Spirit lake massacre

Inkpaduta at the Pipestone : Although by formal treaty the Wahpekute Sioux (Dakota) tribe had given up title to the land, small bands separated from the main tribe still lived in the region

Thatcher and Noble, unable to endure the harsh conditions, had been died or killed by their captors. He froze to death, and Lott blamed the Indians. The group, including John Howe, Eli Floyd and Jonathan Leach, appropriated guns and told the tribe they would be back in the morning.

The formal treaty in which the Sioux relinquished title to their remaining lands in Iowa was signed inbut settlers had begun moving into northwest Iowa illegally, far beyond the protection of soldiers stationed at Ft. Most histories of the event point to an alleged theft of some Sioux horses by Henry Lott in then living with his family near where the Boone and Des Moines Rivers join.

According to the Treaty of that ended Sioux claims to traditional lands in the area, the tribe agreed to move to a reservation in southwest Minnesota. The women were forced to carry heavy loads, especially after the band killed their horses for food.

They were not under the authority of tribal leaders.

Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin : For years previous to the Indians of the Siouan tribes had obstinately resisted white settlement and had succeeded in a marked degree in retarding the movement

Inkpadutah merged his group with another Sioux band. The Iowa legislature authorized a ransom for the women. Iowa authorities refused to take military action against the band until the women had been released. A militia followed but was unable to overtake them.

Later when Lott moved north into Humboldt County and located the Indian camp, he attacked and killed Sidominadotah, his wife, and his children. Also struggling that winter, whites rebuffed the Indians with violence and a posse disarmed Inkpaduta's band after they killed a settler's dog that had bitten one of the band.

Troubles between area settlers and the native people continued. Spirit Lake Massacre, (March 8–12, ), incident in northwestern Iowa, U.S., in which a band of Sioux Indians led by Inkpaduta killed more than 30 white people. Spirit Lake Massacre Coordinates: °N °W Abbie Gardner 's Cabin The Spirit Lake Massacre (March 8–12, ) was an attack by a Wahpekute band of Santee Sioux on scattered Iowa frontier settlements during a severe winter.

The band fled north into Minnesota. The U. However, many of these benefits never materialized. In the mids, families of white settlers pushed far beyond the frontier line of settlement in northwest Iowa onto the shores of Spirit Lake.

Early in March, attacks on the cabins began.

Revenge A Sioux Uprising : Spirit Lake Massacre In the mids, families of white settlers pushed far beyond the frontier line of settlement in northwest Iowa onto the shores of Spirit Lake

Native people were sometimes beaten and chased for stealing livestock and scavenging grain in harvested fields; thus, weary of the group, who in turn "borrowed" community items freely if they could, a vigilante group from Smithland went out to their encampment.

Unable to support themselves, many small bands abandoned the reservation returning to their old hunting grounds. Although by formal treaty the Wahpekute Sioux Dakota tribe had given up title to the land, small bands separated from the main tribe still lived in the region.

In five cabins had been built and occupied by whites near Okoboji lakes and Spirit Lake. After a severe winter, the Sioux attacked. They had heard of the ransom offer for the women bargained with Inkpadutah for the women. By this time, only two remained.

In May, Inkpaduta struck a bargain with two Indians from a different camp for the release of Margaret Marble. While the details between different accounts vary somewhat, sources cite several incidents between the settlers and Sioux that created tension.