In writing of the beginnings of
Friends in Bolivia, I tell the story of William Abel, a Native American from
California who converted to Christianity in the small Ramona Friends Church in
1897.
I found historian Richard
Carrico’s work helpful in providing background to this story. The book, Strangers in a Stolen Land: Indians of San Diego County from Prehistory to the New Deal (2008,
Sunbelt Publications), details the history of the Kumeyaay tribal peoples of
San Pascual, Abel’s ancestors.
In the first chapter of my book (ALong Walk, A Gradual Ascent: The Story of the Bolivian Friends Church in its Context of Conflict), I present William Abel’s background, conversion
story, and contribution to the Friends movement in Bolivia. I refer to US
President U.S. Grant’s attempts rectify past injustices to the Indians with his
Indian Peace Plan and the instituting of a Board of Indian Commissioners
(attempts than were not immediately successful). I quote a fascinating piece of
information about Friends in California. Carrico states that Grant’s plans
included “placing many of the Indian Agencies in the hands of Quakers,
eliminating much of the patronage that had led to the spoils system being rife
in Indian affairs, and lessening the power of the military in Indian affairs”
(pages 108-109).
Carrico does not footnote this
observation. I’m fascinated that the Quaker reputation for a ministry of
justice had reached the White House and influenced government policy. I’m now
curious to know more about Quaker involvement with indigenous peoples in
Southern California.
As usual with historical
investigation, among all my discoveries, I found a whole new set of questions.
Maybe someone will write a book
about it.
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