The Presbyterian Dispute at Puyallup
Puyallup Presbyterians clash over the retention of their pastor, Rev. Mann, amidst accusations of outside interference.
At Tacoma, it was reported that the Puyallup Indians who are Presbyterians and who desire the retention of the Rev. Mann as their pastor number 140, according to ex-Chief Jackson. Only three, he says, do not favor the Rev. Mann as pastor. An attempt will be made to call another meeting of the Olympia presbytery for the purpose of reconsidering the decision to remove Mr. Mann. Agent Eells, who is accused of causing all the trouble, says he has had nothing to do with the matter in any shape or form. He says 'it is a quarrel between themselves,' meaning the Presbyterian Indians.
“It is a quarrel between themselves.”
This dispute over religious leadership among the Puyallup people highlights the complex pressures of 19th-century assimilation policies, where internal tribal governance was often undermined by federal Indian agents. It serves as a reminder of the historical autonomy and internal political life of the Puyallup Tribe that persisted despite federal encroachment.
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