OCR Text |
Show 140 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. weekly journal of large influence. Its venerable editor, by reason of his years and experience, was known throughout the State by the title of " Father Meeker," affectionately accorded him by his younger brethren of the press. Naturally philanthropic, among other things he made a careful study of the condition of the Indians, and believing that, with the earnest support of the Government, they could be made to accept civilization, and to engage heartily in its pursuits if wisely directed, he applied for and obtained the agency for the White River tribe of Utes in 1877. Arriving at the agency he found that many of the Indians had left the reservation, and great dissatisfaction existed among them, because of alleged ill-treatment by former agents. True to the main purpose of his mission he soon succeeded in restoring quiet among the malcontents. It was a favorite theory with him that it was possible to" make the agency self-supporting by teaching these savages to adopt stock raising and agriculture. He also thought the young might be induced to attend school, and grow up educated in the English language-and trained in the manner of civilized society. With this idea he established a school, and his daughter, Miss Josephine Meeker, who inherited much of the force and enthusiasm of her father, essayed the role of teacher with the highest missionary spirit. Miss Josephine was then twenty-two years of age, a blonde, with blue eyes and light hair, tall in stature and vivacious in manner and conversation. She was a great favorite among the Indians, and during her twelve months stay |