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This fascinating letter by Baptist missionary Jotham Meeker describes recent Ottawa converts to Christianity and the Ottawa chief Ottowukkee's passionate stand against further missionary efforts. Apparently, just as Ottowukkee was about to drive the missionaries out of the area, he was struck by a sudden illness. According to Meeker, many of the Ottawa believed his sickness was a sign of God's judgment. Also, Meeker discusses David Green, a native convert who has joined Meeker as a missionary at the Ottawa Mission (near present-day Ottawa, Kansas). The recipient of this letter, Reverend Lucius Bolles, was Meeker's contact on the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions.
Creator: Meeker, Jotham, 1804-1855
Date: March 11, 1840
This source demonstrates missionary efforts to "civilize" the Ottawa Indians by imparting Christianity and white moral values. It also shows how the Ottawa, like other native tribes, continued to adhere to traditional ways. This letter works in tandem with the July 8, 1840 letter in the Meeker Papers (also selected for this standard) to teach change over time.
KS:7th:1.4:Indian Removal (2005)
Item Number: 210065
Call Number: Jotham Meeker Papers Coll. #429, Box 1, 1840 Correspondence Folder
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 210065
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Religion - Missionaries
Collections - Manuscript - Meeker, Jotham
Community Life - Religion - Christianity - Baptist
Community Life - Religion - Missionaries
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Assimilation
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Mission work and mission schools
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Ottawa
Date - 1800-1819
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Letter
People - American Indians - Indian removal
People - American Indians - Missions - Ottawa Mission
People - American Indians - Tribes - Ottawa
Places - Cities and towns - Ottawa
Places - Counties - Franklin
Places - Indian reservations - Ottawa
Thematic Time Period - Indian Territory, 1820 - 1854
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Letters
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210065