My great grandfathers were intertwined in the fabric of American History. On this Father’s Day month, comes the story of two of those great grandfathers and specific chapters in their lives. In 1877, my maternal great grandfather, Joseph Mattas witnessed the infamous “Ponca Trail of Tears.” Paternal great grandfather, Levi Adkins - the Montana Gold Rush in the 1860s. Descendants of both became the fabric of South Dakota History. 

Joseph Mattas. Circa, 1920s

Levi Adkins. Tin type photo, circa 1860s

Joseph Mattas, spent his teenage years in the Bon Homme district of Dakota Territory. His parents came from Bohemia to America to escape the tyranny of the Austrian Empire. Joseph became a successful farmer near Milltown, South Dakota.

Joseph passed in 1934. His obituary was printed in English in the Parkston Advance Newspaper, the other in Czech for his relatives in Bon Homme County.

Joseph to the far right at his farm. Circa, 1910s

Joseph Mattas in front of his childhood home in Bon Homme County. Circa, 1910s

There is a line in this obituary that reads:

“He was the youngest member of the group that was moving the Ponca Indians from Dakota Territory to Oklahoma.”

Photo Courtesy of the State of Nebraska Education Department.

According to James Howard and Peter Le Claire in the book, “The Ponca Tribe”:

“Peaceably inclined and never numerous, they built earth-lodge villages, cultivated gardens, and hunted buffalo. In what is now present-day South Dakota and Nebraska.”

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society:

"The Ponca never warred with the United States, with whom they signed their first peace treaty in 1817. In 1865 the Ponca signed land cession treaties in return for military protection and economic assistance. During the 1860s and 1870s, droughts, failed bison hunts, and an incessant Sioux threat brought the Ponca to the brink of starvation. Instead of honoring its treaty obligations, the United States ceded Ponca land to the Sioux in 1868. Rather than renegotiate the Sioux treaty, the federal government removed the Ponca to Indian Territory in 1877. "

Ponca land prior to 1877. Map courtesy of the Nebraska Historical Society.

Many Poncas suffered and died along the way, including White Buffalo Girl, the one-and half year old daughter of Black Elk and Moon Hawk. She was buried in Neligh, Nebraska. 

In the summer of 1877, my great grandfather, Joseph Mattas witnessed what was to become known as the “Ponca Trail of Tears.”

Joseph was not part of the military, more than likely a civilian hired as a wagon driver. The journey covered 550 miles in 50 days through heat, thunderstorms, and heavy winds to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma. 

Pictures courtesy of the National Archives.

Photo courtesy of  The Standing Bear Park, Museum & Education Center. Circa, 1900s

Standing Bear was one of the sub-chiefs during the Ponca's Trail  of Tears.

I don’t know whether my great grandfather ever interacted with him. Years later, Standing Bear sued to be recognized as a person in the law of the United States, and won. 

Joseph never wrote a journal, and according to family lore, did not talk about his experiences. Only the line preserved in his obituary.

"He was one of the youngest members of a group that moved the Ponca Indians from Dakota Territory to Oklahoma."

The bridge crossing the Missouri from Running Water, South Dakota to Nebraska is named the Standing Bear Bridge. For more of Standing Bear's story, click here.

Mandana's Monument, Monroe Wisconsin.

Postcard, Virginia City. Circa, 1865

The family didn’t strike it rich in Virginia City, so they followed rumors of another big gold discovery in Last Chance Gulch. They spent two years there and saw Last Chance change its name to Helena and triple in population. Still no big pay day for the family.

Early Helena. Picture from the Montana Mining History. Circa, 1869

Perhaps Levi didn’t think it was his last chance for riches.

More gold pockets were discovered near Cedar Creek at the foot of the Bitter Root Mountains.

100 miners staked out 200 claims within six months after the discovery in 1869. Levi’s claim was No. 58 as recorded in the Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer Newspaper.

It wasn't Levi's last chance. This time it paid out. In 1871, again from the Newspaper:

“Adkins and Company, No.58 have run 200 feet though pay dirt. They sold one-third interest in that claim for $4,000.”

Levi and his sons settled near the boomtown of Forest City, next to Cedar Creek Junction. The family is listed in the 1870 census.

By late 1870, Forest City had reached a population of 7,000. My great grandfather, Levi continued to be mentioned in the Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer.

Soon after the census was taken, my grandfather, Zina joined the family in Montana.

Cedar Creek, Montana. Photo from the Montana Gold Claims Publication.

All seemed to be going well, until 1871, when a claim dispute between Adkins and Company, claim No. 58 and Doyle Company, Claim No. 59 erupted.

Doyle believed that the Adkins Company was working Doyle’s ground.

Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer:

“On the morning of December 14^th, the parties met. Melgram (who had just purchased Adkins and Company in full) along with young Adkins, (my grandfather), was concealed in a dark tunnel and shot Doyle, who had no weapon.”

Melgram turned himself into the deputy marshal immediately. Because it was now his company, he pleaded the right to defend himself from a claim jumper, Doyle. Doyle lived. None of the Adkins Family were prosecuted.

I like to tell stories that weave the fabric of our lives together. These stories come from many sources. One source was lost in May, Charles (Chuck) Mize. Over many years, Chuck and I have shared stories, photos, recollections of our common childhood experiences in Parkston and Milltown, laughter and tears about all of those things.

Chuck’s father Everett Mize and my mother Margaret (Mize) Adkins were siblings. Chuck was an only child, but to me he was my cousin - brother. We were bound together by our common ancestors. There will be a hole left in my story telling with his passing, but I am so grateful with all he shared with me!

Chuck passed on May 22 in Sprit Lake, Iowa. My heart goes out to his wife, Marjie, his children and grandchildren. This month's story is dedicated to Chuck. I think he would have liked it!

L-r; Kay Adkins Brown, my sisters, Gloria Leonard and Diane Graber, and Chuck Mize.