JOEL BEAN BASSETT:

Bassett was born in Wolfboro, New Hampshire (March 17, 1816), the son of Daniel and Abigail Bassett. He moved to Minnesota (1852) where he worked in the lumber trade and lived in Minneapolis for the remainder of his life, except for the years 1865-1869 when he served as Indian agent at the Chippewa Agency at Crow Wing. He married Aurilia Carpenter (1857) and died in Los Angeles, California on February 1, 1912.

More biographical information will be found in the first folder of the collection.

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The collection includes correspondence, drafts of treaties, vouchers, and related items revealing many aspects of Bassett's career as an agent to the Ojibwe Indians of Minnesota. Significant topics include treaties, the removal of the bands to White Earth, Indian-White relationships, criticism of Bassett's predecessor Edwin Clark, and annuity payments. There is no material relating to Basset's lumbering or other careers. Although the collection materials are arranged chronologically, they are described by topic below.

George Bonga. Sixteen letters (November 1865-December 1872) written by Bonga, a Black-Indian guide and interpreter. The letters contain information regarding Indian lands and buildings near Lake Winnibigoshish; complaints against Edwin Clark and other agents; Ojibwe chief Hole-in-the-Day; the inability of Indians to conform to White society (September 25, 1866); payment of annuities; elections (October 13, 24, and 27, 1866); and Bonga's attempts to acquire a trading license. In general, the letters reveal many insights into Indian-White relations as seen by a mixed blood individual.

Hole-in-the-Day. Ten letters and documents related to the Ojibwe chief Hole-in-the-Day (undated and January 1867-November 1868). The letters detail Hole-in-the-Day's complaints against agent Clark; offer his support to Bassett upon his appointment; include 1868 depositions (June 27 and July 27) related to his murder by other Indians; and contain claims by him for properties lost in the U.S.-Dakota War (March 9, 1868). There are also letters (July 19 and 29, August 30, October 22, 1868) from Governor William R. Marshall and others describing the military actions against those suspected in Hole-in-the-Day's murder. Of particular interest is a draft of a report by Bassett (November 10, 1868) describing the effects on the Ojibwe of Hole-in-the-Day's death and efforts to punish the killers.

Henry B. Whipple. Includes one letter (November 17, 1866) from Whipple to Bassett containing information on Whipple's efforts to secure Bassett's appointment as Indian agent and three letters (January 21, 1867) related to the arrival of Hole-in-the-Day and other Indian chiefs in Washington including a letter of introduction for Bassett. Another letter related to the visit (January 8, 1867) is from Lewis Bogy, Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Agency Physicians. Reports from Dr. Albion Barnard (September 24, 30, November 26, 1866) and from Grenville M. Weeks (undated and 1867) contains details on Indian health, particularly regarding such diseases as syphilis, rheumatism, cardiac problems, and consumption, as well as regarding poor diet and the need for a hospital.

Ojibwe Chiefs. Correspondence from Mad-wage-nor[?] of the Red Lake Band (September 26, 1866) requests tobacco, other goods, and mail service. Receipts from chiefs of the Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish bands (April 4, 16, May 22, 1867) document fund transfers. There are also accounts (September 1867) with Little Shell, chief of the Chippewa Band, and Charles Bottineau.

Treaty Materials: Includes drafts (2 versions, undated) prepared by Bassett of the treaty with the Mississippi and Mille Lacs Bands that ceded to the United States all rights, title, and interest in all non-reservation lands in Minnesota. The treaty was signed by Hole-in-the-Day and witnessed by George Bonga. There is also a published treaty (May 5, 1866) between the United States and the Bois Forte Chippewa Band and a House of Representatives document (February 9, 1865) containing estimates for appropriations for the Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota.

Other Materials. The collection also includes lists of annuities (April 1866); estimates of funds needed for annuity payments (August 20, 1866); requests (August 10, 1868) for fur trader licenses for George Fairbanks; vouchers for goods delivered to the agency by private individuals, including John S. Pillsbury (September 30, 1868; January 5, January 7, and December 1, 1869); and a voucher (December 30, 1868) issued to Helen Crooks, a teacher of domestic science to Indian girls.

A letter (October 10, 1868) from J. S. Gilman, chief of commissary and subsistence, Headquarters of Department (?) of Dakota, who was in charge of furnishing rations for the removal of the Ojibwe to White Earth, contains information on the amount per person (twenty dollars), lists food to be sent, and notes the urgency to complete the removal before winter.

Bassett Personal Items. A letter from G. W. Carpenter of Patten, Maine to Bassett (January 7, 1859), asks for employment in Bassett's mill. Carpenter may have been related to Bassett's wife, Aurilia Carpenter. Other items include a letter with the letterhead "Presidential Campaign of 1860, Republican Executive Congressional Committee, Washington, D.C.," stating the purpose of the organization and soliciting support; an incomplete letter, which seems to be from a Civil War soldier, 1862; a letter from Cyrus Aldrich, Washington, D.C., February 3, 1862, mentioning the Civil War and Bassett's problems with the General Land Office; and a letter from Bassett's brother John of Long Prairie, Minnesota (September 12, 1866) stating reasons why he will not be able to attend the political convention and describing bad weather and crops.

Bassett Report Drafts. One report relates the removal of the Mississippi Band of Chippewa; a petition from citizens supporting the removal with reports of Indian depredations, approval of the move by the 732 Ojibwe, and a description of the new location (October 29, 1867). A report made to Charles E. Mix answers charges against Bassett, centered primarily on reports of an Indian agent engaging in private trading and a drunken interpreter, (December 13, 1867).

The effect of the death of Hole-in-the-Day on the Ojibwe; the removal of half of the Mississippi Band to Oak Point and White Earth, and the establishment of a blacksmith shop and sawmill there; crops and corn mill construction at Red Lake; and the conditions of the Pembina Band due to grasshopper plagues and the disappearance of the buffalo are discussed in a third report ( November 10, 1868).

A final report submitted to C. C. Carpenter, Second Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury, repeats Bassett's request for recompense of funds due him has Indian agent, describing the private funds he used to pay for goods and the Agency, March 1876.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Joel B. Bassett Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession Numbers: 2338, 2714

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, August 1997

Catalog ID number: 001691377

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Federal aid to Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota.

Indian reservations -- Minnesota.

Indians of North America -- Minnesota -- Mixed descent.

Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Health and hygiene.

Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Land tenure.

Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Government relations.

Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Treaties.

Ojibwa Indians -- Minnesota -- Relocation.

Ojibwa Indians -- Annuities.

Patronage, Political -- Minnesota

Place:

Crow Wing (Minn.).

Leech Lake Indian Reservation (Minn.).

Organization:

Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ).

Persons:

Aldrich, Cyrus, 1808-1871.

Bonga, George, ca. 1800-1874.

Clark, Edwin H., 1834-1922.

Hole-in-the-Day, Chief, 1828-1868.

Whipple, Henry Benjamin, 1822-1901.

Occupation:

Indian agents -- Minnesota.

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