Lewis Red Eagle and Willie Bigheart – Students at Osage Indian School – 1917

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Nov 272013
 

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Real Photo Postcard, 1917

Written in ink on the back: “Genva McQuain. Lewis Redeagle, Willie Bigheart. Osage Indians. Friends of mine at O.I.S. 1917” These handsome young scholars attended O.I.S. (the Osage Indian Government School (1912-1953) in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

The first federal government sponsored school to educate and civilize the Osages was Harmony Mission in Bates County Missouri, 1821 – established at the request of the tribe and implemented by Protestant missionaries. During its existence the school did not make many Christians or turn warriors into agriculturists, but even the old buffalo hunting Osages were interested in having their children educated.

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PAPINVILLE PICNIC AND HARMONY MISSION TOUR

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Oct 042012
 

Phyllis Stewart of the Papinville Historical and Cemetery Association explains the history and significance of Harmony Mission to the crowd.

The Papinville, Missouri, Historical Association held its annual picnic this year on the first day of autumn. This afforded the rare opportunity to tour the site of  Harmony Mission on the banks of the Marais des Cygnes in Bates County.  The first Indian mission in Missouri was established in response to a request  by the Osage Indians to the President that a school be built  and the missionaries and families arrived in 1821. The mission was located next to the “Great Village” of the Osage Indians on the Marais Des Cygnes River. The site is now on private land, but for this day the owner allowed visitors.  A small ‘train’ of horse drawn and motorized wagons drove through the pastures and pecan groves to the site.

Chief Jack Arthur Whitehorn of the Missouriah-Osage tribes spoke at the museum about Osage history in Missouri. Other activities on the grounds of the museum included, live music, cake walks, a pie auction and picnic. The Association reported they are “singing a happy song due to the great success of the 21st Annual Papinville Picnic.”

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