Post by ephriam on Oct 28, 2017 12:51:49 GMT -5
Dr. S. L. Nedelet, entered duty in Aug. 1868.
Captain D. C. Poole, entered duty on 14 July 1869.
J. M. Washburn, entered duty on 18 Nov 1870.
D. R. Risley, entered duty of 27 Feb 1872.
- Nedelet, Sylvester Lewis (b. 2 Dec 1829 Philadelphia -- d. 30 Oct 1906 St. Louis, MO) was the son of Stephen F. Nidelet from San Domingo who had built up a successful silk trade business in Philadelphia. On a trip to St. Louis, he met Celeste Pratte, the daughter of the influential Bernard A. Pratte. They were married and lived in Philadelphia until about 1844 when the growing family relocated to St. Louis. Young Sylvester was well educated in Philadelphia and St. Louis. In his application to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he was reported to speak Spanish, French and English, as well as some German, Greek and Latin. After his failed appointment to West Point, he attended and graduated from St. Louis University's school of medicine. By 1856, he was working for the Army at Fort Belknap, Texas, as a contract surgeon. When the Civil War broke out, Dr. Nidelet became regimental surgeon for the 2nd Texas Infantry in the Confederate Army and was later placed in charge of the Ross Hospital at Mobile, Alabama. Despite his service in the Confederacy, Dr. Nidelet was again serving as a contract physician for the U.S. Army by 1868, now on the upper Missouri. He was appointed Indian Agent in Aug. 1868 by General Harney. He was reported to have learned several native languages, presumably including Lakota. Clow, in his article on the Whetstone Agency, described Dr. Nedelet as “incompetent and irresponsible” though I am still trying to track down some of his agency correspondence. Dr. Nedelet returned to St. Louis where he was a private physician for many years.
Captain D. C. Poole, entered duty on 14 July 1869.
- Poole, DeWitt Clinton (b. 28 Sept 1828 Amsterdam, NY -- d. 30 Nov 1917 St. Louis, MO) From Wisconsin Veterans Museum: "...moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1854 after being deeded land by his cousin, Napoleon B. Van Slyke. At the onset of the Civil War, Poole volunteered with the Governor's Guard, later designated Co. K of the 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. At the end of his three month enlistment, Governor Randall appointed Poole a Lieutenant Colonel in the newly-formed 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Poole was relieved from active duty in fall of 1863, and worked as an instructor within the Veteran Reserve Corps for several months before joining the Army of Virginia in June 1864. Poole was detached shortly thereafter and made Provost Marshal of the District of Columbia, placed in charge of President Lincoln's security. Poole eventually returned to Madison in 1866, but only remained for one year before accepting an offer to return to the Army as a Captain, transferring to Atlanta in 1867. In 1869 he was appointed by General Sherman an "Agent for the Sioux Indians," and was stationed in Whetstone Creek Reservation in Dakota Territory. In December of 1870, he was relieved of Indian service duty and reassigned to the 22nd Infantry Regiment at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory. In 1880 he was assigned to recruiting service in New York then became a Paymaster in Washington Territory in 1882, where he received a promotion to Major. As required by the Army, he was retired on his 64th birthday in 1892." See his book: Among the Sioux of Dakota: Eighteen Months Experience as an Indian Agent (New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1881).
J. M. Washburn, entered duty on 18 Nov 1870.
- Washburn, John Murry (b. 15 Feb 1831 Manlius, NY -- d. 16 Sept 1887 Mitchell, SD). Obituary from Mitchell Daily Republican, Sept. 18, 1887: "...Major Washburn was 53 years of age, and was born at Manlius, New York. Early in his life he came west, having lived for a short time in Kansas and Nebraska. He came to Dakota eighteen years ago, and was appointed Indian agent at what was known as the Whetstone agency, near Ft. Randall, afterward removing the Indians to the Spotted Tail agency. Later he made his home in Yankton, and in 1872 was appointed receiver in the U.S. land office, then located at Vermillion. From there the office was removed to Sioux Falls, and later to Mitchell, it present location. After retiring from this position he engaged in the practice of land law and in real estate, the firm for a time being Washburn & Currey. For the past two years he had been alone in business, to which he gave his undivided attention...”
D. R. Risley, entered duty of 27 Feb 1872.
- Risley, David R. (b. 1824 St. Louis -- d. 13 Aug 1890 San Francisco, CA). His father, William Risley, moved to St. Louis in 1818 and two years later, married Sarah Simmonds, sister of John Simmonds who was part of one of the first banking firms established in California; he operated a large pork packing operation. David was born and educated in St. Louis. Working initially in his father's company, he soon began finding employment on the Mississippi and Missouri River steamboats, eventually working up to pilot. In 1847, he married Margaret (granddaughter of Capt. Nathaniel Leonard, captured by the British at Fort Niagara during the War of 1812). During the Civil War, David was arrested as a potential Confederate sympathizer, but paroled on a $3000 bond. He was active in local politics and in the Episcopal Church, which probably led to his consideration as Indian agent at the Whetstone Agency, as part of President Grant's Indian policy. David returned to St. Louis after his service as Indian Agent and then moved to southern California in 1880 where he was appointed marshal for several years.