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John Grass

John Grass, of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, was an Indian of remarkable intelligence and eloquence, in council and debate presenting his ideas clearly and forcibly. The Standing Rock Sioux were greatly under the control of Sitting Bull, a very powerful and formidable chief. Both John Grass and Chief Gall supported Marjor McLaughlin in his intrigues and attempts to break the power of Sitting Bull. Late in the life of John Grass, the government built a frame house for him. He became ill in 1888-1889, and during this time received no money for his ceded lands. Hunger and drought, fostering illness, starvation, and death, as always, forced the Indian to yield.