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PORT HURON, MICHIGAN BY MRS. B. C. FARRAND
Some portion of the Indian reservation has been surrendered at first it extended to From field. One hundred and ninety-eight acres were at one time given up,, for which the Indians received f50, 000. Two surrenders have since been made of about the same amount. The interest of these funds is paid annually to each man, woman and child in the tribe.
At the time of the visit of the Prince of Wales to Sarnia, in 1870, on behalf of the Indians Mr. Chase made a speech in Ojibway, which he interpreted In English, to the Prince and suite, giving some account of Indian progress in civilization, and promising for them allegiance and loyalty. They, the Indians, were assembled in holiday attire, to welcome the prince as he disembarked from the steamer at the Grand Trunk depot, which had conveyed his party from Point Edward, thither down the rapids. The Indian chief, Mr. Chase, wore the silver medal which George III. gave to his grandfather. Seeing which, the Prince hung around his neck a medal, commemorative of the occasion.
The first Methodist missionary to their people was James Evans. At a camp meeting, their noted conjurer and medicine man became converted, and Che-we-tagam became Peter Salt, and remained a good Christian man, who died twenty years ago. After the Methodists, came the Church of England, Rev. Salter being the first minister of this church to the white population. With him Mr. Chase studied theology, and after he resigned his civil com-nission was ordained at Walpole Island, by Bishop Crogan of the diocese, and was appointed assistant missionary. A great many went from Sarnia and rom other points on the river to witness the ordination of this first Indian minister of the English church. The first Indian minister of the Methodist church at this place was Peter Jones, who thirty years ago entered into rest.
MICHIGAN
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