Dave Winebrenner On Governor Bigsmoke "We really enjoyed your article on the Kalispel Indians. My father-in-law, Otto Dutch Wilmer, operated the ferry at Ruby, WA on the Pend Oreille River for a number of years before and after 1920. He was a good friend of John Bigsmoke who was chief of the Kalispel Indian tribe in the area.
Otto named his first son John after John Bigsmoke. My brother-in-law still has two pairs of beautiful Indian gloves which were given to Otto and his bride when they were married in 1930." [email to J. Anderson, from D. Winebrenner, Feb 2, '2000 ]
