Donald McKay (1836 â€" April 19, 1899) was an American scout, actor,
and spokesman. He is best known as the leader of the Warm Springs
Indians during the Modoc War and American Indian Wars.Donald McKay was
born in 1836 in Oregon Territory to fur trader Thomas McKay and
She-Who-Rides-Like The Wind Umatilla, a Cayuse woman from the Umatilla
tribe.In 1852, McKay worked as a translator for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and the U.S. Army. In 1872, during the Modoc War, the U.S.
Army issued McKay with a temporary commission as captain to lead the
Warms Springs Indian Scouts. McKay, met with "Captain Jack" Kintpuash,
of the Modoc band, to negotiate an end to the standoff. In the summer
of 1873 the war ended with the defeat of the Modoc and the execution
of Captain Jack.Following the Modoc War, McKay toured the country with
several Warm Springs Scouts and performed in Wild West shows that were
popular at the time. He toured Europe with promoter "Colonel" Thomas
Augustus Edwards performing before European monarchs and then returned
home to participate in the 1876 American Centennial Exposition
celebration in Philadelphia. In 1877, Donald was a part of the 'Texas
Jack Combination' formed by Texas Jack Omohundro and debuted in St.
Louis that year. Donald toured the U.S with his family to promote
patent medicines with the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company of Boston
and later with the Oregon Indian Medicine Company formed by T.A.
Edwards. In 1881 Edwards published a biography of McKay titled Daring
Donald McKay; or, The last war-trail of the Modocs.
and spokesman. He is best known as the leader of the Warm Springs
Indians during the Modoc War and American Indian Wars.Donald McKay was
born in 1836 in Oregon Territory to fur trader Thomas McKay and
She-Who-Rides-Like The Wind Umatilla, a Cayuse woman from the Umatilla
tribe.In 1852, McKay worked as a translator for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and the U.S. Army. In 1872, during the Modoc War, the U.S.
Army issued McKay with a temporary commission as captain to lead the
Warms Springs Indian Scouts. McKay, met with "Captain Jack" Kintpuash,
of the Modoc band, to negotiate an end to the standoff. In the summer
of 1873 the war ended with the defeat of the Modoc and the execution
of Captain Jack.Following the Modoc War, McKay toured the country with
several Warm Springs Scouts and performed in Wild West shows that were
popular at the time. He toured Europe with promoter "Colonel" Thomas
Augustus Edwards performing before European monarchs and then returned
home to participate in the 1876 American Centennial Exposition
celebration in Philadelphia. In 1877, Donald was a part of the 'Texas
Jack Combination' formed by Texas Jack Omohundro and debuted in St.
Louis that year. Donald toured the U.S with his family to promote
patent medicines with the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company of Boston
and later with the Oregon Indian Medicine Company formed by T.A.
Edwards. In 1881 Edwards published a biography of McKay titled Daring
Donald McKay; or, The last war-trail of the Modocs.
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