- Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee
19 May 1885
p. 4f.
A Noted Nebraskan: Sketch of the Life of Antoine Barada, an Indian Half-Breed
Among the many noted Indians gathered to their fathers in the past few years, there were none whose deeds of bravery and adventurous life compare with that of Antoine Barad, who passed away last month at the little town which bears his name in Richardson county, this state. In many respects he was a remarkable man, and his varied career as chief, captive, trader, scout and pilot, deserve more than passing notice.
Antoine Barada was born in 1807 near what is now known as Fort Calhoun, in Washington County. His father, Michael Barada, was a white man and represented the Omaha tribe of Indians at the conference which drafted what is known as the treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1836. His mother was a full-blooded Omaha Indian woman of the Wa-no-ka-ga family. Antoine had scarcely reached his seventh year when he was captured by the Sioux in one of their forays on the Omahas and taken to the camp of the former. His extraordinary physical development at that age made him an object of curiosity to the bloody Sioux and he was spared the fate of his less fortunate companions. Whenever the traders of his early days struck the Sioux village Antoine was kept a close prisoner and every precaution taken to prevent his escape. Two years were thus spent in captivity before opportunity for escape presented itself. While playing some distance from the village the cry of "the traders" was raised. Young Antoine saw his chance for freedom and fled to the traders, who, after much parleying, purchased his release for ten ponies. Shortly after returning to his parents, Col. Rogers, of the United States army, secured their consent to take the boy and place him in the military academy. When the colonel and his protege reached St Louis, they were met by Madam Mousette, Antoine's aunt, who took the boy to her home and prevailed upon him to hide, and not go to the academy. She was successful and the colonel was obliged to proceed east without the young Omaha.
The boy remained with his aunt in St. Louis, until he reached manhood, employed in various industrial pursuits. During this time he had developed extraordinary muscular powers. Being employed by the firm of Whitnell & Coats as their superintendent for their quarries he had frequent opportunities to prove his wonderful strength. One of his feats was to lift clear eighteen hundred pounds weight.
In the year 1832 Antoine returned to his tribe to visit his parents and the scenes of his childhood. He remained with his tribe for several years, and was married to Josephene Veien, in the year 1836. In 1849 he went overland to California in company with Capt. Madison Miller and Wilson Hunt of St Lopis, and returned there six years, returning by way of Panama and New York. In his journey across the plains, and during his stay in California he met with many adventures and incidents. One night he had camped in a small valley. In the morning while going to the little stream for water, something attracted his attention up the stream. He followed up, and directly saw a man in the topmost limbs of a small tree, with a huge grizzly bear at the base, making the splinters fly with teeth and claws. The old man was quick to perceive that it was only a matter of time as to the bear getting her game, quickly drew up his gun and killed the bear, and looked at the man, expecting to see him quickly descend the tree, but the poor fellow never moved. He was completely paralyzed with fear and was unable to descend. "Well," says Antoine, "if you wont come down, I guess I will have to fetch you down," and up the tree he went after his strange acquaintance. He took him in one arm, and in that way descended safely to the ground with his man. He carried him back to his camp, finished preparing his breakfast, which he had before begun, induced his new friend to partake to some, stayed in camp a day or two nursing him, and after the poor fellow's nerves had recovered, paried with him, with the advice, "When you have to take to a tree, pick one a little larger than that one, and don't drop your gun."
While in California his splendid appearance and remarkable muscular power attracted attention and excited the admiration of those sturdy old pioneers, among others the famous pugilist, "Yankee Sullivan," who declared him the most powerful and agile man he had ever seen. he was repeatedly offered inducements to enter the prize ring, but all offers were refused.
After his return from California, his relatives, hearing of his return, sent word for him to come back to his tribe again. He visited his people again and remained with them a few months, then located in Richardson county, Nebraska, opened a farm, and was among the first to settle that portion of the state.
The country at that time abounded in game, and Antoine's table was always supplied with game in its season. here he raised a large family, comprising of three boys and four girls. Michael, William, and Thomas Barada, Mrs. Fulton Peters, Mrs John Dupree, Mrs William Provost and Mrs. John Khun, all of whom survive him.
In 1875 Barad, in company with his son-in-law, Fulton Peters and a number of his old neighbors, went to the Black Hills, but returned the same year after many adventures.
During his residence in Richardson county Antoine had frequently visited his tribe, and had always been welcomed and considered one of them. In his last years he had a strong desire to rejoin his tribe, but on his declaring his wish to return, and making his application for his allotment, under the ruling of special United States Agent A.O. Fletcher and United States Indian Commissioner H. Price, he and his family were refused participation in the allotment of the Omaha lands. This seemed to be a source of much sorrow and regret to the old gentleman in his last days.
During his last illness he was patient uncomplaining and perfectly resigned, he was well aware of his approaching end, he received the last sacraments of his church and died steadfast in his faith surrounded by his devoted family.
Thus died Antoine Barada, whose kind words, good deeds, and generous acts to friends, acquaintances and strangers, are known and are appreciated by hundreds who are scattered from the Missouri to the Pacific. he was buried in the Catholic cemetery, situated just east of the little village of Barada, followed to his last resting place by a large concourse of relatives and friends. [1]
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1807 - 1885 (78 years)
[1, 2] 
