Letters of Application for Fee Patent

Dupree, S. Dak, Nov 22nd, 1915.

Secretary of Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,-

I hereby make application for full citizenship and respectfully state that I am a Cheyenne River Sioux Indian of South Dakota; that I am 41 years old and have fair education; I am married and have one child; I speak the English language.

I have the following personal property; five head of herses; twelve head of cattle; one heavy wagon; one spring wagon; two sets harness; one plow; one harrow; a mowing machine and hay rake; hay rack.

I have 640 acres of allotment land; my wife has 320 acres and my child 480 acres alloted and inherited. 

I have sold 120 acres of inherited land 1913 and 52 acres 1915; I had a patent for the 62 acres.

Of my allotment I have 15 acres under cultivation, and raised this year 15 acres of corn. This corn I cut up and stacked. I put up fifty tons of hay this year. Also, four ton of alfafa hay. I have twenty four chickens. I have two hogs. I also have four sheep, a buck and three cows.

Out of this land I sold this year I bought the sheep above mentioned; four steers and two coldts and have them all now.

I have a log house; 18ft x 18ft; barn 25ft x 35ft of lumber, costs $175.00 Have one hundred acres fenced, two wires, on my own allotment. I am self supporting and do not depend on the Government, and have not for twenty years.

Very respectfully,
Finton Curley

Devils Lake N.D.
September 2

That this allottee, John W. Lehnes, has a Wife and 10 children. He is a bright and progressive man who is residing on 40 acres of his original allotment which he transferred to his wife by deed approved April 22, 1915 and upon which he has a 6 room frame house, frame barn 15 x 32 ft, with two additions thereto, each 16 feet square, a 30 ft. well with pump and cultivated 400 acres of land which is all in crop this year, a considerable portion of which he leases from Indian allottees. He owns 18 horses, 22 milch cows, several sets of harness, wagons and all necessary farming implements, also a Cadalac automobile. His wife received fee patent for her 50 acre allotment about a year ago and owns it yet.

This allottee is in every respect a white man other than his degree of Indian blood, and as he is fully competent to transact his own business affairs qual to the ordinary white man we recommend that patent in fee be issued to him for his restricted tract, which we value at $25.00 per acre.

Fort Peck Agency, Montana, August 30, 1915

Christina West.
Allotment No. 1907.

Area, 380 acres.

Her valuation, $6,000; our estimate $6,000.

Age 38, of good character.

Degree of blood, 1/8 Indian.

Married, July 27, 1898, to Grant P. West, an industrious white man. Have 8 children.

Has not received patent in fee for any of her land.

Good log house of 4 rooms, nicely furnished and well kept.

Good frame barn, granary, coal shed, chicken coop, automobile, and garage. Turkeys, ducks and domestic fowl. Large stack of hay, coyote, tame chicken hawk and tame magpie.

Has over 100 acres under cultivation and in crop.

Has about 40 head of horses and 20 head of cattle, also about 1000 sheep, and all necessary farm machinery.

Mrs West is a graduate of Carlisle Indian School, 1897.