VOICES FROM THE PAST
Question 1. Who were the Yamhill Indians?
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The Yamhill Indians were a division of the Csllapooya tribe. Their
land was in the present area of Grand Ronde and extended to Rickreall Creek! to
the South, and possibly as far East as the West bank of the Willamette River.
On April 24, 1851 at Cbampoeg a negotiating board met with the Yamhill
council to discuss cession of their land. The Board, representing the Oregon
Territory were Governor John Gaines, Judge Alonzo Skinner; , and Colonel Allen.
The three Chiefs representing only 54 men, women and children were 111
that survived the Epidemic of 1830-33. So, these were all that was left a
thriving band of Callapooya Indians whom had suffered an estimated loss M 90.
The Yamhills ceded their land and was sent to the Grand Ronde reserve.
Question 2. Who was Joel Palmer?
In 1853 Joel Palmer was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He negotia
ted treaties with many Indian tribes and made more promises than he intended
to keep.
He, in February 1856 under the escort of 100 U.S. Army soldiers supei
the Rogue River Valley "trail of tears" to the Grand Ronde reservation.
Joel Palmer also selected the Siletz reservation site. He thought ;
the white settlers would not want to live there; But this later proved
wrong, as the white settlers saw the value in the vast, rich timber stent
Siletz.
Question 3. Lt. Philip Sheridan:
Lt. Philip Henry Sheridan, a West Point graduate, came to Oregon in ,1855.
He took part in the Yakima Indian wars while stationed at Ft. Vancouver J I :He
commanded Fort Yamhill April - July 1856 and Fort Hoskins July 1856 - Mdu :1857.
He returned to Fort Yamhill in May 1857 and stayed until he left because Icjf the
Civil war in Sept. 1861. During this time span he was promoted to the raclk of
Capitan. By 1864 Sheridan had distinguished himself and had become commatjder
of the Shenandoah. This men was rapidly promoted to general and had; a brilliant
war record.
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iJuetion 4. What was the Wheeler-Howard Act of 1934?
The Wheeler-Howard Act, passed by Congress in 1934, permitted, Indian
to become corporations, atopped allotment of lands, created loan funds
diana, and proposed many changes in Indian policy; also known as the Indltej
Reorganization Act.
It seems to be too little too late. If it had been in place at the
of the Daws Act of 1887 we Indians might not have lost our land base across
the United States.
i,ustion 5. What was the purpose of Fort Yamhill? I
Lieutenant William B. Hazen, Commenuer of a detachment of Company B1.
Infantry, U.S. Army established Fort YamhUl March 25, 185(5 on the South
the Yamhill river overlooking the Grand Fonde Valley. It was garrisoned!
few as two officers and 75 enlisted men with as many as 128 enlisted men J
purpose was to keep the Indians on the Grand Ronde Reserve and ;o capturj
w! o left. The commanding officer at the Fort had the pow"er of punishment
cont'nement and whipping. Fort Yamhill was closed m June ipto.
Next month: Father Croquet and Father Felix
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