I have had several discussions with my older realtives about a law in Missouri in the mid 1850's to the mid 1880 hundreds about a law concerning indians in Missouri. These realtives have told me that there was a law stating that NO indians were to be in Missouri in this time line. I have been looking thru old law books and I have not found this to be true. Does anyone know if this law was true and does it cover all of the state or any part of the state? I am curious about this. Thanks for any help in this matter. Carol Albertson a-ranch@ruralnet2.com
I'm not sure where I have the copies someone brought in a printout of this law once. Basically, it prohibited anyone knowingly harboring, specifically naming punishable offenses as knowingly permitting "an Indian" to hunt, fish, or spend the night in Missouri. The penalties applied to "Missouri residents and citizens", as the law made clear that people with Indian blood were not to be considered residents or citizens. It didn't mention what happened to "the Indians", as it appeared to not consider them as anything other than something to remove from the state.It was a strange law that seemed difficult to enforce unless someone else "informed" on someone. Nonetheless, it probably made some residents hide their Native American heritage in records such as marriage or census and perhaps not even discuss it with their children or grandchildren. It was a state law, not one for just a part of the state. aranch wrote: > I have had several discussions with my older realtives about a law in > Missouri in the mid 1850's to the mid 1880 hundreds about a law > concerning indians in Missouri. > These realtives have told me that there was a law stating that NO > indians were to be in Missouri in this time line. > I have been looking thru old law books and I have not found this to be > true. Does anyone know if this law was true and does it cover all of the > state or any part of the state? > I am curious about this. > Thanks for any help in this matter. > Carol Albertson > a-ranch@ruralnet2.com