Peter Owaha Mathews: A documented account of his life.

By Tom Jewett

PETER OWAHA MATHEWS B. ~1842, California D.~1900, Unknown At an early age Owaha had a large portion of difficulty heaped on his plate of life, yet he was able to overcome many of these challenges. The California Gold Rush prospectors had descended upon his home land, dubbing his people "Digger Indians." Their arrival turned his Indian way of life upside down with his parents lost to "plague" when he was five years old. Owaha became an orphan. Miraculously, at age ten Owaha's life had a dramatic reversal. The Matthews family arrived in Central California having traveled there from Iowa by wagon train. Gold had not drawn them to California, rather they had entrepreneurial aspirations. The young orphan gravitated toward the Matthews and began helping with the family chores. After several years the Matthews returned to the Midwest. Owaha, who was now called Peter, went with them as he had become part of the family. In the American heartland he acquired an education, fought in the Civil War, was granted a Methodist preaching license, and banged on the door of the Indian Affairs Office for an opportunity to serve in the Indian Agencies of the Northwest. Peter worked at agencies in Montana, Idaho, and South Dakota He was keen to do teaching and church work, yet willing to do what was needed. Then his career was torpedoed as he was caught in the middle of two powerful jaws of a vise. One vise face was jealous whites of questionable character and the other was Indians who were antagonistic to his promoting Christian faith and White civilization. Both joined together to rid the camp of him. False charges were made and he was "relieved" of duty. With time and support from colleagues he was ultimately exonerated of their charges. He would rebound to become the Chief of the Indian Police at Wolf Point Agency and an Inspector for General Nelson A. Miles. While working at the camps he apparently married and had two children. Later he transitioned to pastoral work and had a traveling ministry with speaking engagements across the country. He was reported to have been a powerful speaker. But, tragedy struck. His wife died after the birth of their second child, and both children died young. In the end, a heart broken Peter apparently abandoned his white man ways and returned to life among the Indians. Some time later his story was published in newspapers by his nephew and Nebraska newspaper editor, Cecil Matthews. Cecil was not writing as an historian, but as a creator of a good story that his Nebraska readership would enjoy. This adapted version of Peter would become the family account of Peter's life and deeds. In this research Cecil's articles are evaluated and surviving historic sources are presented with the goal of discovering the real Peter. Born an American Indian. Raised as a White man. Died an Indian. ????

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0D2LR69WR
• ISBN13: 9798321146859
• Release Date: April 2024
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 161 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.4" x 8.5"