cleanliness. Playing cards is a favorite pastime with the Indians and it frequently affords them much profit. They are generally more skilled in the use of the "primers" than the whites who often gamble with them.

The Chief of the band was absent, hunting, much to our regret. He is called "Bradford" by the whites. His Indian name we did not learn. He speaks English well and can read and write. Thanking Capt. Jim for his courtesy, and shaking his hand, we bade him and his companions goodbye and left.

The Winnebagoes were formerly owners of the soil upon which Charles City is built. Here were their wigwams and here repose the bones of their ancestors. Their principal village was upon the beautiful plateau, west side of the Cedar river. where the stone schoolhouse of Charles City now stands. Wapinicon. (Capt. Jim.") was one of their chiefs, and for several years had charge of the Indian families lingering in this vicinity. He spent his time trapping and fishing, and was a staunch friend of the white man. In 1853 he made a journey to Washington, D. C.. and boasted that he dined with President Pierce. He afterward took great delight in exhibiting a letter presented him by his "great white father," wherein he is given the cognomen of Capt. James French," and recommended to the friendship of all the President's "pale faced" children.

During the earlier years of the settlement of the upper Cedar river valley by the whites, Wapinicon's tribe was broken into fragments, and the

families lived in different places among the white settlers as a protection against the relentless Sioux who waged against them perpetual warfare. Whenever a Sioux and a Winnebago met one of them had to die. "White Cloud" was the great chief who had charge of all the Winnebago tribes in this region. He had his headquarters with Col. Sumner at Fort Atkinson.

In January. 1857, an ambrotype picture was taken of Wapinicon or Wapsipinicon, (Capt. Jim,) in connection with his friend John A. Y. Chapman of Charles City. At first the old chief refused to sit for his picture, on the ground that he needed better clothing. "White man dress well enough," he said.

But on handing him a rifle, and his friend taking another, saying they would be hunters, he took his seat before the camera and gazed at it with intense interest. Mr. Chapman took a seat by his side and the picture was taken at once. Subsequently Capt. Jim made a present of this picture to his "friend," Mr. Hildreth.

Capt. Jim said he disliked living in Minnesota, because there "white man cheat much." Being asked if he was cheated in Charles City, he said "No; good people here-white man honest-he no cheat Indian." His squaw was very good looking -not more than thirty-five years old, while he appeared to be fifteen years older. She maintained perfect silence unless spoken to by the chief; but their little "brave," of a dozen years, went freely about the white man's premises looking inquisitively into everything. He and the

other Indian boys had in some way discovered that printer's types could be melted and made into bullets, and whenever these Indian boys visited the printing office they needed to be sharply watched to prevent them from stealing type from the cases.

From Capt. Jim it was learned that the Winnebago village, where Charles City now stands, was called Wa-shood Ne-shun-a-ga-tah Che-nug-a-datah. That is: Timber River Village.

Shell Rock River, in Indian, was: Da-shon-ugh Ne-shun-a-ga-tah. That is: Otter River.

Lime Creek was: Lo-quin Ne-shun-a-ga-tah; meaning Low Bushes or Brush River.

Cedar River was: Wa-shood Ne-shun-a-ga-tah; meaning Big Timber River.

Little Cedar River was: Wa-shood Ne-hun-huna-ga-tah; neaning Small Timber River.

Wapsipinicon River was:

meaning Ground Nuts.

Sem-por-a-ka-tah.

Turkey River was: Siz-ze-ka-ta Shun-a-ga-tah. That is: Wild Turkey River.

Since the Indian massacre near New Ulm, during the late war, and the removal of the Indians by Government from Minnesota, the visits of the Winnebagoes to Charles City have wholly ceased.

The Winnebagoes are a tribe of the Dakota family of North American Indians. With the Quappas and Tuteloes they formed the van of the eastward Dakotah migration, and were forced back to Green Bay. They were then numerous and formidable, and ruled by terror over the neighboring

Algonquin tribes. In the early part of the 17th century a general alliance of tribes attacked the Winnebagoes, whose numbers were greatly reduced. They sided with the English during the Revolutionary war, were active in the Miami war, and made peace after being defeated by Gen. Wayne. They adhered to Tecumseh, and during the war of 1812 sided with England. But they made a treaty of peace and friendship in 1816. They took part in the Blackhawk war in 1831, and by the treaty of Fort Armstrong, 1832, ceded all their land south of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers. In 1876 there were 1,500 of them in Nebraska, 800 in Wisconsin, and none in Iowa. They cultivate farms, have schools, and dress like white people.

CHAPTER XXIX.

T

THE FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF IOWA.

HE Iowa State Board of Education, that first assembled at Des Moines in December, 1858, held several succeeding sessions, until it was finally abolished, under a constitutional provision. in 1864. This Board was composed of some of the ablest and most discerning men in the State. It was their business to enact a code of laws for the government and maintenance of a system of education to lay the foundation for free public schools which should be for the education of all the children of Iowa-and they did their work well. No better schools now are to be found in any part of the Union. The percentage of illiteracy in Iowa is smaller than that of any other State-being less than one per cent. of her population-and her public schools are the boast and pride of all her citizens.

Samuel F. Miller, of Keokuk, late Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, in an article written by him for Harper's New Monthly Magazine for July, 1889, says:

The liberality of Congress in granting lands for the purposes of education in all Western States