Little Crow's Camp Canku Wakan (the Holy Road)

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Listing of burials on file at the SD State Archives in Pierre.

Chief Little Crow Dies

Little Crow is dead. He died at two o'clock on the afternoon of October 1, and was buried in the afternoon of the second. His funeral was largely attended by his friends from all over the Rosebud country, by both whites and Indians. The burial took place in the cemetery near his home. Rev. Father Buechel of St. Francis Mission administered the last sacraments to the dying chief and he died a true Catholic.

The chief was born near Ft. Laramie, Wyoming 73 years ago. He leaves a wife, a daughter Mrs. Ida Leneaugh of Carter and a son Isaac of Wood to mourn his loss.

Little Crow was one of a few that was left of the "Loafer Band" of the Sioux Nation. The name of this particular band of the Sioux was derived from the fact that they were always living in and near the Forts or Agencies of early days and the rest of the Indians used to call them loafers because they would not go out on the warpath against the whites. This band of Indians have been instrumental in bringing all the wild Indians onto the various Indian reservations and make peace with the Government.

The chief would have enjoyed a pension if he had lived a while longer as his application for pension for scout during the Indian Wars of 1876-77-78 has been pending in the Pension Bureau.

Little Crow moved out to where his present home is now [sec 4, T40N, R25W] from the Agency in the early 80's and started to farming. He was considered to be a progressive member of his tribe and was a leader among his people for the best welfare of all concerned.

The Government built a Day School on his land in 1893 and named it the Little Crow Day School. This Chief insisted in those days that all Indian children go to school and to secure good educations that they may grow up to be useful citizens of their country, and just a few days before he took sick the writer had a talk with the Chief and was informed by him that he was glad that he lived to see the day when his people were at least considered as citizens on paper anyway, if not actually. The old timers are about all gone now. We will miss Little Crow.

Carlos Gallineaux (Mellette County (South Dakota) Pioneer, October 10, 1924)

Walter Baptist LaPointe

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