp J Franklin House Drusilla House
Red Leafs Camp Morton E Bradford Fannie Bradford
Ponca Creek Mabel C Bennett (no housekeeper listed)
Oak Creek Lovena Van Horn Cora Dillon
.
Native Americans - Day Schools
Indian Day Schools
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
At this school (Lower Cut Meat Day School) Mr. Bratley and the boys built a dam across Cut Meat Creek hoping to get water to irrigate the three acre garden plot. The creek was dry when the dam was built but when the spring snows melted, there was ample water to irrigate for the next three years. They also built an ice house in the Bad Land wall and had plenty of milk, butter and ice cream. The Indian children did not like the ice cream when first introduced to it but soon became fond of it.
Blackpipe Day School is on Blackpipe Creek north of the Paul Berry place a few miles north of Norris. Henry Eagle Bear attended this school in 1894. J. B. Tripp was the teacher from 1898 to 1905. Anna Skunks Father and Reuben Quick Bear were pupils at this time.The children were taught the subjects through the third grade. At that time the girls were taught sewing, cooking and general housework, while the boys were taught manual training and helped with chores.
Corn Creek Day School was located about the same time as the other day schools of Mellette County. In 1913 Mr. and Mrs. Daley were teacher and housekeeper at the school. Some of the early pupils were Mrs. Abbie Red Fish, Alex Dog Eye, Aas Long Warrior, Henry and Jennie Medicine Blanket and Luke Leading Cloud. This school was rebuilt in 1939 with resident cottages for teachers; modernly equipped school rooms, garage for buses and had landscaping and gardens. In 1953 it was closed; the buildings moved and a program to integrate the Indian children into public schools was initiated.
Beside the Government Day schools many Indian chilren attended Government boarding schools, and Mission boarding schools. Many children from Mellette County attended the boarding school in Rapid City. It was also later closed.
Eastern Mellette County Day Schools and Camps
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
In 1903 the Rosebud reservation consisted of all of Gregory county, starting from west of Bonesteel, all of Tripp and all of Meyer (now subdivided into Mellette and Todd Counties). There were three Indian trading posts in a territory extending from the Pine Ridge line to the Missouri River.
In the late 1800's, the government wanted to disband the large tribes and break up the large bands camped around Rosebud, so they allotted them land to farm in all the outlying territory around the reservation.
The various chiefs and subchiefs and other Indians with leadership ability took their followers to different sites suitable to their needs and settled White Thunder permanently.
The government furnished school building and teachers for these communities.
Little Crow camp was located about one and one-half mile south of what is now the town of Mosher. George G. Davis, teacher, Cora Davis, housekeeper. It was named after Chief Little Crow who came there with his band from Little Oak Creek. About 10 families lived in this camp in log houses. The Little Crow Day school is no longer there, having been moved to the town of Wood to be used as a dormitory and lunchroom. The Day school discontinued in operation in 1935. Fifteen teachers taught at Little Crow Day School, the last one being a Negro, Solomon C. Gary, who taught there for 25 years.
The only members of this community still living at the site of the old camp are Ben Medicine Eagle and his brother William.
The Episcopal Church still stands on the hill where it was placed after being moved from its original site at Little Oak Creek.
White Thunder Creek was another scene of much activity long ago. Charles E. Shell, teacher, Ida A. Shell, housekeeper. There was a large day school there, many log houses and a round log community hall used for many celebrations and meetings. Also situated at White Thunder was a store operated by full-blood Indian, John Cook. The day school building is the only building remaining there now. The White Thunder community was named after Chief White Thunder, once chief of the Orphan Band of Brule Sioux.
There was also a day school situated on Butte Creek, with Elmera R. Greason teacher, Freddie Brunner, housekeeper, northeast of Wood and at Bad Nation north of Wood,
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
At this school (Lower Cut Meat Day School) Mr. Bratley and the boys built a dam across Cut Meat Creek hoping to get water to irrigate the three acre garden plot. The creek was dry when the dam was built but when the spring snows melted, there was ample water to irrigate for the next three years. They also built an ice house in the Bad Land wall and had plenty of milk, butter and ice cream. The Indian children did not like the ice cream when first introduced to it but soon became fond of it.
Blackpipe Day School is on Blackpipe Creek north of the Paul Berry place a few miles north of Norris. Henry Eagle Bear attended this school in 1894. J. B. Tripp was the teacher from 1898 to 1905. Anna Skunks Father and Reuben Quick Bear were pupils at this time.The children were taught the subjects through the third grade. At that time the girls were taught sewing, cooking and general housework, while the boys were taught manual training and helped with chores.
Corn Creek Day School was located about the same time as the other day schools of Mellette County. In 1913 Mr. and Mrs. Daley were teacher and housekeeper at the school. Some of the early pupils were Mrs. Abbie Red Fish, Alex Dog Eye, Aas Long Warrior, Henry and Jennie Medicine Blanket and Luke Leading Cloud. This school was rebuilt in 1939 with resident cottages for teachers; modernly equipped school rooms, garage for buses and had landscaping and gardens. In 1953 it was closed; the buildings moved and a program to integrate the Indian children into public schools was initiated.
Beside the Government Day schools many Indian chilren attended Government boarding schools, and Mission boarding schools. Many children from Mellette County attended the boarding school in Rapid City. It was also later closed.
Eastern Mellette County Day Schools and Camps
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
In 1903 the Rosebud reservation consisted of all of Gregory county, starting from west of Bonesteel, all of Tripp and all of Meyer (now subdivided into Mellette and Todd Counties). There were three Indian trading posts in a territory extending from the Pine Ridge line to the Missouri River.
In the late 1800's, the government wanted to disband the large tribes and break up the large bands camped around Rosebud, so they allotted them land to farm in all the outlying territory around the reservation.
The various chiefs and subchiefs and other Indians with leadership ability took their followers to different sites suitable to their needs and settled White Thunder permanently.
The government furnished school building and teachers for these communities.
Little Crow camp was located about one and one-half mile south of what is now the town of Mosher. George G. Davis, teacher, Cora Davis, housekeeper. It was named after Chief Little Crow who came there with his band from Little Oak Creek. About 10 families lived in this camp in log houses. The Little Crow Day school is no longer there, having been moved to the town of Wood to be used as a dormitory and lunchroom. The Day school discontinued in operation in 1935. Fifteen teachers taught at Little Crow Day School, the last one being a Negro, Solomon C. Gary, who taught there for 25 years.
The only members of this community still living at the site of the old camp are Ben Medicine Eagle and his brother William.
The Episcopal Church still stands on the hill where it was placed after being moved from its original site at Little Oak Creek.
White Thunder Creek was another scene of much activity long ago. Charles E. Shell, teacher, Ida A. Shell, housekeeper. There was a large day school there, many log houses and a round log community hall used for many celebrations and meetings. Also situated at White Thunder was a store operated by full-blood Indian, John Cook. The day school building is the only building remaining there now. The White Thunder community was named after Chief White Thunder, once chief of the Orphan Band of Brule Sioux.
There was also a day school situated on Butte Creek, with Elmera R. Greason teacher, Freddie Brunner, housekeeper, northeast of Wood and at Bad Nation north of Wood,
Lower Cut Meat Day school, J. H. Bratley, teacher, Mrs. Bratley, housekeeper. Left to right, Cora Search the Enemy, Good Kill, Lucy
Kills Plenty, John Under the Water, Willie Good
Bird, Paul Grey Eagle Tail, Allen Otterman (for whom the Otterman American Legion Post
is named).
Kills Plenty, John Under the Water, Willie Good
Bird, Paul Grey Eagle Tail, Allen Otterman (for whom the Otterman American Legion Post
is named).
Upper Pine Creek School
Lower Cut Meat Day School
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