Turkey River Indian Subagency (Iowa)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Subagency
Winnebago

History
This subagency was the successor to the Prairie du Chien Subagency and was responsible for the Winnebago Indians living in Iowa Territory. The Winnebago had moved there in 1840 and the subagency was moved to a site on the Turkey River. The subagency was under the Iowa Superintendency from 1841 to 1846, and then under the St. Louis Superintendency until 1848.

Agents and Appointment Dates
David Lowry 1839, James McGregor 1844, Jonathan E. Fletcher 1845

Records
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value (for the tribe and tribal members) were created by and maintained by the agencies.

Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs from the Turkey River Subagency, 1842-1846, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234, rolls 862-864. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ).