Dr. John Neihardt Omaha Nebraska 68501 c/o Postmaster
Dear Dr. Neihardt,

I watched the Dick Cavett program last night and was so impressed by your knowledge and love of the Indians. Bless you for taking the time to share your feelings with millions of your fellow Americans. I was so moved by your poem about Chief Crazy Horse!

I've always had a latent interest in the Indians as I have been told that my father was born on an Indian Reservation and that his mother was half Indian. My father has been dead for 19 years this June 26th and I'm sorry I never questioned him while he was still alive and about his birth and boyhood. He was born on June 23, 1892, 2 1/2 miles Southwest of Tekamah, Burt County, Nebraska. Yesterday I was looking on my Road Atlas and did not find any Indian Reservation shown in that area now. I thought perhaps you might be able to tell me the name of the reservation and what tribe of Indians they were, when they closed the reservation, etc. Any information you can furnish me will be most deeply appreciated.

My father's name was Lorenzo James Beasley and his parents were Samuel Beasley born 6-27-1851 in Huron, Indiana and his mother was Gertie (Girty?) May Sheems Beasley born 11-11-1867 in Newton, Jasper County, Iowa. After the death of Samuel Beasley she married Tony Bausch.

My father had the following Sisters and Brothers.

Maudie May Beasley 3-13-1888
Banner Co, Neb.
Samuel B., Jr. 2-9-90
Burt, Co., Neb.
Jess B. 5-10-95 Burt Co., Neb.
Jennie Alice B. 3-1-98 " " "
Rania B. 928-1900 Thurston Co., Neb.
Nancy Ammon B. 6-25-1904 Linton, Ind.

Have you written an autobiography? If not, you shsould consider doing so immediately. What a wealth of knowledge and experience you have to pass on to future generations!

If you can be of any help to me, I'd be most grateful.

Sincerely,

Ruth Beasley Schram
(Mrs. Orville R. Schram)