Randolph, One Hundred and Fifty

Native Americans Called Woodruff Home
By Maydi Kennedy Eastman

In my last article written on the Nail Jail, I invited you to follow me on upcoming adventures. While I planned on having interactive history-filled experiences around Rich County, I had to adapt to the “new normal” and began to explore stories in books and articles.

Native American Indians are a fundamental part of the history of Rich County.  In the spring of 1870, the George Eastman family came to the Woodruff area to start a settlement. They were the first and only white family in the winter of 1870-1871.  The many Native Americans living in Woodruff treated them kindly, and they lived in harmony for many years. George settled a place near Woodruff Creek.

One day, Big Indian Jim (who owned the spring and surrounding land) was on the property and told George that he had a dream where George had given him his Civil War Uniform.  George retrieved the uniform and gave it to Jim. George then told Big Indian Jim that he too had a dream where Jim had given him the spring and the land surrounding it. Jim gifted the spring and surrounding land to George, and the Native Americans moved out of the area. The property is still owned by the Eastman family. The story of George and Big Indian Jim has been placed on a plaque at the Eastman Cemetery for posterity to read.

The Bannock, Ute and Shoshone Indian tribes often camped or traveled through Randolph, and for the most part, everyone got along. Randolph A Look Back, tells of a woman by the name of Agnes Smith Baxter who sewed for the squaws.  “While she sat on a chair sewing for the papooses, the Indian women would sit in a circle all around her, with their children squatting on the ground, patiently waiting for the piece of clothing.”  (Randolph A Look Back pg. 10).

I love to hear these stories and imagine what my life would have been like if I were living among the Native Americans and founding members of Randolph. I often wonder what my social group would look like, what would I be contributing, and what part of history would I play?

Chief Washakie was chief of the Shoshones and spent a considerable amount of time in the valley, and was friendly to the early settlers. The more that I read and learn about Chief Washakie the more my respect and admiration for him grows. He was a peaceful but affirmative leader who fearlessly led his tribe. While Chief Washakie was a peaceful man who did not seek conflict, he was also a brave warrior who fought courageously and diligently for his people. While my original plan was to go and physically visit the places that Chief Washakie lived and was later laid to rest with military honors, my plans were abruptly interrupted. Despite the circumstances, I have come to know him through his stories and believe that as these stories are retold his spirit will live on throughout generations.

In 1873, the Shoshones and Bannock tribes were on the warpath with each other. They met and fought north of Bear Lake. “The Bannocks captured a squaw, burned her eyes out, stripped her of her clothing, and left her to die. She was found and taken to a nearby settlement where she was saved, but her sight never returned. I have always loved the saying “it takes a village,” and I know from raising my children this is true. I know that everyone is not always going to get along with each other, but in the end, the people of this community have and always will take care of each other and this story is just another testament to that.

This woman  was accepted as a member of the community and taken care of by every corner of the county. The people of Laketown, Meadowville, Randolph, and Woodruff cared for this woman for the rest of her life. This village has always cared about each other, and I am proud to call a community with such a big heart my home.