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THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
tvM Eo Brewer
NOTED INDIAN DISCIPLINARIAN
OF CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL
SUDDENLY EXPIRES.
Was One of the Most Highly Edu
cated Indians in the Government
Employ and Held Office of Discip
linarian for Seventeen Years.
. David E. Brewer, disciplinarian at
the Chemavva Indian school, died at St,
Joseph's hospital, in Tacoma', Washing
ton, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1908, after an
illness of short duration.
Mr. Brewer became ill and unable to
perform his duties at the Indian school
about a month ago and asked for a leave
of absence of thirty days, thinking that
the rest from labor would do him good
and be the means of restoring his health.
During his leave of absence he went to
Tacoma for a visit, but while in that city
Lis illness overtook him more, severely
than before and he was removed to St.
Joseph's hospital, where he shortly after
expired .
In the passing of David Brewer the
cause of Indian training and education
has lost one of its staunchest upholders
and noblest workers, and none feel the
loss more keenly than the students with
whom he worked and played, over whom
he watched and whose lives he influenc
ed. David Brewer was born on the Puyal
lup reservation in Washington forty-two
years ago and was a full-blooded Indian,
being a member of the Puyallup tribe.
He was attending a boarding school on
the Puyallup reservation when he was
transferred with a number of other Puy
allup pupils on February 25, 1880, to the
training school at Forest Grove, Oregon,
being the first party to enter the school
at the time it was established.
In 1885 Mr. Brewer was detailed in
charge of a party of students to take
possession of the present school grounds
;at Chemawa, where they arrived in Feb
ruary. They went into camp and pro
ceeded to clear the grounds and build
temporary shacks for the school to use
while other permanent buildings were
being erected, Which was done the fol
lowing year.
In October, 1902, he went to Tacoma
where he remained until July, 1905,
when he returned and was immediately
installed in his former position, which he
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David E. Brewer
has held with credit and honor.
He became united in marriage with
one of the students at the school and
like himself his wife grew to be one of
the most highly educated, refined and
beloved personages' of the institution.
Mrs. Brewer is a graduate of the school