Lafayette Head - Indian Agent

Indian Agent

In 1859 Head was appointed Special Agent for the Ute and Apache Indians. He continued as an Indian Agent for nine years, primarily with the Utes, using his home at Conejos as the agency headquarters. Head spoke Spanish but not the Ute language. On the recommendation of Kit Carson, he hired a Ute named Ouray as his interpreter. Ouray spoke fluent Spanish, some English, Apache and Ute.

Head accompanied the 1863 Ute delegation to Washington, DC to discuss a treaty. While there, the delegation met with President Lincoln, who made his traditional presentation of a silver tipped cane to Ouray, the delegation leader. In October of that year Head served as a member of the Commission appointed to finalize the treaty with the Utes. A handful of government representatives, accompanied by a military contingent, met at Head’s ranch with 1,500 Utes. Head signed the October 7, 1863 “Treaty with the Utah - Tabeguache Band” as U.S. Indian Agent and Commissioner. Also present to sign the agreement was John Evans, Governor of Colorado Territory. John G. Nicolay, President Lincoln’s Private Secretary and Secretary to the Commission, signed as a witness along with J.M. Chivington, Colonel First Cavalry of Colorado, Commanding District (who later led the San Creek Massacre).

In 1868, Head returned to Washington, DC with another Ute delegation and signed the March 2, 1868 treaty as a witness, listing himself as U. S. Indian Agent. Signing as Commissioners for the United States were A. C. Hunt, Governor of Colorado Territory, and Kit Carson.