The Journal of San Diego History - San Diego History Center

The Journal of San Diego History
Three years later, in recognition of his service to the Indian cause, President
Grover Cleveland appointed Painter to the prestigious Board of Indian Commissioners.
He joined Smiley, who had been appointed to the board by President
Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879. 28 Unfortunately, Painter would not have a lengthy
tenure–on January 12, 1895, he died suddenly of a heart attack and was buried near
his home in Great Barrington. 29 Reverend R. DeWitt Mallary praised his friend’s
Indian work: his “earnest and eloquent appeals throughout the East” to arouse
interest in the Indian’s condition and the sacrifices he made to home and family
comfort to attend conferences and meetings. But he accomplished “grand work”
despite the “political chicanery” and occasional Indian outbreaks. Through it all,
he had struggled on. Painter “was the stuff that reformers are made of,” continued
Mallary, “a man of culture and piety and breadth; catholic in temper; swift to
anger against wrong; touched with the feeling of men’s infirmities, and therefore a
true priest.” 30
In the letter that follows, we get a glimpse of the challenges faced by Southern
California’s Indian reform advocates in the late nineteenth century and the diligent
work of C. C. Painter.
Los Angeles, Cal., June 30, 1887
Dear Mr. [Joshua W.] Davis:
I got back from a ten days’ trip last night and was glad to find two telegrams
and two letters from you with the information I sought, and have been notified
to call at the bank with some one to identify me, so that I conclude that there is
Cuero Family at Warner Ranch, 1904, ©SDHS #OP 15362-16 Photo by E.H. Davis. See Note, p. 118.
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