Goodeagle, Francis Quapaw

whose wife Wat-tah-noh-zhe Quapaw was the allotee of a large section of the mining land which is a part of the town of Commerce Oklahoma, died at his home at Baxter Springs Kansas, at 5 o'clock Wednesday morning of stomach trouble. He was 76 years of age. Besides his wife, Mr. Goodeagle is survived by five sons and a daughter. The children, all of whom are grown, are Charles Goodeagle, Burton Goodeagel, Francis Richard Goodeagle, Levi Goodeagle and Paul Goodeagle, and Clara May Goodeagle. The body of the pioneer tribesman was prepared by the Harvey undertaking company of Baxter Springs for removal to the Goodeagle farm home, about six miles east of Zincville Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held Thursday forenoon under the direction of Father Gorman of Galena Kansas. This ceremony will be followed by the old tribal burial rites in which the Indian relatives and friends of the decedent will take part. A big feast is being prepared under the direction of relatives of Goodeagle at Baxter Springs. It will be served at the conclusion of the burial ceremony. Some of the famous mines of Commerce and vicinity have paid royalties to Goodeagle and his wife, who were among the best known of the Quapaw Indians.

With hundreds of his fellow tribesmen and friends in attendance Francis Quapaw Goodeagle, former chief councilman for the Quapaw tribe and one of the wealthiest Indians of the district, who died at his home at Baxter Springs, Wednesday was laid to rest Thursday at noon in the "happy hunting grounds" on his old farm home in Devil's Hollow in the old Quapaw reservation. Although the funeral services were in general conformity to modern ideas the big feast at which members of the tribe and their friends were invited guests, were not omitted and members of the Quapaw tribe from every section of the county were in attendance. In obedience to the wishes of Goodeagle the Catholic services were said by Father Gorman of Galena. Goodeagle accepted the Catholic faith a week before his death. Two solos were sung by Misses Josephine Johnson and Mabel Rummel of Baxter Springs. The funeral party assembly at the old Goodeagle home and walked from there to the top of a hill, a short distance from the house, where by the request of the aged Indian, his grave had been made. After the funeral the party returned to the house where an elaborate feast had been prepared. About 200 persons were served. Thursday afternoon a football game was staged near the Goodeagle home. In accordance with the Indian tradition and the request of the veteran tribesman members of his family, excepting his wife, will remain for four days at the old home. Wah-tah-noh-zhe Goodeagle, Goodeagle's wife, was too ill to accompany the funeral party from their family home at Baxter Springs. Eight tribal chiefs and leaders of the tribe acted as pall bearers. Goodeagle was one of the most widely known Indians in this district. He owned mining land, farming land and city property that has an estimated valuation of $400,000 to $500,000. Royalties from the Goodeagle land in the mining field already have amounted to approximately $4,200,000. Goodeagle was owner of a farm, eight miles southeast of Baxter Springs, which is one of the largest in the district. He also owned more than 300 acres of farming land under government restrictions and 200 acres of mining land. Together with his wife and family he owned approximately 1,500 acres. He and his sons built the Goodeagle Hall and Goodeagle Hotel in Baxter Springs. Goodeagle was known to every Quapaw Indian. He was one of the few living pioneer Indians who first lived on the banks of the Neosho River, near Peoria, Indian Territory, Oklahoma. Twenty-five years ago he was chosen chief councilman for his tribe and has acted for his brothers in all of their dealings with the government. He made a number of trips to Washington and conferred with government officials in an effort to adjust land claims and to obtain allotments for the members of his tribe.