part 1
The Sproats at La Pointe. From pages of the Missionary Herald, Boston
This is composed of half-breed and Indian boys from protestant and catholic families mostly. ... the Indians, French, and half breeds, nearly all leave the ...highwire.stanford.edu/~galic/sproat/missionary_herald.html
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The Sproats at La Pointe
From pages of the Missionary Herald, Boston
Along with the Cree, the Ojibwas are one of the most populous and widely distributed Indian groups in North America, with 150 bands throughout the north-central United States and southern Canada. Ojibwa and Chippewa are renderings of the same Algonquian word, puckering, probably referring to their characteristic moccasin style. "Chippewa" and "Chipeway" are more commonly used in the United States and "Ojibway", "Oyibwa", or "Ojibwe" in Canada, but the Ojibwa people themselves use their native word Anishinabe (plural: Anishinabeg), meaning "original people". The Saulteaux and Mississauga are subtribes of the Ojibwa; the Ottawa, though they are closely related and speak the same language, have long held the status of a distinct tribe. Today there are 200,000 Ojibwa Indians living throughout their traditional territories. (Based on
www.native-languages.org/chippewa.htm) The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) supported a mission among the Ojibwas since 1831. The central missionary station was at La Pointe, on Madeline [also: Magdaleine] Island, on the southwest part of Lake Superior in today's Wisconsin. Secondary stations were in Fon du Lac (today: Fond du Lac, some twenty miles west from the mouth of the St. Louis River, near the most southwest tip of Lake Superior, Minnesota), about 70 miles from La Pointe; Pokeguma (today: Pokegama, Minnesota, on the south shore of Pokegama Lake, Snake River, east of St. Croix River), about 60 miles south of Fond du Lac; Leech Lake, about 100+ miles west of Lake Superior, across Mississippi; Red Lake (today: Upper and Lower Red Lakes), about 200 miles west north-west from La Pointe; Bad River, just south of Madeline Island, on the south shore of Lake Superior.
The missionaries with the Ojibwas were frequently sending letters and commentaries to Boston's Missionary Herald. In addition, a brief annual summary of the Ojibwa mission's accomplishments and problems was published in each January issue of the magazine.
The following selection of articles from the Missionary Herald gives us more information about the role that Granville T. Sproat had played in the mission among the Ojibwas. There are indications that Granville served as a teacher in a school unrelated to ABCFM on or near the Mackinaw Island from the fall of 1834 to the fall of 1835. His first connection with ABCFM dates from September 1835, and he was officially appointed by ABCFM as a missionary assistant some time in 1836. Granville took a leave between July 1837 and June 1838, then returned to La Pointe with his newly wed wife, Florantha nee Thompson. After one unsuccessful pregnancy, Florantha had two healthy daughters, in October 1842, and March 1844. Granville and Florantha retired from the mission in the summer of 1846.
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Aug 1836. Vol. 32, Iss. 8; p. 316
ABCFM - Missionary Candidates and Funds of the Board
The following laborers seem to be the most imperiously demanded:
One preacher and two teachers for the Ojibwas.
(...)
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Jan 1837. Vol. 33, Iss. 1; pp. 2-4
Abridgement of the Annual Report [of ABCFM for the year 1836]
[In 1836, the Board] sent out to the several fields of labor enumerated, the following persons, viz:--
(...)
Mr. Grenville T. Sproat, N[orth] A[merican] Indians
Mr. William H. Gray, N.A. Indians
Mrs. Ely, N.A. Indians
(...)
[The complete list consists of:] Fifteen ordained missionaries, two physicians, three other male and twenty-two married and unmarried female assistant missionaries, in all forty-two.
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Jan 1837. Vol. 33, Iss. 1; pp. 25-26
Mission to the Ojibwas [cca Jul/Aug 1836].
La Pointe - Sherman Hall, Missionary; Joseph Town, Farmer and Mechanic; and their wives; Delia Cook, Teacher.
Pokegumma - Frederic Ayer, Teacher; Mrs. Ayer; John L. Seymour, Teacher and Mechanic; Sabrina Stevens, Assistant.
Leech Lake - William T. Boutwell, Missionary, and his wife.
Fon du Lac - Edmund F. Ely, and Granville T. Sproat, Teachers and Catechists; Mrs. Ely.
(4 stations; 2 missionaries, 3 catechists and teachers, 2 farmers, and 7 females.)
Yellow Lake being found to be an unfavorable place for exerting a steady and extensive influence over the Indians, and especially for collecting them into a permanent agricultural settlement, it was thought best for Mr. Ayer and his family to remove to Pokegumma Lake, a body of water communicating by a short channel with Snake River, and through that with the St. Croix river and the Mississippi. The new station is about fifty miles west southwest from Yellow Lake, and about two and a half days travel from St. Peters. The soil is much better and more easily cultivated than that at Yellow Lake, and the fish and game are much more abundant.
Mr. Sproat, an approved teacher, proceeded [from Fon du Lac] to La Pointe last autumn.
(...)
The school at La Pointe has increased in numbers and interest. Fourty-six pupils have attended during the year, and while the Indians were encamped near it, the average daily attendance was twenty-five or thirty. Thirty-five were enrolled in the school at Yellow Lake, and the average number daily was fourteen. At Fon du Lac the school contained, on an average sixteen pupils, nearly all of whom were children of papists. As there is no family government among these Indians, the parents never constrain their children to attend school; and the children, having of course very inadequate notions of the value of the advantages to be enjoyed, are tardy and irregular.
At La Pointe and Yellow Lake some pains have been taken to induce the Indians to adopt the habits of civilized life, and not wholly without success.
Additional laborers are much needed in this mission. At the stations now occupied there should be at least one more ordained missionary, two schoolmasters, and a layman, farmer or mechanic, at each station, who shall devote his principal attention to the Indians, teaching them how to perform various kinds of labor, and aiding them to overcome the difficulties which must ever be met by a people who are passing from a savage into a civilized state.
In the opinion of the missionaries, other stations might advantageously be occupied without delay. No obstacles are to be encountered which will not probably become more formidable the longer the work is deferred.
Mr. Ely was in the summer last year united in marriage with Miss Catherine Bissel of Mackinaw, and Mr. Town with Miss Hannah Hill of Chicago.
The following books have been printed in the Ojibwa language during the year, viz:-
Ojibwa Spelling-Book, 2d edition, 107 pages, 500 copies.
Old Testament Stories and Natural History, 72 pages, 500 copies.
Gallaudet's Picture Defining and Reading Book, and New Testament Stories, 124 pages, 500 copies.
Ojibwa Hymns, by Peter Jones, 40 pages, 500 copies.
Six Cards—alphabet and short syllables, 500 copies.
Making in all 2,000 copies and 164,000 pages.
The Gospel of Luke has been translated into the Ojibwa language, by Mr. Hall, assisted by a native young man, and is ready for the press.
Note: Granville's story about the death of a little Ojibwa boy, Mosacheed, was published in Boston's weekly The Youth Companion, on Aug 4, 1837, Vol. 11, Issue 12, p.47. The story ends with: "Your affectionate friend, G. T. Sproat, Mission House, La Pointe, Lake Superior, May 20, 1837".
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Jan 1838. Vol. 34, Iss. 1; p. 14
Mission to the Ojibwas [cca Jul/Aug 1837].
La Pointe - Sherman Hall, Missionary; Mrs. Hall; Grenville T. Sproat, Catechist and Teacher; Delia Cook, Teacher.
Fon du Lac - Edmund F. Ely, Catechist and Teacher; Mrs. Ely.
Pokeguma - Frederic Ayer, Catechist; John L. Seymour, Teacher and Mechanic; and their wives; Sabrina Stevens, Assistant.
Leech Lake - William T. Boutwell, Missionary, and his wife.
(4 stations; 2 missionaries, 3 catechists and teachers, 1 other male, and 7 female assistants; - total 13.)
Mr. and Mrs. Town withdrew from the mission last spring; and Mr. Sproat who had previously labored in connection with the mission, has been appointed an assistant missionary.
Messrs. Hall, Boutwell, and Ayer are now able to address the Indians in their own language.
The church at La Pointe embraces nine members exclusive of the mission family, four of whom are Ojibwas. To the new churc at Pokeguma, organised in February last, four Ojibwas were admitted. Meetings at La Pointe, Fon du Lac, and Pokeguma, are attended by increasing numbers. In the schools at these stations, at some seasons of the year, about eighty pupils were taught, while at other seasons the aggregate was not more than thirty five.
The Gospel by Luke has been translated by the missionaries into the Ojibwas language, and 1,000 copies of the book, comprising 142 pages, have been printed.
At Leech Lake Mr. Boutwell has had little encouragement in his labors, and has been at times greatly annoyed by the savage and violent conduct of the Indians.
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Note: Granville and Florantha were married on April 22, 1838, in Middleborough, Massachusetts. They returned to La Pointe together on June 29, 1838.
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Jan 1839. Vol. 35, Iss. 1; pp. 14-15
Mission to the Ojibwas [cca Jul/Aug 1838].
La Pointe - Sherman Hall, Missionary; G. T. Sproat, Teacher and Catechist; and their wives.
Fon du Lac - Frederic Ayer, Catechist; Edmund F. Ely, Teacher and Catechist and their wives.
Pokeguma - William T. Boutwell, Missionary; John L. Seymour, Mechanic and Teacher; and their wives; Sabrina Stevens, Assistant.
(3 stations; 2 missionaries, 4 teachers and catechists, 7 female assistants; - total 13.)
It has been thought advisable that the labors of Mr. Boutwell at Leech Lake should be suspended for the present, and he has removed to Pokeguma. Mr. Ayer has removed from the latter station to Fon du Lac.
The Ojibwas generally are too much under the influence of heathen or papal superstitions, or too indiferent to all religious considerations, to make much effort to attend public worship. They, generally, however, receive instruction kindly, and manifest some interest in it when visited by the missionaries. At Pokeguma those denominated "praying Indians" amount to seventeen adults, and about as many more youth and children; and of these six are members of the church. Others appear to be truly pious; and are improving in their character, habits, and manner of life. Seven families appear to have been in a good manner reclaimed from the hunting and wandering to a settled and agricultural life. The number of members in the two churches is ten or fifteen.
In the three schools seventy-five or eighty pupils have been taught.
A thousand copies of the gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostoles have been printed for this mission, amounting to 191,000 pages. Matthew is ready for the press.
The Ojibwas have by treaty sold a large tract from the southern portion of their country, including the station at Pokeguma, and are to be removed from it, whenever the President of the United States shall direct.
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Note:Three Florantha's letters from La Pointe, written on September 12, 1838 (to her father Cephas Thompson), on September 20, 1838 (to her mother), and on June 23, 1839 (to her mother) fit into this time period, see Wisconsine Magazine of History, Vol. 16, No. 1, Sep 1932, pp. 85-95).
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Jan 1840. Vol. 36, Iss. 1; p. 16
Also in The Boston Recorder, Boston: Oct 4, 1839. Vol. 24, Iss. 40; p. 157
Mission to the Ojibwas [cca Jul/Aug 1839].
La Pointe - Sherman Hall, Missionary, and Mrs. Hall; Grenville T. Sproat, Teacher and Catechist, and Mrs. Sproat.
Fon du Lac - Edmund F. Ely, Teacher and Catechist, and Mrs. Ely.
Pokeguma - William T. Boutwell, Missionary, and Mrs. Boutwell; Frederic Ayer, Catechist, and Mrs. Ayer; John L. Seymour, Mechanic and Teacher, and Mrs. Seymour; Sabrina Stevens.
(3 stations; 2 missionaries, 4 teachers and catechists, and 7 females; - total, 13.)
In the school at La Pointe some improvements is observable, both as to numbers and proficiency. A number of the Indians are now able to read portions of the Scriptures in their own language intelligently and profitably. At Fon du Lac the school has been suspended a large part of the year, on account of the absence of the Indians usually residing there. At Pokeguma also a school has been taught but a small portion of the year, owing to disaffection, and manifestations of uncommon violence and savage feelings on the part of the Indians, arising from peculiar causes in operation during the early part of the year, not originating, however, in the proceedings of the missionaries. More recently the Indians have resumed their former friendliness, and all the operations of the station are goinf forward with as favorable prospects as at any former period.
Only three Indians have been added to the churches in connection with this mission, and those at Pokeguma. At La Pointe the congregation and church remain nearly as heretofore. Changes in the population, and in the employment of the Indians, have exerted some unfavorable influence, and removed the Indians, both at La Pointe and Fon du Lac, more without the reach of missionaries. On this account the later station has been abandoned during the past summer, and Mr. Ely removed to Pokeguma.
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The Missionary Herald, Boston: Jan 1840. Vol. 36, Iss. 1; p. 34
[Staff of the mission among the Ojibwas, with short biographies (cca summer of 1839)].
Stations
La Pointe 1831; Yellow Lake 1833-36; Sandy Lake 1833-34; Leech Lake 1833-37; Fon du Lac 1834; Pokeguma 1836.
Missionaries
Sherman Hall, born Weathersfield Vt. April 30, 1801; graduated D. C. 1828, Andover 1831; departed June 13, arrived La Pointe Aug. 30, 1831.
Mrs. Hall (Betsey Parker,) born Pepperell Ms. Oct. 11, 1801.
William T. Boutwell, born Lyndeboro' N. H. - 1803; graduated D. C. 1828, Andover 1831; departed June 13, arrived Mackinaw July 13, 1831, La Pointe June 20, 1832, Leech Lake Oct. 3, 1833, Pokeguma Aug. 11, 1838.
Mrs. Boutwell (Hester Crooks,) born Drummond's Island May - 1817; married Fon du Lac Sept. 11, 1834.
[Leonard H. Wheeler, born Shrewsbury, Md. Apr. 18, 1811; graduated Middlebury College 1837, Andover Seminary 1840, entered upon his work 1841].
Assistant Missionaries
Frederic Ayer, Utica N. Y.; born West Stockbridge Ms. Oct 11, 1803; departed May and arrived Mackinaw June 10, 1829, La Pointe Aug. 30, 1831, Yellow Lake Sept. 16, 1833, Pokeguma May 5, 1836.
Mrs Ayer (Elizabeth Taylor,) born Heath Ms. - 1803; arrived Mackinaw May 30, 1828; married July - 1833.
Edmund F. Ely, Albany N. Y.; born North Wilbraham Ms. Aug 3, 1809; departed July 5, arrived Sandy Lake Sept. 19, 1833, Leech Lake March 6, Fon du Lac Aug. - 1834.
Mrs. Ely (Catharine Bissell,) born Sault St. Marie Nov. 25, 1817; married La Pointe, Aug. 30, 1835.
Joseph Town, Jacksonville Ill.; departed July 1, arrived La Pointe Sept. - 1834; released May 16, 1837.
Mrs. Town (Hannah Hill,) Chicago Ill.; arrived Sept. - 1835.
John L. Seymour, Plymouth Ct.; born - 1811; departed May -, arrived Mackinaw July - 1833, Yellow Lake Sept. - 1834, Pokeguma May - 1836.
Mrs. Seymour (Jane B. Leavitt,) Meredith N. H.; departed Oct. 7, arrived Mackinaw Nov. 11, 1833; married - 1837.
Grenville T. Sproat, born Middleboro' Ms.; arrived La Pointe Sept. - 1835; appointed -; visited U. States July - 1837 to June - 1838.
Mrs. Sproat (Florantha Thompson,) born Middleboro' Ms. May 14, 1811; departed April 23, arrived June 29, 1838.
Delia Cooke, born New Hartford Ct. March 29, 1794; departed June 1, arrived Mackinaw Aug. 4, 1825, La Pointe - 1833, Fon du Lac May - 1836; released July 9, 1839.
Sabrina Stevens, arrived Maumee -, Mackinaw - 1828, La Pointe - 1833, Yellow Lake Sept. - 1834.