Rare partly-printed DS as president, one page, 19 x 15, June 2, 1881. President Garfield appoints John Harries as "Agent for the Indians of the Lemhi Agency in Idaho." Boldly signed at the conclusion by President Garfield and countersigned by Secretary of the Interior Samuel J. Kirkwood. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light creasing, intersecting folds, and a staple hole and thin stain to the upper left. Presidential appointments by Garfield are extremely scarce, as he actively served just four months as president—having taken the office in March 1881, he was shot on July 2 and passed away in September. The Lemhi Agency was established in 1873 for the Bannock, Shoshoni, and Tukuarika (or Sheepeater) Indians in eastern Idaho; the Indians under the Lemhi Agency were moved to the Fort Hall Reservation and the Lemhi Agency was closed in 1907. One of Garfield’s main concerns was the proper administration of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and he abhorred the rampant corruption of the Indian Agents. This is the very first Garfield appointment for an Indian Agent that we have offered—an exceptionally desirable example.
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