Samuel A. T. Walker 1881 Diary on the Forest Grove Indian School
Title
Samuel A. T. Walker 1881 Diary on the Forest Grove Indian School
Description
The 1881 diary of Samuel A. T. Walker (also known as "Saturday Sam" Walker), a resident of Forest Grove, Oregon. He was a shoemaker by trade with a significant side business as a fiddler at dances. At the time he was writing this diary, he was the shoemaking instructor at the Forest Grove Indian School. The diary has brief summaries of his daily activities, often just 1-3 sentences long. It provides insight into the everyday work done by Native students at the school. The diary is written into a blank booklet that was given away as a promotional freebie by Alanson 'Lant' Hinman Jr., who was selling insurance at the time. The diary is accompanied by a transcript of the text related to the Indian School.
Creator
Walker, Samuel Ammon Thurston (1853-1944)
Is Part Of
Samuel A. T. Walker Papers
Subject
Off-reservation boarding schools
Native American Studies
Chemawa Indian School
Place
Forest Grove, Oregon
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Source
Pacific University Archives
Type
Text
Other Media
Samuel A. T. Walker Diary, 1881
Transcriptions of mentions of the Indian Training School
[For the first few months, Walker usually worked about 2.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays. He worked in his own shop and on various household and farm chores during other hours. Beginning in fall 1881, he began working at the school 9 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday and 9-noon Saturday. - Eva Guggemos, Archivist]
Jan. 7, 1881: I rec’d the news that I would get the appointment at the Indian School.
Jan. 10, 1881: I went over to Capt. Wilkinson’s house to make out a bill of leather & tools for [the] Indian School.
Jan. 19, 1881: I went out to [the] Indian School to see if the bill of leather from Portland was all right.
Jan. 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon to commence teaching the Indians shoemaking.
Jan. 22, 1881: Capt. Wilkinson came up to take my age & birth place.
Jan. 24, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon to instruct some of the boys in shoemaking.
Jan. 25, 1881: [same as previous]
Jan. 26, 1881: [same as previous]
Jan. 27, 1881: [same as previous]
Jan. 28, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon, worked a little while & brought some sheep skins to stitch for blacksmith [‘s apprentice?].
Jan. 31, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon.
Feb. 1, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 2, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 3, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 4, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 7, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 8, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 9, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 10, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 11, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 17, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 18, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 22, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon and Bess [his wife] went with me to visit the Indian School & Mrs. Showers.
Feb. 23, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Feb. 24, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 25, 1881: Bess & me went out to the Indian School to the anniversary exercises.
Feb. 27, 1881: Stopped at the Indian School to see a sick boy.
Feb. 28, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. The sick Indian boy had 4 or 5 spasms.
Mar. 2, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Mar. 3, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 4, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 7, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 8, 1881: Went out to Indian School to work after noon. Edward Richards (Puyallup) went home. Six new Indians came to this school. [In the student roster, the new arrivals are listed as Lizzie Varner, Charles Varner, Marion Davis, John Hughes, Robert Jack and Bruce Jack, all from the Chehalis Agency.]
Mar. 9, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Mar. 10, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 11, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 17, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 18, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 22, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 23, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 24, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 25, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 30, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 7, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon to work. Did not do much after noon.
Apr. 8, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Apr. 11, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 12, 1881: Went out to the Indian School at half past ten to meet Captain Wilkinson on his return home from Washington. Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 13, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 16, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon to take account of some work in [the] shoe shop.
Apr. 18, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Apr. 19, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 20, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 22, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 23, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 25, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Ten new Indians came from Alasky. [i.e. Alaska. Their names are listed in the roster as: George Brown (Chilcat), Benjamin Shattuck (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Samuel Goldstein (Sitka), Walter Burwell (Sitka), Arthur Jackson (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Harry G. Kadeshan (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Charles Lott (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Philip Jones (Sitka), George Blake (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), and Sarah Dickinson (Ft. Wrangell / Tongas).
Apr. 26, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 27, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School awhile in the morning to take some of their measures for shoes.
May 1, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
May 2, 1881: [same as previous]
May 3, 1881: [same as previous]
May 4, 1881: [same as previous]
May 5, 1881: [same as previous]
May 6, 1881: [same as previous]
May 7, 1881: [same as previous]
May 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
May 10, 1881: [same as previous]
May 11, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Only one apprentice in the shop.
May 12, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
May 13, 1881: [same as previous]
May 16, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting on their house.
May 17, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting.
May 18, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting on the school house.
May 19, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. Worked on the yard. [...] Got my check from government for last month’s work at the Indian School.
May 20, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting on the school house.
May 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
May 23, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. I worked at painting.
May 24, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
May 25, 1881: [same as previous]
May 26, 1881: [same as previous]
May 27, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Peter Kalama fell from the staging [and] hurt himself pretty bad. [Note: Peter Kalama was the son of a Nisqually woman and a native Hawaiian father; he was in the first group of students to join the school in Feb. 1880.]
May 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon to work.
May 31, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 1, 1881: I took Dooley’s boys Albert Wilson & Wm. Bearrett out to the Indian School to hava a look around.
Jun 2, 1881: I went out to the Indian School but did not work any. There was exercises at the School. [Note: the previous day was commencement day at Pacific University nearby; the exercises may have been a display for visitors in town.]
Jun 3, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jun 4, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 6, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jun 7, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 8, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Artist from Portland to take picture of the Indians & Indian School. [Note: Walker is referring to a photographer from the I. G. Davidson studio in Portland, who came to take pictures of the students several times.]
Jun 6, 1881: Went out to the Indian School after noon, did not work any out there.
Jun 6, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon and had my picture taken in front of the shop with my shoe maker boys. [Note: this photograph still exists; see PUApic_008614. It was taken by a photographer from the I. G. Davidson Studio in Portland. It was later reproduced alongside several other images of the school as an etching in a popular magazine, Harper's Weekly, in 1882.]
Jun 13, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. Did not work any on acct. of Artist taking pictures. [Again, he is referring to the photographer from the I. G. Davidson Studio in Portland.]
Jun 14, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jun 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 20, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work. I worked two hours & a half before noon and two & a half after for lost time last week.
Jun 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 22, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 23, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jun 24, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 25, 1881: The Indians had a picnic down by the creek.
Jun 27, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jun 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 30, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 1, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 2, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 5, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 6, 1881: I did not go out to Indian School on account of Bess [his wife] being so sick.
Jul 7, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
[For the next week, he takes time off from working at his own shop to help take of his wife Bess and their baby, who were “sick with billious fever”. This term commonly meant a fever with diarrhea. During this time, another group of new students arrives from Spokane.]
Jul 11, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jul 12, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. 4 more Indians came to the school from Warm Springs. [Note: the roster records three arrivals on that date: Lila Jack, Amy Sewokia and Nellie Pipps, all from the Wasco tribe at Warm Springs.]
Jul 13, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. Made out my quarterly report for the Indian department.
Jul 15, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jul 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 18, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 19, 1881: I received check from Indian School. I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 20, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon to make up lost time. I went out after noon to work at Indian School.
Jul 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon; went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 22, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 25, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon; went to Indian School after noon to make up lost time.
Jul 26, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jul 27, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I run all over town after noon. Capt. Wilkinson told me that there would be a vacation at the Indian School in August.
[No visits to the school are recorded for the month of August.]
Sep. 2, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon.
Sep. 3, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 5, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon to work. I received the news that my wages were raised to 40 dollars.
Sep. 6, 1881: I went out to the Indian School at 9 o’clock and quit at 3.
Sep. 7, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work. I worked from 9 till 12 & from 1 till 3.
Sep. 8, 1881: I went to the Indian School to work at 9 o’clock.
Sep. 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work.
Sep. 10, 1881: Worked at Indian School before noon.
Sep. 12, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 and quit at 3.
Sep. 13, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 17, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work before noon.
Sep. 19, 1881: Went out to the Ind. School to work at 9 o’clock & quit at 3.
Sep. 20, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work at 9 o’clock & quit at 3. I went out to the Indian School in the evening to a meeting of employees.
Sep. 21, 1881: I went out to the Ind. School to work at 9 & quit at 3 o’clock.
Sep. 22, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work.
Sep. 23, 1881: After doing chores I went out to the Indian Training School to work at 9 & quit at 3 o’clock. Went to a sociable at the I.T. school in the evening. Took my violin & plaid some.
Sep. 24, 1881: After doing my chores I went out to the Indian School to work from 9 till 12 o’clock.
Sep. 26: I went out to Indian School in the morn, went home at 10 o’clock.
Sep. 27, 1881: After doing my chores I went out to Indian School to work from 9 went home at noon.
Sep. 28, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & quit at 3 o’clock.
Sep. 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 3 P.M. Best & me went out to the I.T. School in the evening to a sociable. Mr. Wadhams from Portland was out there & sung some & talked to the Indians.
Oct. 1, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 8 & quit at 11 o’clock.
Oct. 3: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock. Received my check from I.T. School work.
Oct. 4, 1881: Went out I.T. school to work, I made out my quarterly report.
Oct. 5, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock. I wrote a statement of the work done by the Indian boys in the shoe shop for Captain Wilkinson.
Oct. 6, 1881: Went to work out at Indian School before noon, did not work after noon on account of being sick.
Oct. 7: After doing chores I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till ½ past 3.
Oct. 8, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 12.
Oct. 9, 1881: Went out I.T. School to work at 9 o.c. went home for dinner [i.e. lunch], nobody there but Wm. G. & Wallace, went back to I.T. School work till ½ past 3.
Oct. 10, 1881: After doing chores went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till ½ past 3.
Oct. 11, 1881: [Same as previous.]
Oct. 12, 1881: After doing my chores at home I went out to I.T. School to work at 9, worked until 3 o’clock. I took a pair of boots for myself out to I.T. School to stitch on the machine, went home & worked on them some in the evening.
Oct. 13, 1881: After doing chores went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock.
Oct. 14, 1881: Went out to I.T. School to work. Sent the shoes from the I.T. School to Mechanics’ Fair, also some carpenter work & dress making. Bess & me went out to I.T. School in eve to sociable.
Oct. 15, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 12 o’clock.
Oct. 16, 1881: The Indian girl died that was sick at Captain Wilkinson’s house, Martha Lott. [The school roster confirms that Martha Lot from Spokane Agency died that day. No cause of death is listed.]
Oct. 17, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till 3. [...] Expecting the Captain back from Umatilla with some more Indians.
Oct. 18, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock. Captain Wilkinson came home with 10 Indian[s] on the 10:30 train. They buried the Indian girl [Martha Lot] in the evening at Naylor Cemetery. [According to the school roster, 10 new children arrived on Oct. 17 from Umatilla Agency: Hallax George, Emma Winnum, Tina Lowry, Winnie Abrahams, Albert John, Charley Wilhelm, William Barnhart, Moses Price Minthorn, [?] Hugh, and Roy Cook.]
Oct. 19, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9. I worked until 3. Augustus Kautz [Puyallup], Jerry Meeker [Puyallup], George Piute [Piute] & Frank Meacham [Wasco] went home with me & helped take the plank roof off of my cow shed & put on shake roof.
Oct. 20, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 12. Went out after noon but did not work. The boys going to drill in uniform.
Oct. 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked until 11 o’clock, went home & worked some at shoemaking. The Indians all but 10 went to Portland to Mechanic’s Fair. [Note: According to an article in The New Northwest (Portland: Oct. 27, 1881, p. 4), the students performed well for the visitors to the fair: 'The members appeared neat, orderly, bright and intelligent, and to have an appreciation of the opportunities for education and advancement afforded them. They have evidently made rapid progress in their studies and music. Their English is good and their singing fair. They march in excellent order and with great precision, and evidently comprehend the value of discipline. The citizens of Portland and the many visitors from different parts of the State were very favorably impressed...']
Oct. 24,. 1881: I went out to I.T. School beofre noon did not do anything. The Indians came back from Portland. I went out after noon to I.T. School.
Oct. 25, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock. The Indians in their uniform went to College to drill with white boys. [Captain Wilkinson received permission from Pacific University to drill the Indian boys alongside white students at the college. See Board of Trustees minutes.]
Oct. 26, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock.
Oct. 27 , 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock. Some Indians from Warm Springs visiting the school. Sociable at the school in the evening.
Oct. 28, 1881: Went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock.
Oct. 29, 1881: I went out I.T. School at 9 & worked until ½ past one.
Oct. 31, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3. General Eaton visit[ed] the School.
Nov. 1, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Nov. 2, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. The Indian boys went over to college to drill. I helped work on a cow shed out to I.T. school after noon.
Nov. 3, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Nov. 4, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3. [...] Went out to I.T. School in evening to a sociable.
Nov. 5, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12 o’clock.
Nov. 7, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon.
Nov. 8, 1881: [Same as previous]
Nov. 9, 1881: I went out to I.T. school to work at 9. I went with a lot of boys out John Gleason’s orchard to gather apples before noon.
Nov. 10, 1881: I went out to John Gleason’s orchard with a lot of Indians to gather apples before noon.
Nov. 11, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon.
Nov. 12, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12 o’clock.
Nov. 14, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. Capt. Wilkinson came out from Portland t& brought a tailor with him to make suits for the Indian boys.
Nov. 15, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. The tailor still at work making suits for the boys.
Nov. 16, 1881: [Same as previous]
Nov. 17, 1881: [Same as previous]
Nov. 18, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. Bess & me went out to I.T. School to the sociable at night & got a scare of the measles.
Nov. 19, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12 o’clock. The tailor went back to Perland on the afternoon train.
Nov. 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 ½ & worked til 4 after noon. [...] Victor Pete came out to I.T. School to get me to play for a dance Thurs night.
Nov. 22, 1881: I went out to I.T. School this morning at 9 & worked til 4. I fixed my sewing machine for the Indian girls to make the boys suits on.
Nov. 23, 1881: I went out to I.T. School this morning at 9 & worked til 4.
Nov. 25, 1881: I went out to I.T. School this morning at 9 & worked til 3.
Nov. 26, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work before noon at 9 & worked til 12.
Nov. 28, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3.
Nov. 29, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3. The tailor came back to I.T. School.
Nov. 30, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3.
Dec. 1, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3. The tailor still there at I.T. School.
Dec. 2, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3 after noon. The tailor went home after noon. I went out to the school in the evening to the sociable.
Dec. 3, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Dec. 5, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 4 after noon.
Dec. 6, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon. The Indian boys went down to the College to drill.
Dec. 7, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Dec. 8, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.Indian boys went down to College to drill after noon.
Dec. 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3 ½ after noon.I went out the I.T. School in the evening to their sociable. Carpenters Wells & Wright putting up a bake shop out at the school.
Dec. 10, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & quit at 12. [...] I worked after noon at [...] a pr. of shoes for Mrs. Jacobs, the matron at the Indian School.
Dec. 12, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3. Capt. Wilkinson went to Portland after noon. We got a bill of leather at the school.
Dec. 13, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3.
Dec. 14, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 15, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 16, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after. I went out again to the sociable.
Dec. 17, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Dec. 19, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 this morn & worked til 3. Sloan is building a brick oven out at the school.
Dec.20, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Dec. 21, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 22, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec.23, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon. Some of the Indian boys came home from hunting.
Dec. 24, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Dec. 26, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3. [...] Christmas tree out at the Indian School at night.
Dec. 27, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3.
Dec. 28, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 29, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 4 ocl. I received my check for work at the Indian School, $120.
Dec. 31, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Transcriptions of mentions of the Indian Training School
[For the first few months, Walker usually worked about 2.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays. He worked in his own shop and on various household and farm chores during other hours. Beginning in fall 1881, he began working at the school 9 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday and 9-noon Saturday. - Eva Guggemos, Archivist]
Jan. 7, 1881: I rec’d the news that I would get the appointment at the Indian School.
Jan. 10, 1881: I went over to Capt. Wilkinson’s house to make out a bill of leather & tools for [the] Indian School.
Jan. 19, 1881: I went out to [the] Indian School to see if the bill of leather from Portland was all right.
Jan. 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon to commence teaching the Indians shoemaking.
Jan. 22, 1881: Capt. Wilkinson came up to take my age & birth place.
Jan. 24, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon to instruct some of the boys in shoemaking.
Jan. 25, 1881: [same as previous]
Jan. 26, 1881: [same as previous]
Jan. 27, 1881: [same as previous]
Jan. 28, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon, worked a little while & brought some sheep skins to stitch for blacksmith [‘s apprentice?].
Jan. 31, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon.
Feb. 1, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 2, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 3, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 4, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 7, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 8, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 9, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 10, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 11, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 17, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 18, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 22, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon and Bess [his wife] went with me to visit the Indian School & Mrs. Showers.
Feb. 23, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Feb. 24, 1881: [same as previous]
Feb. 25, 1881: Bess & me went out to the Indian School to the anniversary exercises.
Feb. 27, 1881: Stopped at the Indian School to see a sick boy.
Feb. 28, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. The sick Indian boy had 4 or 5 spasms.
Mar. 2, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Mar. 3, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 4, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 7, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 8, 1881: Went out to Indian School to work after noon. Edward Richards (Puyallup) went home. Six new Indians came to this school. [In the student roster, the new arrivals are listed as Lizzie Varner, Charles Varner, Marion Davis, John Hughes, Robert Jack and Bruce Jack, all from the Chehalis Agency.]
Mar. 9, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Mar. 10, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 11, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 17, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 18, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 22, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 23, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 24, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 25, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Mar. 30, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 7, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon to work. Did not do much after noon.
Apr. 8, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Apr. 11, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 12, 1881: Went out to the Indian School at half past ten to meet Captain Wilkinson on his return home from Washington. Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 13, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 16, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon to take account of some work in [the] shoe shop.
Apr. 18, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Apr. 19, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 20, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 22, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 23, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 25, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Ten new Indians came from Alasky. [i.e. Alaska. Their names are listed in the roster as: George Brown (Chilcat), Benjamin Shattuck (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Samuel Goldstein (Sitka), Walter Burwell (Sitka), Arthur Jackson (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Harry G. Kadeshan (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Charles Lott (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), Philip Jones (Sitka), George Blake (Ft. Wrangell / Stickeen), and Sarah Dickinson (Ft. Wrangell / Tongas).
Apr. 26, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Apr. 27, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Apr. 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School awhile in the morning to take some of their measures for shoes.
May 1, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
May 2, 1881: [same as previous]
May 3, 1881: [same as previous]
May 4, 1881: [same as previous]
May 5, 1881: [same as previous]
May 6, 1881: [same as previous]
May 7, 1881: [same as previous]
May 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
May 10, 1881: [same as previous]
May 11, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Only one apprentice in the shop.
May 12, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
May 13, 1881: [same as previous]
May 16, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting on their house.
May 17, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting.
May 18, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting on the school house.
May 19, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. Worked on the yard. [...] Got my check from government for last month’s work at the Indian School.
May 20, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I worked at painting on the school house.
May 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
May 23, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. I worked at painting.
May 24, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
May 25, 1881: [same as previous]
May 26, 1881: [same as previous]
May 27, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Peter Kalama fell from the staging [and] hurt himself pretty bad. [Note: Peter Kalama was the son of a Nisqually woman and a native Hawaiian father; he was in the first group of students to join the school in Feb. 1880.]
May 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon to work.
May 31, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 1, 1881: I took Dooley’s boys Albert Wilson & Wm. Bearrett out to the Indian School to hava a look around.
Jun 2, 1881: I went out to the Indian School but did not work any. There was exercises at the School. [Note: the previous day was commencement day at Pacific University nearby; the exercises may have been a display for visitors in town.]
Jun 3, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jun 4, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 6, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jun 7, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 8, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon. Artist from Portland to take picture of the Indians & Indian School. [Note: Walker is referring to a photographer from the I. G. Davidson studio in Portland, who came to take pictures of the students several times.]
Jun 6, 1881: Went out to the Indian School after noon, did not work any out there.
Jun 6, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon and had my picture taken in front of the shop with my shoe maker boys. [Note: this photograph still exists; see PUApic_008614. It was taken by a photographer from the I. G. Davidson Studio in Portland. It was later reproduced alongside several other images of the school as an etching in a popular magazine, Harper's Weekly, in 1882.]
Jun 13, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. Did not work any on acct. of Artist taking pictures. [Again, he is referring to the photographer from the I. G. Davidson Studio in Portland.]
Jun 14, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jun 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 20, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work. I worked two hours & a half before noon and two & a half after for lost time last week.
Jun 21, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 22, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 23, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jun 24, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 25, 1881: The Indians had a picnic down by the creek.
Jun 27, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jun 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Jun 30, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 1, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 2, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 5, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 6, 1881: I did not go out to Indian School on account of Bess [his wife] being so sick.
Jul 7, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
[For the next week, he takes time off from working at his own shop to help take of his wife Bess and their baby, who were “sick with billious fever”. This term commonly meant a fever with diarrhea. During this time, another group of new students arrives from Spokane.]
Jul 11, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jul 12, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. 4 more Indians came to the school from Warm Springs. [Note: the roster records three arrivals on that date: Lila Jack, Amy Sewokia and Nellie Pipps, all from the Wasco tribe at Warm Springs.]
Jul 13, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. Made out my quarterly report for the Indian department.
Jul 15, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jul 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 18, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 19, 1881: I received check from Indian School. I went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 20, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon to make up lost time. I went out after noon to work at Indian School.
Jul 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon; went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 22, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work after noon.
Jul 25, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon; went to Indian School after noon to make up lost time.
Jul 26, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work before noon.
Jul 27, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 28, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Jul 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work before noon. I run all over town after noon. Capt. Wilkinson told me that there would be a vacation at the Indian School in August.
[No visits to the school are recorded for the month of August.]
Sep. 2, 1881: I went out to the Indian School before noon.
Sep. 3, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 5, 1881: I went out to the Indian School after noon to work. I received the news that my wages were raised to 40 dollars.
Sep. 6, 1881: I went out to the Indian School at 9 o’clock and quit at 3.
Sep. 7, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work. I worked from 9 till 12 & from 1 till 3.
Sep. 8, 1881: I went to the Indian School to work at 9 o’clock.
Sep. 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work.
Sep. 10, 1881: Worked at Indian School before noon.
Sep. 12, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 and quit at 3.
Sep. 13, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 14, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 15, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 16, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 17, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work before noon.
Sep. 19, 1881: Went out to the Ind. School to work at 9 o’clock & quit at 3.
Sep. 20, 1881: Went out to the Indian School to work at 9 o’clock & quit at 3. I went out to the Indian School in the evening to a meeting of employees.
Sep. 21, 1881: I went out to the Ind. School to work at 9 & quit at 3 o’clock.
Sep. 22, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work.
Sep. 23, 1881: After doing chores I went out to the Indian Training School to work at 9 & quit at 3 o’clock. Went to a sociable at the I.T. school in the evening. Took my violin & plaid some.
Sep. 24, 1881: After doing my chores I went out to the Indian School to work from 9 till 12 o’clock.
Sep. 26: I went out to Indian School in the morn, went home at 10 o’clock.
Sep. 27, 1881: After doing my chores I went out to Indian School to work from 9 went home at noon.
Sep. 28, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & quit at 3 o’clock.
Sep. 29, 1881: [same as previous]
Sep. 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 3 P.M. Best & me went out to the I.T. School in the evening to a sociable. Mr. Wadhams from Portland was out there & sung some & talked to the Indians.
Oct. 1, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 8 & quit at 11 o’clock.
Oct. 3: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock. Received my check from I.T. School work.
Oct. 4, 1881: Went out I.T. school to work, I made out my quarterly report.
Oct. 5, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock. I wrote a statement of the work done by the Indian boys in the shoe shop for Captain Wilkinson.
Oct. 6, 1881: Went to work out at Indian School before noon, did not work after noon on account of being sick.
Oct. 7: After doing chores I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till ½ past 3.
Oct. 8, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 12.
Oct. 9, 1881: Went out I.T. School to work at 9 o.c. went home for dinner [i.e. lunch], nobody there but Wm. G. & Wallace, went back to I.T. School work till ½ past 3.
Oct. 10, 1881: After doing chores went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till ½ past 3.
Oct. 11, 1881: [Same as previous.]
Oct. 12, 1881: After doing my chores at home I went out to I.T. School to work at 9, worked until 3 o’clock. I took a pair of boots for myself out to I.T. School to stitch on the machine, went home & worked on them some in the evening.
Oct. 13, 1881: After doing chores went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock.
Oct. 14, 1881: Went out to I.T. School to work. Sent the shoes from the I.T. School to Mechanics’ Fair, also some carpenter work & dress making. Bess & me went out to I.T. School in eve to sociable.
Oct. 15, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 12 o’clock.
Oct. 16, 1881: The Indian girl died that was sick at Captain Wilkinson’s house, Martha Lott. [The school roster confirms that Martha Lot from Spokane Agency died that day. No cause of death is listed.]
Oct. 17, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till 3. [...] Expecting the Captain back from Umatilla with some more Indians.
Oct. 18, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock. Captain Wilkinson came home with 10 Indian[s] on the 10:30 train. They buried the Indian girl [Martha Lot] in the evening at Naylor Cemetery. [According to the school roster, 10 new children arrived on Oct. 17 from Umatilla Agency: Hallax George, Emma Winnum, Tina Lowry, Winnie Abrahams, Albert John, Charley Wilhelm, William Barnhart, Moses Price Minthorn, [?] Hugh, and Roy Cook.]
Oct. 19, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9. I worked until 3. Augustus Kautz [Puyallup], Jerry Meeker [Puyallup], George Piute [Piute] & Frank Meacham [Wasco] went home with me & helped take the plank roof off of my cow shed & put on shake roof.
Oct. 20, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked till 12. Went out after noon but did not work. The boys going to drill in uniform.
Oct. 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked until 11 o’clock, went home & worked some at shoemaking. The Indians all but 10 went to Portland to Mechanic’s Fair. [Note: According to an article in The New Northwest (Portland: Oct. 27, 1881, p. 4), the students performed well for the visitors to the fair: 'The members appeared neat, orderly, bright and intelligent, and to have an appreciation of the opportunities for education and advancement afforded them. They have evidently made rapid progress in their studies and music. Their English is good and their singing fair. They march in excellent order and with great precision, and evidently comprehend the value of discipline. The citizens of Portland and the many visitors from different parts of the State were very favorably impressed...']
Oct. 24,. 1881: I went out to I.T. School beofre noon did not do anything. The Indians came back from Portland. I went out after noon to I.T. School.
Oct. 25, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock. The Indians in their uniform went to College to drill with white boys. [Captain Wilkinson received permission from Pacific University to drill the Indian boys alongside white students at the college. See Board of Trustees minutes.]
Oct. 26, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock.
Oct. 27 , 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked till 3 o’clock. Some Indians from Warm Springs visiting the school. Sociable at the school in the evening.
Oct. 28, 1881: Went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 o’clock.
Oct. 29, 1881: I went out I.T. School at 9 & worked until ½ past one.
Oct. 31, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3. General Eaton visit[ed] the School.
Nov. 1, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Nov. 2, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. The Indian boys went over to college to drill. I helped work on a cow shed out to I.T. school after noon.
Nov. 3, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Nov. 4, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3. [...] Went out to I.T. School in evening to a sociable.
Nov. 5, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12 o’clock.
Nov. 7, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon.
Nov. 8, 1881: [Same as previous]
Nov. 9, 1881: I went out to I.T. school to work at 9. I went with a lot of boys out John Gleason’s orchard to gather apples before noon.
Nov. 10, 1881: I went out to John Gleason’s orchard with a lot of Indians to gather apples before noon.
Nov. 11, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon.
Nov. 12, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12 o’clock.
Nov. 14, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. Capt. Wilkinson came out from Portland t& brought a tailor with him to make suits for the Indian boys.
Nov. 15, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. The tailor still at work making suits for the boys.
Nov. 16, 1881: [Same as previous]
Nov. 17, 1881: [Same as previous]
Nov. 18, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked until 3 after noon. Bess & me went out to I.T. School to the sociable at night & got a scare of the measles.
Nov. 19, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12 o’clock. The tailor went back to Perland on the afternoon train.
Nov. 21, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 ½ & worked til 4 after noon. [...] Victor Pete came out to I.T. School to get me to play for a dance Thurs night.
Nov. 22, 1881: I went out to I.T. School this morning at 9 & worked til 4. I fixed my sewing machine for the Indian girls to make the boys suits on.
Nov. 23, 1881: I went out to I.T. School this morning at 9 & worked til 4.
Nov. 25, 1881: I went out to I.T. School this morning at 9 & worked til 3.
Nov. 26, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work before noon at 9 & worked til 12.
Nov. 28, 1881: I went out to Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3.
Nov. 29, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3. The tailor came back to I.T. School.
Nov. 30, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3.
Dec. 1, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3. The tailor still there at I.T. School.
Dec. 2, 1881: Went out to the I.T. School, at 9 & worked til 3 after noon. The tailor went home after noon. I went out to the school in the evening to the sociable.
Dec. 3, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Dec. 5, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 4 after noon.
Dec. 6, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon. The Indian boys went down to the College to drill.
Dec. 7, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Dec. 8, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.Indian boys went down to College to drill after noon.
Dec. 9, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3 ½ after noon.I went out the I.T. School in the evening to their sociable. Carpenters Wells & Wright putting up a bake shop out at the school.
Dec. 10, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & quit at 12. [...] I worked after noon at [...] a pr. of shoes for Mrs. Jacobs, the matron at the Indian School.
Dec. 12, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3. Capt. Wilkinson went to Portland after noon. We got a bill of leather at the school.
Dec. 13, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3.
Dec. 14, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 15, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 16, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after. I went out again to the sociable.
Dec. 17, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Dec. 19, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 this morn & worked til 3. Sloan is building a brick oven out at the school.
Dec.20, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon.
Dec. 21, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 22, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec.23, 1881: I went out to I.T. School to work at 9 & worked til 3 after noon. Some of the Indian boys came home from hunting.
Dec. 24, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 12.
Dec. 26, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3. [...] Christmas tree out at the Indian School at night.
Dec. 27, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 3.
Dec. 28, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 29, 1881: [Same as previous]
Dec. 30, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 4 ocl. I received my check for work at the Indian School, $120.
Dec. 31, 1881: I went out to the Indian School to work at 9 & worked til 12.