Indian Account of the Settlement of the Spokane Country, 1906.

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Indian Account of the Settlement of the Spokane Country, 1906.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/751996828

One three-page handwritten manuscript, probably written by William S. Lewis, dated November 2, 1906. It describes what it was like for the Spokane Indians before the arrival of the white man. The author claims that he got the story from Chief Lot of the Spokane Indians, as told by ex-Indian agent Richard D. Gwydir. The manuscript describes the earthquake which changed the landscape and moved the Spokane Indians to the Spokane River. It describes the location of the first village on the river and the coming of the "pale face" which left them with nothing. This exact description is printed in Durham<U+2019>s History of the City of Spokane and is described as "Statement of Major R. D. Gwydir as related to William S. Lewis." Lewis was secretary of the Spokane Historical Society, so it is likely that this is his manuscript.

1 box (.10 linear ft.)

Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8127237

Spokane Public Library, Downtown Branch

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Lewis, William S. (William Stanley), 1876-1941

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6g74f48 (person)

William Lewis came to Spokane Falls with his parents in 1884. He studied law at Stanford University and after graduating returned to Spokane to practice. Lewis was one of the founders of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society and served for a time as corresponding secretary. He published many articles on the early history of the Pacific Northwest and Inland Empire. With Naojiro Murakami, he co-edited and annotated "Ranald McDonald" in 1923. From the description of Papers, 19...

Lot, Oliver, Spokane Chief, d. 1909.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6699vfc (person)

Gwydir, Rickard D. (Rickard Daniel), 1844-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6d823jg (person)

The Spokane Indians are of the Interior Salish group which has inhabited northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana for centuries. Tribal members fished the Spokane River, the Columbia River, and used the Spokane Falls as a gathering place for family and friends. The Spokanes lived along the river in three bands known as the Upper, Middle and Lower Spokane Indians. Chief Lot was an important nineteenth century tribal leader. Rickard D. Gwydir was an Indian agent at the Colville...