M455

M455

Powell, Ransom Judd (1865-l937). Papers, undated and 1843,

1896-1938.

15 rolls positive microfilm. Originals are in the Minnesota

Historical Society.

Collation of the originals: 5.5 ft., incl. 20 vols.

INTRODUCTION

The Ransom Judd Powell papers in the Minnesota Historical Society's

Division of Library and Archives relate to Powell's involvement with

the Ojibwe (Chippewa) Indians of the White Earth (Minnesot~Reservation

1) as a member of government commission established by Congress in 1913

to compile a roll of land allotments within the White Earth Reservation

and determine the blood status of each allottee; and 2) as legal counsel

to various lumber companies seeking title to Ojibwe lands and to various

White Earth Reservation Indians. The collection includes Ojibwe gene­

alogical and census records, transcripts of legal testimony, corres­

pondence, notes, abstracts of legal title, plats, deeds, and other

papers.

The collection is divided into five series that appear on the

microfilm as follows:

Correspondence and Related Papers, undatedand 1896-1938 (rolls 1-4).

Legal Case Files, undated and 1906-1936 (rolls 4-7).Subject Files, undated and 1911-1916 {roll 8).Volumes, undated and 1843, 1906-1920 (rolls 9-15).Plat Maps, 1912-1916·(rol115}.

The volumes and subject files were microfilmed in 1984, with the

volumes appearing on rolls 1-7 and the subject files on roll 8. The

correspondence, legal case files, and plat maps were microfilmed in

1987. At that time the original eight rolls were renumbered, as listed

above.

M455Page 2.

The original manuscripts,which are in poor physical condition,

are closed to use by the public. However, volumes 3, 4, 18, and 19

and legal case file no. 19 contain color-coded information, and some

information in volume 9 is not legible on the film due to the poor

quality of the original. In addition, some items in the correspondence

and related papers, especially handwritten pencil notations and carbon

copies of letters and other items, may not be legible on the micro­

film due to the poor quality of the original manuscripts. Researchers

wishing to examine these items should consult with the Reference staff.

Two additional aids to the researcher follow this introduction

at the beginning of each microfilm roll: a Biographical Sketch provides

information on Ransom Judd Powell, and a combined Description of the

Papers and Roll Contents List enumerates and describes the papers in the

order in which they appear on the microfilm. Introductory "flash"

targets precede each unit of the collection on the microfilm. A running

target beneath each film frame gives the title and publisher of the

film and the frame number.

In citing materials from this microfilm, include the following

information:

[AuthorJ to [recipientJ, date, roll number, frame number.

Ransom Judd Powell Papers. Microfilm edition. Minnesota

Historical Society.

Volume or file number, title, date(s), roll number,

frame number. Ransom Judd Powell Papers. Microfilm

13,30213,959

edition. Minnesota Historical Society.

Deborah KahnJuly 1987

M455Page 3.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Ramson Judd Powell was born in Pine Island, Minnesota, on March 14,

1865, the son of the Reverend John Walker and Rhoda B. (Grey) Powell.

He was educated in Minnesota rural public schools and at Hamline

University, St. Paul. He received his law degree from the University

of Minnesota Law School in 1898.

Before receiving his law degree, Powell was engaged in a number of

other enterprises. For two years he was superintendent of the Mankato

Gas Light Company, and later he supervised the first electric light

plant in Mankato. In 1890 he opened the plumbing firm of Willard and

Powell in Duluth. After receiving his law degree, Powell practiced

for a short time in Mankato and then moved to Minneapolis. He went

into practice with A. Y. Merrill and remained in the firm until his

retirement in 1932.

Powell's practice centered on timber-related lawsuits, especially

those dealing with Indian land transfers, and he acquired a good deal

of specialized knowledge with regard to the legal status of Indians.

He represented many lumber companies in such matters in Minneapolis

and, for a year (1904-1905), in Nome, Alaska. In 1907 he was retained

by the federal government to defend the Ojibwe (Chippewa) Indians in

Minnesota in cases involving trespass on the timberlands within Indian

reservations.

In 1913 Powell was appointed to a commission established by Congress

on June 30, 1913, to determine the genealogy of some 200 Ojibwe families

living on the White Earth Reservation, in order to judge conclusively

which families were mixed bloods and, therefore, possessed the legal

right to alienation over their reservation land allotments. The

commission's work was carried out with the assistance of Dr. Albert E.

Jenks of the anthropology department of the University of Minnesota,

and Dr. Ales Hrdlicka of the Smithsonian Institution, an anthropologist

specializing in the physical characteristics of American Indians.

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Throughout the period (1913-l920s) during which the commission functioned

and during which the resulting lawsuits were prosecuted, Powell served

as counsel for the lumber company defendants in suits brought by the

United States government seeking the return of timberlands purchased

fromallottees. A more complete description of the commission's work

and the related lawsuits is found in William Watts Folwell, A History

of Minnesota, rev. ed., 4:261-296 (St. Paul, 1969). During the 1920s

Powell also represented White Earth mixed bloods whose allotment

selections were in conflict with State of Minnesota swampland claims.

Powell married Abbie Davis of Mankato in 1891. She died in 1928.

One son, Kenneth W., was listed in the obituaries. They also had a

daughter, Alyce Powell Vick. Powell died in Anoka on November 14,

1937.

The above information was taken from the records; from the

Minneapolis Journal, November 15, 1937, p. 1; and from the papers

of the Hennepin County Bar Association in the Division of Library and

Archives, MHS, as well as from Folwell, A History of Minnesota (o.p.

cit.).

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PAPERS

AND ROLL CONTENTS LIST

CORRESPONDENCE AND RELATED PAPERS

The correspondence and related items are arranged chronologicallyand include information on the commission appointed to compile the rollof reservation Indians and their genealogies; on the blood status ofparticular Indians; on the claims of various Ojibwe Indians to allotmentson the White Earth Reservation; and on related matters. Much of thecorrespondence for the 1896-1921 period relates to legal cases involvingPowell's various lumber company clients who generally were defendantsin U.S. government suits seeking the return of timberlands to theirOjibwe Indian sellers. The undated papers contain several completedgenealogical questionnaires completed by White Earth residents.

Letter writers include Daniel B. Henderson (Washington, D.C.),Halvor Steenerson, Knute Nelson, Albert E. Jenks, Newel H. Clapp,Frank B. Kellogg, Ales Hrdlicka, and N. B. Hurr (Ponsford, Minnesota).There also are a number of letters from officials in the Bureau ofIndian Affairs and the Department of the Interior.

Roll 1

Undated; 1896 - 1918.

Roll 2

1919.

Roll 3

1920.

Roll 4

1921 - 1938.

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LEGAL CASE FILES

This series consists of case files relating to the blood statusof various Ojibwe Indians (files 1-14), Indian estate claims (files 15-19),swamplands on the White Earth Reservation (file 20), and land titlesand transfers (files 21-24). Files 1-14 contain transcripts of legaltestimony; files 15-22 include correspondence and rel~ted materials;and files 23-24 are notes and correspondence. Each file is arrangedchronologically.

Roll 4

File No. 1.

File No. 2.

File No. 3.

File No. 4.

File No. 5.

File No. 6.

File No. 7.

File No. 8.

File No. 9.

U.S.A. vs. Philip S. Converse, John J. Robinson, andJ. E. Diamond, 1909.

U.S.A. VB. Fred Sanders et aI, 1914 (case no. 46).

U.S.A. vs. Clover Land Company, 1914 (case no. 61).

U.S.A. vs. Clover Land Company, 1914 (case no. 64).

U.S.A. vs. Park Land Company, 1914 (case no. 125).

U.S.A. vs. John C. Cabanne , 1914 (case no. 295).

U. S.A. VB. Nic.hols~ChtshQlJ:n-LumberC6mpany etal, 1914(case no. 310).

U.S.A. vs. Abner M. Way etal, 1914 (case no. 436).

U.S.A. vs. C. J. Weiser, 1914 (case no. 510).

Roll 5

File No. 10. [Testimony re the blood status of White Earth ReservationIndians]: Otter Tail, Leech Lake, White Earth, Mille Lacs,Park Rapids, and Edward B. Linnen and John H. HintonTestimony, January 15, 1914 - January 2, 1915, pages 1-1378.

File No. 11. [Testimony re the blood status of White Earth ReservationIndians]: United States District Court, District ofMinnesota, Sixth District, In Equity. Testimony,July 23 - August 13, 1914, pages 1-94.

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Roll 5 (cont.)

File No. 12. [Testimony re the blood status of White Earth ReservationIndians]: Testimony Taken Before J. J. Cameron, SpecialExaminer, July 27 and October 31, 1914 (case no. 779).

Roll 6

File No. 13. [Testimony re the blood status of White Earth ReservationIndians]: Testimony Taken Before C. E. McNamara, NotaryPublic, August 26 - October 3, 1914, pages 1-315[document is incomplete].

File No. 14. [Testimony re the blood status of White Earth ReservationIndians]: Testimony of Ne-bah-o-say-quay, Gah-mah-mah­che-wah-nay, and 20-zay], February 4, 1914, and undated,pages 316-[359] [a continuation of the precedingdocument?].

File No. 15.

File No. 16.

File No. 17.

File No. 18.

File No. 19.

File No. 20.

James A. Sebesta vs. Mis-co-ge-shig (aka James Rock) andElizabeth Rock, 1920.

Estates of E-quay-zaince and Te-go-zhe-quay, 1920-1921.

Estate of Te-bish-co-yaush-eake, 1920-1921.

Estate of Ne-Zho-dain l 1920-1921.

Estate of Kah-ge-gay-gah-bow and Say-git-oonce, 1920-1921

Swamp Lands within The White Earth Reservation, undated and1913-1928, 1936.

Roll 7.

File No. 21. U.S.A. vs. George Walters et aI, 1921-1928 (equity caseno. 138).

File No. 22. Arthur Rima/Warba, Minnesota, Lands, 1921-1935.(related documents are dated 1875-1918).

File No. 23. Investigation of Land Titles: Nichols-Chisholm LumberCompany, undated and 1922.

File No. 24. Investigation of Land Titles: Consolidated InvestmentCompany, undated and 1922.

File No.1.

File No.2.

FileNo. 3.

File No.4.

File No.5.

File No.6.

File No.7.

File No.8.

M455\.·Page 8.

SUBJECT FILES

Roll 8

Indian Genealogies: Paul H. Beaulieu Family [and otherfamilies?]~ undated, 1914-1915.

Indian Genealogies: John H. Fairbanks Family, undatedand 1914-1915.

Family number 82.

Indian Genealogies: Roy Family, undated and 1914-1915.

Family number 31.

Indian Genealogies: Ke-(~rhe-Sohn-~,o-way (Brunette)Family, undated.

Family number 48.

"List of Hinton Full-Bloods in Numerical Order,Examinations by Doctor Hrdli~ka," April 17, 1.916.

Arranged numerically by original allotment numberfor each number gives name and [residence?]; mayindicate whether examined, deceased, and in suit.

Unidentified List, undated.

Each entry includes serial number, Indian name,allotment number, suit number, relationships,and residence and may indicate whether examined,refused ~ Compiled by Albert E. Jenks.

"Anthropological Blank[s], Data gathered by AlbertErnest Jenks, University of }-finnesota," 1915.

Arranged numerically by serial number. Eachform gives Indian and American names, tribe, band,age, residence, physical characteristics andmeasurements, kinship, blood status, remarks,original allotment number, family number, andserial number.

Additional Allotment Schedule, undated.

Continuations, numbers 2797-3137;Corrections, numbers 217-3054.

File No.9.

Volume 1.

Volume 2.

Volume 3.

Volume 4.

Volume 5.

r1455.Page 9.

Lists Showing the Degree of Indian Blood of CertainPersons Holding Land Upon the White Earth Indian Reservationin Minnesota and a List Showing the Date of Death ofCertain Persons Who Held Land Upon Such Reservation["Hinton Roll"]: (Washington, D.C.: United StatesGovernment Printing Office, 1911). (2 copies)

VOLUMES

Roll 9

Unidentified, undated.

Contains columns of original allotment numbers (numbers1-5166) and additional allotment numbers (numbers 1-3137).Many of the numbers are accompanied by an additional,unidentified number.

Index to Land Allotments and Roll Numbers for 1906.

Arranged alphabetically by name. For each name givesroll number, original allotment number, and additionalallotment number.

Allotment Record, undated.

Contains three lists giving 1) original allotmentnumbers, family/issue number, blood status, andadditional annotations; 2) original allotment numbersand corresponding suit (case) numbers; and 3) namesof allottees (listed alphabetically), with the suit(case) number for each allottee.

Plat Book, undated.

Shows Indian allotments, timber lands, agriculturallands, and ten reserved sections.

Index to "Book of Indian Families" (volume 6), undated.

Arranged alphabetically by name. Information for eachindividual includes case number, original and additionalallotment numbers, and family/issue numbers. The latternumbers are used to locate individuals in volume 6.Also contains an introduction by Powell, dated May 29,1933, describing his compilation of the genealogies andhis estimation of their value.

Volume 6.

Volume 7.

Volume 8.

Volume 9.

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Roll 10

["Book of Indian Families"], undated.

Genealogies of White Earth Reservation Indians, compiledby Powell ca.. 1.913':"ca.1915. Arranged numericallyby family (numbers 1-92) and within each family byissue. Each family member is assigned an issue number.Contains an index to heads of families that gives "old"and "new" family numbers. (See subject files 1-4 foradditional genealogies).

RollI

Genealogies of Allottees, undated.

Genealogical charts, arranged numerically by suit (case)number (numbers 1-899). For each allottee gives namesof parents, paternal and maternal grandparents, great­grandparents, and great-great-grandparents.

Roll

Genealogies of Allottees (continued), undated.

Continuation of volume 7 (suit numbers 900-1417;l-~ --- 3-68).

"Schedule of Allowances of Land Made to the White EarthBand of Chippewa Indians of Minnesota on the White EarthIndian Reservation in that State by the Chippewa Commissionunder the Provision of the Act of Congress ApprovedJanuary 14, 1889 (25 Stats. 642) and the Instructions ofthe Commissioner of Indian Affairs," [1907?].

Arranged numerically by census number. Each entryincludes census number, number of allotment, Indian andEnglish names, sex, age, legal description of land,number of acres, and remarks.

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Roll 13 (cont ';)

Volume 10. Signers Pay Roll, La Pointe, Wisconsin, 1843 (copy).(La Pointe, Wisconsin, annuity roll).

For each signer gives number of family members (men,women, children, total) and distributive share.

Volume 11. "Allotments Reported for Suit" and Related Allotment Lists,undated.

Each list is arranged numerically by case number.Entries give name(s) of defendant(s), case number,allotment number, amount paid, date of purchase,value at time of purchase, present value, name ofallottee, and description of the property. Somelists are annotated with informatio.n re the statusof the case.

Volume 12. Allotment List, undated.

Arranged numerically by case number,. Each entry givescase number, allotment number, name of Indian, descriptionof property, defendants, appearances, checkings, remarks,family number, and account.

Roll

Volume 13. "Roll of the Chippewa Indians Allotted Within the WhiteEarth Reservation in the State of Minnesota, Prepared bythe Commission appointed under the Act of June 30, A.D.1913," [19l7?].

Arranged numerically by original allotment number,with description of the original allotment; thenumber and description of any additional allotment;the name, sex, age, blood status of the allottee;whether living or dead; and date of birth or death.

Volume 14. "Roll of the Chippewa Indians Allotted Within the WhiteEarth Reservation in the State of Minnesota, Prepared bythe Commission appointed under the Act of June 30, A.D.1913, II approved April 15, 1918.

First approved roll. Same arrangement and informationcategories as volume 13.

Volume 15.

Volume 16.,

Volume 17.

Volume 18.

Volume 19.

Volume 20.

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Roll 1_4 (cont.)

"Roll of the Chippewa Indians Allotted Within the WhiteEarth Reservation in the State of Minnesota Prepared bythe Commission appointed under the Act of June 30, A.D.1913," approved July 9, 1918.

Second approved roll. Same arrangement and informationcategories as volumes 13 and 14.

"Roll of the Chippewa Indians Allotted Within the W"hiteEarth Reservation in the State of Minnesota, Preparedby the Commission appointed under tIle Act of June 30, A.D.1913," {1920?].

Apparently a preliminary version of volume 17. Samearrangement and information categories as volumesl3~15.

Rolll5

"Roll of the Chippewa IIldians Allotted Within the WhiteEarth Reservation in the State of Minnesota, Prepared bythe Commission appointed under the Act of June 30, A.D.1913," approved November 12, 1920.

Final roll. Same arrangement and information· categoriesas volumes 13-16.

Plat Book, White Earth Indian Reservation, undated.

Shows ownership of land, by allotment number, oftownships 141-146 ranges 37-42. Also indicateswhich lands were selected by the state and whichwere patented to the state.

Plat Book, White Earth Indian Reservation, undated.

Shows ownership of land, by suit number, of townships141-146, ranges 37-42.

Plat Book, Townships 141-146, Ranges 37-42, undated.

Shows ownership of land, by suit number, on theWhite Earth Reservation.

M455Page 13.

PLAT MAPS

Five supplemental plats of White Earth Reservation land parcels.The plats apparently were prepared to show subdivisions of old lots,thereby providing more accurate descriptions of certain Ojibwe Indianallotments. The plats presumbly were used by Powell in his work onthe federal commission.

Roll 15

Map No.1.

Map No.2.

Map No.3.

Map No.4.

Map No.5.

Sections 6 and 7, Township 142 N, Range 41 W, showingsubdivision in section 6 in which lots 8 and 9 take theplace of old lot 4, and showing subdivision in section 7in which lots 5 and 6 take the place of old lot 4. u.S.General Land Office, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1912.

Section 6, Township 142 N, Range 42 W, showing subdivisionin which lots 16 and 17 take the place of old lot 13.u.S. General Land Office, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1912.

Section 3, Township 146 N, Range 38 W, describing WhiteEarth allotment no. 2394, approved April 2, 1908. u.S.General Land Office, Washington, D.C., August 30, 1912.

Section 19, Township 142 N, Range 37 W, describing WhiteEarth allotment no. 4391 for Aysh-pun. u.S. General LandOffice, Washington, D.C., November 5, 1913.

Section 35, Township 141 N, Range 40 W, describing WhiteEarth allotment no. 4918 for I-ah-baince. u.S. GeneralLand Office, Washington, D.C., January 14, 1916.

AUTHOR ENTRIES

Ayer, Lyman Warren, 1834-

Clapp, Newel Harvey, 1850-1922.

Henderson, Daniel BHin to.?, John ~

Hrdltcka, Ales, 1869-1945.Hurr, N B

Jenks, Albert Ernest, 1869-1953.

Kellogg, Frank Billings, 1856-1937.

Linnen, Edward B

McDonald, Donald, 1803­McDonald, John.

Nelson, Knute, 1843-1923.

Rima, Arthur.

Steenerson, Ha1vor, 1852-1926.

Van Nett, James, 1820-

M455Page 14.

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Abstracts of Title.Annuities, Indian.

Beaulieu Family.

Chippewa Indians - Census.Chippewa Indians - Genealogy.Chippewa Indians - Land Tenure.Chippewa Indians - Land-Transfers.Chippewa Indians - Legal Status, Laws, etc.Chippewa Indians - Mixed Bloods.Chippewa Indians - Reservations.

Deeds.

Fairbanks Family.

Genealogy.

Hinton Roll.

Indians of North America - Mixed Bloods.

Land Titles - Registration and Transfer - Minn.Lawyers - Minn.Leech Lake Indian Reservations.Lumbering - Minn.

Maps - Whi te Earth Indian Reservation,. ,Mille Lacs Indi~~-Reservation.

Nichols-Chisholm Lumber Co., Minneapolis, Minn.

Roy Family.

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Trespass - Minn.

u. S. Department of the Interior.

Warba, Minn.White Earth Indian Reservation,Minn.

M455Page 15.