Letters of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1849-1880, California Superintendency

[illegible] POWER OF ATTORNEY [illegible] Montogmery Street, San Francisco

Know all Men by these Presents, That I. George W. Bowers of the County of Mendocino and state of California, administrator of the Estate of A. J. Warren deceased.

have made, constituted and appointed, and by these Presents do make, constitute and appoint W. P. C. Whiting of the city & County of San Fran cisco, State of California

My true and lawful attorney for me and my name, place and stead; To ask for, demand, receive and receipt for any and all monies or other property or payments, appropriations or funds now in the hands of J. P. & Co. Wentworth, Supt agt Southern Dist, Cal for the Indian department of said state, due, owing and belonging and [illegible] to Andrew J. Warren, deceased, formerly an employe [illegible] Nome Cult Indian reservation, Mendocino County. Under [illegible] [illegible] Indian agent [illegible] particular reference being [illegible] J. P. H. Wentworth [illegible] Cal, for the Indian [illegible], dated August 24th 1861. Giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and [illegible] I might or could if personally present, with [illegible] to be done, by virtue hereof.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Ukiah City, Mendocino Co. Cal the 29th day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty two.

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Wm. [Neely Jo??]

George W. Bower seal Administrator of the Estate of Andrew J. Warren [illegible]

[Left]

California B610 Chico Butte Co, California

Dec 4th 18[illegible] [File 1864]

J. Bidwell,

Encloses a/c for supplies furnished Indians under order of Supt. G.M Hanson - also a/c of W. Lee & Co. for medicines furnished said Indians -

Refd to Commr. of Ind Affairs

[Hallet?] Kilburn Chief Clerk Dept of Interior January 12/64

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE JAN 13 1864 INDIAN BUREAU

Finance Mr Clark At Once Over

[Right]

The within accts referred to J. Ross Brown, with [illegible] per letter of Jan 10th 1864

California B641 Paschal Bequette Visalia, Cal, Dec 28, 63

Enquires rel. to [illegible] made to settlement of the a/c of Mes srs. E. G. & W. J. Campbell, of the Fresno Ind. Agency, made by 2d Auditor

Answered Feby 12, '64

Finance Mr. McCall

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE Jan 29 1864 INDIAN BUREAU

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at least afford them some security from the rapacity and cruelty of the whites, who are now driving them from their homes and from every place of refuge in which they seek to preserve their lives. Let all who molest them, within certain prescribed limits, be held amenable to military law and something may yet be done to meliorate their condition.

Arizona I have now to call your attention to the Indians in Arizona.

On the 5th of December, having desirous of rendering such service to the Department as lay in my power, I joined Mr Poston Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Arizona, and started from San Francisco on a tour of exploration through that Territory. It was expected that the Governor and territorial officers would be at Tucson, about the time of our arrival there, and that immediate measures would be taken for the organi zation of the territorial government. I was desirus of affording those gentlemen all the assistance in my power, and at the same time carrying with effect the instructions of the Department in reference to various [branches?] of the public

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service. The great importance which Arizona has recently assumed, in conse quence of its extraordinary mineral wealth, seemed to justify me in the belief that I could not employ my time more beneficially to the government and the country than by aiding in the establishment of the laws and the development of the [illegible] of the territory. The sparsity of the white population and the number and hostile character of the predominating Indian tribes, rendered it a matter of peculiar interest that the Department should be placed in possession of full and accurate nformation respecting the difficulties to be encountered in the settlement of the country; and this, I believed, came appro priately within the limits of my official duties.

Yuma Inds On the arrival of Superintendent Poston and myself at this point of our journey (Fort Yuma) it became evident that the Yuma tribe of Indians were in a very destitute condition, owing to the low stage of the river during the past season and the entire failure of their customary crops. Heretofore these Indians

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habits they are unskilled in procurring this kind of food, and many of them are in a starving condition. In some instances children have died for want of proper nourishment; and disease has spread among them with greater number than usual as it always does in seasons of scarcity. Most of these Yumas are within the District of Arizona. A considerable number, however, reside on the California side of the river. They are all connected by family relationship, and it is difficult to separate them. The total number of the tribe is variously estimated at from 1,200 to 1,500.

Upon ascertaining their condition, we deemed it advisable to call a meeting of the Chiefs at the Fort, and have a talk with them, so as to determine what could be done to afford them relief.

Pasqual, the head chief, and others were present.

The result of the interview was, that Mr Poston the Superintendent, considered it expedient to make them an issue of goods and farming utensils; in which I fully agreed with him.

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As a measure of temporary relief, in the matter of food, Col. Bennet, Commanding officer of the Fort, agreed to turn over to them 2,000 lbs of damaged hominy, which he had in store, and which was unavailable for the use of the soldiers. He has already on several occassions afforded them material assistance, and deserves great credit for the humane manner in which he has striven to relieve their necessities

Yesterday, Decr 26th, a grand council of all the chiefs and people was held, and a distribution made in due form.

Pasqual, head chief} Vincente Teharo} Subordinate chiefs Antoine Juan} were present; and after impressing upon them the necessity of cultivating the earth for a living, as heretofore, and laying up a sufficient supply of grain to provide against contingencies [like?] the present; and also of maintaing peaceful and friendly relations towards the whites now crowding into the country, the Superintendent turned over to them in separate allotments the goods and wares designed for their relief. He also

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depredation. There is no security for life or property anywhere in Arizona as yet. A military force of 3,000 men would not be more than sufficient to protect the emigration of miners and settlers that will crowd in during the approaching spring. From all quarters the most cheering news comes from extraordinary mineral [illegible]. I think some more troops ought to be sent into the country, if government can possibly spare them.

At present the garrison at Tucson consists of about 45 men. A company of 100 [illegible] this fort in a few days for the same point. Both together would not be able to take care of their own horses if the Apaches should make a raid upon them.

Mr Poston and myself leave for Tucson tomorrow, with a small [illegible].

I shall report the results of my observations from time to time.

Very Respectfully Your Old Servt J. Ross Browne

Special Agent of the Interior Dept

bushels of corn, one cal a Saddle & bridle, a part of a set of carpenters tools as follows three saws, two augers, one plane, two squares, one level & certain furniture for household & kitchen use as follows to wit, two bedsteads four double & one single mattress, one bureau, two looking glasses, one [ettejin?], one small dressing table & two pine tables, one safe, two sets of shelves, one set of china, a quantity of glass ware tumblers wine glasses & bowls, one cooking stove fixtures, four mahogany chairs, six cane bottom chairs, two wooden bottom chairs one chest, forty yards of matting, eight pair of blankets eight pair of sheets with other bed linen, one sofa, one chinese mess basket one pair andirons, one ladder three hatchets & an axe & such articles being usually for the use of house kitchen & farm purposes also two [guests?].

Now therefor the said G. L. Mix for the security of the said amount ($1138~) due to his said wife Kate B. Mix does hereby bargain sell & release & make over to J. Ross Browne as trustee of said Kate B. Mix all his (G. L. Mix's) right tith & interest in & so said above mentioned real estate & personal property & all rents issues and profits thereof as her separateproperty and has requested the said J. Ross Browne to accept a conveyance thereof & thereupon to convey the same to the said Kate B. Mix his wife: Now the said G. L. Mix in order to give effect to such intention & to fully secure said debt in consideration of the premises & the promise of the said J. Ross Browne

to convey all the real estate & personal property and all the [illegible] thereover in the manner & for the purpose aforesaid, and of the sum of one dollar, lawful money of the United States, to him in hand paid by the said J. Ross Browne the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, [illegible illegible], released and conveyed, & by these presents doth grant bargain sell [alien?] [receive?] convey & confirm in the said J. Ross Browne as trustee of said Kate B. Mix & to his assigns forever all the real & personal property & all the improvements as described above together with all & singular the [illegible] thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining & the rents, issues & profits thereof & all possession, claim & demands whatsoever, as well

[Certificate] Printed and sold by Wm. B. Cooke & Co., Importing and [illeiglbe] [illegible] Montgomery St., San Francisco State of California County of Los Angeles On this 12th day of December A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Four before me, Chas. D. Mott County Clerk and Ex [office?] Clerk of the County Court. [Illegible] and for said County personally appeared. G. L. Mix [illegible] personally known to be the individual described in and who executed the annexed instrument, and [illegible] to me that [illegible] executed the same freely and voluntarily, and for [illegible] mentioned.

[illegible] I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, the day and year in this certificate first above written. Chas. D. Mott Clerk By S. H. Mott Deputy