Collected & edited by Amorin Mello

While researching original land records around Lake Superior, I stumbled upon a curious deed recorded at Sault Ste Marie during the final days of Michigan Territory before statehood commenced in 1837.

Saulte Ste Marie, Michigan Territory

Chippewa County

Register of Deeds

Book 1 of Deeds, Pages 64-65

Know all men by these presents, that I George Johnston of Saul Ste Marie, Michigan, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents, lawful money of the United States of American, to me in hand paid by James L Schoolcraft the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby and by these presents, absolutely and completely sell and convey unto James L Schoolcraft afore said, his heirs and assigns, all my right, title interest and claim in, and to the equal and undivided half of a certain property, being and situate at the Demoins rapids, between the Demoines and Mississippi rivers, the same being a certain portion of lands reserved for the Sac & Fox half breeds, by a treaty concluded at the city Washington, on the fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, which half breed claim was on the fifteenth day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty six sold and conveyed to me in full by a deed from Louis Desognier, of the town of Penetanguishene, in the Home District, Province of Upper Canada, And for him said Schoolcraft, his heirs and executors and administrators, to have and to hold the said equal and undivided half of said premises forever, and I the said George Johnston for myself and my heirs, do by these presents agree to warrant and defend the title of said premises to said Schoolcraft and his heirs forever.

George Johnston

In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal on this Twenty second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.

George Johnston {S}

In presence of }

John M Hulbert }

County of Chippewa }
State of Michigan }

On the 24th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, before me Gabriel Franchère, one of the Justices of the peace for said County, personally came George Johnston, known to me as the same person, who signed and sealed the within instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.

In testimony whereof and being requested I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my seal on the day and year above written.

Gabriel Franchère {S}

———

January 10th 1837
A true copy from original

S R Wood

Register

Johnston along with his siblings and in-laws have written a wealth of interesting documents about the United States’ Indian Affairs with the Lake Superior Chippewa, such as the 1842 Lac Du Flambeau Reservation Boundaries.  What makes this deed in today’s post especially interesting is how it involves land in Iowa reserved for Mixed Bloods from a different Tribe beyond the Lake Superior basin:

1824 Sauk & Fox Treaty at Washington, D.C.

ARTICLE 1st.

The Sock and Fox tribes or nations of Indians, by their deputations in council assembled, do hereby agree, in consideration of certain sums of money, &c. to be paid to the said Sock and Fox tribes, by the Government of the United States, as hereinafter stipulated, to cede and for ever quit claim, and do, in behalf of their said tribes or nations, hereby cede, relinquish, and forever quit claim, unto the United States, all right, title, interest, and claim, to the lands which the said Sock and Fox tribes have, or claim, within the limits of the state of Missouri, which are situated, lying, and being, between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and a line running from the Missouri, at the entrance of Kansas river, north one hundred miles to the Northwest corner of the state of Missouri, and from thence east to the Mississippi. It being understood, that the small tract of land lying between the rivers Desmoin and the Mississippi, and the section of the above line between the Mississippi and the Desmoin, is intended for the use of the half-breeds belonging to the Sock and Fox nations; they holding it, however, by the same title, and in the same manner, that other Indian titles are held.

Map of the Tract of Land Reserved for the ‘Half-Breeds’ of the Sacs and Foxes in of Iowa
“This map is further titled ‘Land given by the Sacs and Foxes to the Half-Breeds of their tribe.’ This map also shows Fort Desmoines and portions of the Des Moines River and the Mississippi River.”
~ National Archives (NAID: 232924203)

This so-called “Iowa Half Breed Tract“ of 119,000 acres was originally reserved from sale and set aside for the mixed blood relations of Sauk & Fox nations to occupy, and individuals were prohibited from buying or selling any of this land.  However, Congress removed this restriction in 1834, allowing individuals to buy and sell the land, which then fell out of tribal control into the hands of squatters and speculators.  For more information, I recommend the May 2019 thesis “Half-breeds,” squatters, land speculators, and settler colonialism in the Des Moines-Mississippi confluence by Matthew Hill at University of Northern Iowa.

Long story short: At face value this deed appears to be completely unrelated to Chequamegon History, yet contains many familiar topics.  Johnston’s understanding of Treaty promises to Tribal Mixed Bloods broken by the United States, and Johnston’s influence at later Treaty negotiations between the Lake Superior Chippewa and the United States may never been fully known, but are questions that deserve to be asked.