Logan Fontenelle: An Indian Chief in Broad Clothe and Fine Linen: A Biographical Narrative by Charles Charvat PhD., American Printing Company, Omaha, Nebraska, 1961.
A very good historical book of Logan Fontenelle whose father was French and mother Omaha Indian, the daughter of Chief Big Elk. Fontenelle had teaching from both cultures, but as an adult affiliagted mostly with the Omaha Tribe. He received an education with his brother from a boarding school in St. Louis. He was also educated in Native American ways by his mother and grandfather. He was raised in the Bellevue area. He married a girl of the Omaha, Gixpeaha/ New Moon.He worked for the government as interpreter. He spoke Omaha and French from youth and had learned English and several other Native languages. He had a home built for he and his wife in Bellevue, Fontanelle Forest area. He and New Moon would have three daughters.
His grandfather Big Elk became ill and passed away. Then Big Elk's adopted son, Joseph La Flesche/ Iron Eye became chief. He also was half French and Logan and and he were very close. Logan was close to many prominent people of early Bellevue, including those of the Presbyterian mission and he and his wife and daughgters were baptized. He also affiliated with Colonel Sarpy who also ran a trading post.
When the Omahas traveled to Washington to negotiate a treat giving up their land in Bellevue and moving to a reservation, Logan Fontenelle went with them not as an interpreter but as a chief. He had a key position in negotiated. For money and food and protection they gave up their land. I do not know if the government fulfilled their commitment, but during Logan's life they did not. The food and money did not come, so they were forced to hunt buffalo. This put them in contact with the Sioux, their enemy. Logan was killed during a skirmish at the age of 30. He was buried close to his home.
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