Otoe Reservation
Encyclopedia
The Otoe Reservation was a twenty-four square-mile section straddling the Kansas
-Nebraska
state line. The majority of the reservation sat in modern-day southeast Jefferson County, Nebraska
.
As early as 1834, the Oto
relinquished land to the government in fulfillment of a treaty. It extended two miles (3 km) south of the state line its full length, into Washington
and Marshall
counties, Kansas
. In Nebraska it extended into Jefferson County, which was earlier called Jones County, and Gage County
. Altogether it comprised 250 sections totaling 160000 acres (647.5 km²). The Glenwood, Paddock
, Liberty Township
and Barneston
Townships are wholly within the historic boundaries of the reservation. It also included sections of the Elm
, Sicily, Wymore
, and Island Grove Townships.
Although the Oto were originally located throughout southeastern Nebraska, their main town was once located along the Platte River
near present-day Plattsmouth in the eastern part of the state. The Moses Merrill Mission
was located in this area. When the Nebraska Territory
was formed in 1854, the Oto resigned their remaining land claim with the exception of a section near the Big Blue River
. This became the Otoe Reservation.
In 1879, a new treaty with the federal government gave it the legal control to remove the Oto to Oklahoma
. In the fall of 1882, the Otos were moved to Red Rock, Oklahoma
, and the rest of their Nebraska lands were put up for sale.
On May 31, 1883, 50000 acres (202.3 km²) of the Oto and Missouri Indian Reservation in Kansas and Nebraska were opened for settlement at a public sale. When the Oto were removed, the southeast corner of Jefferson County was opened to settlement and the community of Diller
was formed.
In 1886 the tribe shared an agent with several other local tribes, including the Ponca
and Pawnee. The agency was located on the Oto Reservation. The present-day town of Barneston
was settled at the site of one of the largest Oto villages through the 19th century. The Indian agency and a trading post were located there. Barneston was founded by a French fur trapper who married to an Oto woman.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
-Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
state line. The majority of the reservation sat in modern-day southeast Jefferson County, Nebraska
Jefferson County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,527 households, and 2,352 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile . There were 3,942 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile...
.
As early as 1834, the Oto
Otoe tribe
The Otoe or Oto are a Native American people. The Otoe language, Chiwere, is part of the Siouan family and closely related to that of the related Iowa and Missouri tribes.-History:...
relinquished land to the government in fulfillment of a treaty. It extended two miles (3 km) south of the state line its full length, into Washington
Washington County, Kansas
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,799...
and Marshall
Marshall County, Kansas
Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,117. The largest city and county seat is Marysville.- History :...
counties, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. In Nebraska it extended into Jefferson County, which was earlier called Jones County, and Gage County
Gage County, Nebraska
-History:Gage County was formed with land taken from the Oto in an 1854 treaty. It was named after the minister William D. Gage.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 22,993 people, 9,316 households, and 6,204 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per...
. Altogether it comprised 250 sections totaling 160000 acres (647.5 km²). The Glenwood, Paddock
Paddock Township, Gage County, Nebraska
Paddock Township is one of twenty-four townships in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 440 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 435.A portion of the Village of Odell lies within the Township....
, Liberty Township
Liberty Township, Gage County, Nebraska
Liberty Township is one of twenty-four townships in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 319 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 320.Most of the villages of Barneston and Liberty lie within the Township....
and Barneston
Barneston Township, Gage County, Nebraska
Barneston Township is one of twenty-four townships in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 212....
Townships are wholly within the historic boundaries of the reservation. It also included sections of the Elm
Elm Township, Gage County, Nebraska
Elm Township is one of twenty-four townships in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 164 at the 2000 census. A 2006 estimate placed the township's population at 165.-External links:*...
, Sicily, Wymore
Wymore, Nebraska
Wymore is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,656 at the 2000 census. Wymore was founded on April 7, 1881 on land donated by Sam Wymore as a railroad town...
, and Island Grove Townships.
Although the Oto were originally located throughout southeastern Nebraska, their main town was once located along the Platte River
Platte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
near present-day Plattsmouth in the eastern part of the state. The Moses Merrill Mission
Moses Merrill Mission
The Moses Merrill Mission, also known as the Oto Mission, was located about eight miles west of Bellevue, Nebraska. It was built and occupied by Moses and Eliza Wilcox Merrill, the first missionaries resident in Nebraska. The first building was part of facilities built in 1835 when the United...
was located in this area. When the Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
was formed in 1854, the Oto resigned their remaining land claim with the exception of a section near the Big Blue River
Big Blue River (Kansas)
The Big Blue River is the largest tributary of the Kansas River. The river flows for approximately from central Nebraska into Kansas, where it intersects with the Kansas River east of Manhattan. It was given its name by the Kansa tribe of Native Americans, who lived at its mouth from 1780 to...
. This became the Otoe Reservation.
In 1879, a new treaty with the federal government gave it the legal control to remove the Oto to Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. In the fall of 1882, the Otos were moved to Red Rock, Oklahoma
Red Rock, Oklahoma
Red Rock is a town in Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 293 at the 2000 census...
, and the rest of their Nebraska lands were put up for sale.
On May 31, 1883, 50000 acres (202.3 km²) of the Oto and Missouri Indian Reservation in Kansas and Nebraska were opened for settlement at a public sale. When the Oto were removed, the southeast corner of Jefferson County was opened to settlement and the community of Diller
Diller, Nebraska
Diller is a village in Jefferson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 287 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Diller is located at ....
was formed.
In 1886 the tribe shared an agent with several other local tribes, including the Ponca
Ponca
The Ponca are a Native American people of the Dhegihan branch of the Siouan-language group. There are two federally recognized Ponca tribes: the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma...
and Pawnee. The agency was located on the Oto Reservation. The present-day town of Barneston
Barneston, Nebraska
Barneston is a village in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 122 at the 2000 census. The present-day town of Barneston was settled at the site of one of the largest Oto villages in the 19th century. The agency and a trading post were located there...
was settled at the site of one of the largest Oto villages through the 19th century. The Indian agency and a trading post were located there. Barneston was founded by a French fur trapper who married to an Oto woman.