Joseph M. Street facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Montfort Street
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| Born | October 18, 1782 Virginia, United States
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| Died | May 5, 1840 (aged 57) near Agency City, Iowa
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Joseph Montford Street Joseph Monford Street Joseph Monfort Street |
| Occupation | Pioneer, soldier, and businessman |
| Known for | Iowa pioneer and one of the earliest to settle in Prairie du Chien; U.S. Indian Agent to the Sauk and Fox after the Black Hawk War. |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Posey |
| Parent(s) | Anthony and Molly Street |
| Relatives | Thomas Posey, father-in-law Alexander Posey, brother-in-law |
General Joseph Montfort Street (born October 18, 1782 – died May 5, 1840) was an important American pioneer and soldier in the 1800s. He was also a U.S. Indian Agent, which meant he worked for the U.S. government to manage relationships with Native American tribes. He worked with the Winnebago tribe and later with the Sauk and Fox tribes after the Black Hawk War. His oldest son, Joseph H. D. Street, was the first official registrar for the land office in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Joseph Montfort Street was born in Virginia. He studied law and later moved to Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1806, he became the editor of a newspaper called The Western World. This newspaper helped to reveal a plot known as the "Aaron Burr conspiracy." Because of this, Joseph Street faced problems and eventually had to leave Kentucky.
He later settled in Shawneetown, Illinois. In 1827, he became a U.S. Indian Agent for the Winnebago tribe. Joseph Street and his family were among the first Presbyterian families to live in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. While living there, he was present when a peace treaty was signed, ending the Winnebago War. He tried to help the Winnebago people, but his efforts were often difficult due to the powerful American Fur Company.
Working as an Indian Agent
In 1829, Joseph Street reported a logger named Jean Brunett for illegally cutting trees on Native American land. Major Stephen W. Kearney arrested Brunett. Street and Kearney held Brunett for some time before letting him go. However, they were later sued for illegal arrest. They had to pay fines and court costs. Even though they were found to be in the wrong by the court, the United States Congress later paid them back for their expenses.
In 1831, Joseph Street wrote to Lewis Cass, who was the U.S. Secretary of War. He explained that the Sauk and Fox tribes wanted to sell their lands near the Mississippi River. However, they wanted the government to pay off their debts to local traders first.
Black Hawk War and Its Aftermath
Joseph Street and his brother-in-law, Alexander Posey, were involved in the Black Hawk War. After the Battle of Bad Axe, members of the Sioux tribe brought 68 scalps and 22 prisoners to him. On August 27, 1832, two Winnebago warriors, One-Eyed Decorri and Cha-e-tar, brought the Winnebago Prophet and Black Hawk to Joseph Street.
One-Eyed Decorri proudly told Street how he captured Black Hawk:
Near the Dalle, on the Wisconsin, I took Black Hawk. No one did it but me—I say this in the ears of all present, and they know it—and I now appeal to the Great Spirit, our grand-father, and the earth, our grand-mother, for the truth of what I say.
Joseph Street made sure that the prisoners were treated well. When he heard that iron handcuffs had been placed on Black Hawk, he ordered an officer named Jefferson Davis to remove them.
Later Work and Legacy
From 1832 to 1833, Joseph Street worked on agreements with the Sauk and Fox tribes after the war. In 1836, he became the official U.S. government representative for these tribes. The next year, he went with a group of Sauk and Fox leaders to Washington, D.C.. There, they agreed to give up a large area of their land in Iowa to the United States. This agreement was called the "Second Purchase" treaty and was signed on October 21, 1837.
He also went with the Fox chief Poweshiek to choose a new location for the Sauk and Fox agency. This agency was built on the Des Moines River, where Agency City, Iowa is today. Joseph Street used money from the U.S. Indian Fund to build several buildings there. He also built a small farm for his family, who moved there in April 1838. He saw that there wasn't much game for hunting in the area. So, he encouraged the government to help the tribes with farming. He also supported setting up Presbyterian missions to provide education for the local tribes.
Joseph Street was negotiating another land purchase for the Fox and Sauk tribes when he became very ill. He died at the agency on May 5, 1840. His son-in-law, Major John Beach, took over his role. A new treaty was signed on October 11, 1842. One part of this treaty was a special payment to Joseph Street's widow, requested by the tribal chiefs.
Joseph Street was highly respected by both his fellow Americans and by Native Americans. The war chief Wapello, who was a close friend of Street, asked to be buried next to him. Today, they are buried together in Chief Wapello's Memorial Park.
