History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 11

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 724

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deny it in your public square hereafter? If of Georgia and South Carolina, the latter there is one of you that can be so base, I am the man that will call him a Liar, and the rest of you shall confirm it." The coun- cil now arose and the headman, by the Gov- ernor's invitation, attended him to his house to dinner. sending him a written talk. and inviting him to visit him in Charleston. Early in 1761 a talk from the Mohawks was received by Governor Wright, who sent it to the Creek nation by Wolf King, who, it seems, was in Savannah at that time. The talk seems to Wolf King, the chiefs of Cometa, and per- haps several others received copies of the King's talk to carry home and which could be read and interpreted in the public squares of their towns. History is silent as to the day on which the presents were distributed, and their quantity and quality. have been a friendly letter to Governor Wright and the Creek nation. On April 30, 1761, a council of twelve Upper Creek towns was held at Muklasa. Wolf King here re- plied to the Mohawk talk in the following letter to Governor Wright: "The Governor of each Province desired me to have this talk in the Upper and Lower Nation, and for me to hold fast hy the English and they to hold fast by us and now our meetings are over and done as I wanted, and its agreed to hold fast the English both here and in the lower towns. When I was in Georgia and Carolina there was many bad reports about this Nation, now I am come home I see 'tis otherwise, and we hope everything will remain quiet. We have not thrown away the Governor's talk, and we shake hands with them, and all the towns hold fast by the English." In October, 1763, Wolf King went to Pensacola to see the military authorities in regard to the land there ceded for the English garrison, which was the old Span- ish cession. An evidence of his presence there appears in Major Farmar's contingent account, showing that on October 21, 1763, Lieutenant Hilton paid for Wolf a large wine bill and a bill for mending guns, all amount- ing to two pounds, three shillings and two pence. From Pensacola Wolf King must have gone direct to the great congress which was held in Augusta in November. He was the main factor on the side of the Creeks, in fixing the boundary line there agreed upon between the Creeks and the English. His name appears appended to the treaty as The Wolf. This name and Wolf King were often used interchangeably or indifferently. Wolf King had such a clear understanding of what should he the English interest at this troublous time that he advised Major Farmar to defer relieving Fort Toulouse, until he, Wolf King, should inform him of the disposition of the Indians in the French interest who had not yet resolved upon a course of action. His advice was heeded. Although a firm and unswerving friend of the English, Wolf King evidently feared en- croachments upon the lands of his people from Pensacola. The Creeks claimed all the lands for more than sixty miles above Pen- sacola, except the small plat granted the Spaniards around the fort, now occupied by the English. At some time In the winter of 1763-1764, while on a visit to Pensacola with a large band of his warriors, he intimated to Major Forbes, the commandant, that if the English should settle upon these lands, war would be declared against them by the Creeks.

Wolf King did not stand alone in this matter, for a general uneasiness continued to prevail among the Creeks in regard to possi- ble encroachments upon their lands until the

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meeting of the congress in Pensacola, where everything was satisfactorily settled by a ces- sion to the English. The evidence is lack- ing of the presence of Wolf King at this congress. His name does not appear among the signers of the treaty, unless he signed under his Indian name, which has not been preserved.

The last notice of Wolf King is a brief reference to him in a letter written by Will Struthers, a trader to Governor Johnstone, May 20, 1766. Struthers calls him the old Wolf King, an expression which shows that he was then advanced in years.

REFERENCES .- Adair's American Indians (1775), pp. 263, 277; The Colonial Records of Georgia, vol. 7, pp. 648, 657-668, 704, 734; Ibid, vol. 8, pp. 333, 467, 469, 470, 542, 543; Ibid, vol. ix, pp. 148, 149; The State Records of North Carolina, vol. 11, pp. 160, 166, 203; Mississippi Provincial Archives, vol. i, pp. 12, 68, 72, 114, 142, 365, 414, 424, 460, 521.

YOHOLOMICCO, Creek Chief, born about 1788, died in 1838. Nothing has been re- corded as to his parents, his early life, nor when he became chief of Yufala and Speaker of the Creek Nation. There were two towns named Yufala in the Upper Creek country; the one, of which Yoholomicco was chief, was situated on the west bank of the Talla- poosa, two miles below Okfuskee. Yoholo- micco served with General McIntosh in the Creek war of 1813 and bore an honorable part in all the battles in which the friendly Creeks were engaged against their insurgent countrymen. He was delegate his nation to Washington in 1826. He was greatly instrumental in negotiating the treaty of November 15, 1827, by which the Creeks ceded the last of their lands in Georgia. As Speaker of the Council convened to hear the propositions of the government on that occasion, his demeanor is thus described by Colonel Thomas L. McKenny, there present representing the government, and a most competent eye witness: "Yoholo Micco ex- plained the object of the mission, in a man- ner so clear and pointed as not to be easily forgotten by those who heard him. He rose with the unembarrassment of one, who felt the responsibility of his high office, was fa- miliarly versed in its duties, and satisfied of his own ability to discharge it with success. He was not unaware of the delicacy of the subject, nor of the excitable state of the minds to which his argument was to be ad- dressed, and his harangue was artfully suited to the occasion. With the persuasive man- ner of an accomplished orator, and in the silver tones of a most flexible voice, he placed the subject before his savage audi- ence in all its details and bearings-making his several points with clearness, and in or- der, and drawing out his deductions in the lucid and conclusive manner of a finished rhetorician."

On account of his advocating the adoption by his people of the plans proposed hy the government and by individuals to promote the civilization of the Creeks, Yoholomicco

finally became unpopular, and was deposed from his chieftianship, the year not known. He was consistent in his private life in fol- lowing the ways of civilized life, which he had vainly urged upon his people. He gave his children the best education the country afforded, and brought his sons up to the pursuits of civilized life. His example was followed by one of his married daughters, the wife of a Yufala chief, who gave all her children liberal educations. Yoholomicco is represented as a man of a mild, generous disposition. He died on his way to the new home of the Creeks from the fatigues inci- dent to the emigration.

REFERENCES .- McKenney and Hall's Indian Tribes of North America (1842), vol. iii, pp. 17, 18; Handbook of

American Indians (1910), part 2, p. 998.

PENICAUT, JEAN, Author, horn in La Rochelle, France, in 1680. He was a ship carpenter by occupation, but must have re- ceived otherwise a fair education. He came in 1698 with Iberville to Louisiana. On ac- count of his aptitude for the Indian languages he accompanied all the French exploring parties. He was a man of family, and a slave holder, and the owner of a concession near Natchez, which he purchased in 1720. He sailed to France in 1721, at the advice of Bienville to secure a treatment for an af- fection of his eyes. He returned to Louis- iana, and was one of the few Frenchmen who escaped the massacre of 1729. The date and place of his death is unknown. His Annals of Louisiana from 1689 to 1722 is a most important record of the colonization of Louisiana.

INDIAN CREEK. A small creek, tributary to the Tennessee River (q. v.), which it enters on the right bank, just above the village of Triana. Its drainage area lies wholly within Madison County. One prong of the creek is fed by the famous big spring at Huntsville. Its course is almost wholly through the Tus- cumbia or St. Louis limestones of the lower Subcarboniferous formation. It is not now navigable, though, before the War, cotton boats were floated down to the Tennessee River. No project for its improvement has been undertaken by the United States Govern- ment.

An act of the Alabama Legislature, Decem- ber 21, 1820, incorporated the Indian Creek Navigation Co., for the purpose of opening and improving the navigation of Indian Creek, from the spring at Huntsville to the town of Triana, at the mouth of the creek, by remov- ing obstructions, opening a canal or canals, "or in such other mode or way as they may deem expedient." The act provided futher:

"Sec. 11. . . . That whenever said creek shall be rendered navigable for boats drawing ten inches of water, and so long as said creek shall be keep (sic) thus navigable, it shall be lawful for said corporation to demand and receive toll on boats navigating the same be- tween said town of Huntsville and Triana, at the following rates: two dollars for every ton

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freight which said boat carries, provided that toll shall not be collected on boats running between Prout's mill and Triana," and, "Sec. 12. . . . That if any person shall obstruct said navigation by felling trees in said creek or otherwise, he, she, or they so offending, shall forfeit and pay to said corporation double the amount of the damages which may be assessed by a jury, in any court of record having jurisdiction thereof."

The promoters of this navigation enterprise were Leroy Pope, Dr. Thomas Fearn, Stephen S. Ewing, Henry Cook, and Samuel Hazard. Dr. Fearn was the leader. Several wooden locks and dams were built in the creek by this company, and it was for many years used by flatboats carrying cotton to the Tennessee River.

Some of the earliest settlers of the Ten- nessee Valley built their homes along the banks of Indian Creek. As early as Decem- ber 16, 1811, the General Assembly of Mis- sissippi Territory enacted a law penalizing the contamination or pollution of its waters. The preamble states that-"Whereas a num- ber of persons have settled on Indian Creek, in Madison County, who are obliged to make frequent use of the water thereof for drink- ing and other purposes. .

REFERENCES .- Acts, 1820, pp. 97-99; 1834-35, pp. 49-50; Toulmin, Digest, 1823, p. 691; Betts, Early history of Huntsville (1916), pp. 34, 36, 66-70; Southern Advocate, Huntsville, July 14, 1835.

INDIAN DOMESTIC CUSTOMS. Under the several heads illustrated below, is given in a concise manner, the habits of aboriginal man in this State, so far as a compilation of their family customs can be made. William Bartram, the naturalist, Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, The Indian Agent, Leclerc Milfort, a French writer, the DeSoto travelers, Adair, as well as other references might be cited, but these conclusions have been arrived at after a digest of the observations of all these early travelers in this Southern country.

1. The "Individual family abode" was similar to the community house though smaller. It was constructed of upright poles stuck in the ground at intervals opposite one another. Canes were placed between the posts without removing the leaves and small branches. After being built up to the de- sired height the wall was plastered inside and out with mud. The roof was generally made of bark reinforced with reeds (cane). The foregoing applies to winter houses, which in earlier times at least, had the door or opening high up from the ground. It con- sisted of an opening only. They were with- out floor. Some forms had a hole in the roof for the escape of smoke. References to Cherokee houses in DeSoto's time show the opening at the ground only, without the smoke holes. Summer houses were what we ·later know as bush arbors only.

2. The most ancient cooking vessel was the stone boiler. The most ancient equip-

ment was the stone, on which corn, or ber- ries, or fruit, or vegetables, was crushed pre- paratory to cooking.

Jerked meat was roasted on coals or hung upon or under a tripod made of poles, or suspended from a pole directly over the fire.

Bowls of earthenware were used in which to make soup. Gourd and shell spoons were used. Wooden objects and gourd vessels were doubtless those most in use, as among the Creeks, everything was broken up and new ones substituted once a year.

3. The tomahawk was of stone. Euro- peans introduced the iron type.

4. Axes were of stone. Celts of stone were used for the same purpose. They were used in connection with fire, mostly for goug- ing and splitting. War axes were probably used more like clubs than otherwise. A stick of proper length and weight was chosen, one end of which was split and into which the stone axe was inserted. It was bound by vines or thongs of skin.

5. Drills were both hand and bow, though the hand drill was the one most generally used.

6. Blankets of skin covered with hair were worn over one shoulder and down to the knee. A skirt and leggins, of the same material, were worn by the women.

They used no headdress.

Moccasins were made of skin.

Men wore a breechclout, and later breeches, but formerly only the mantle. 7. Feather ornaments worn in the war consisted of a headband or crown of upright feathers of the eagle, wild turkey or other large birds, generally painted in bright colors.

Mantles of feathers are shown by some early writers, in the form of a wide collar, hung around the shoulders and reaching nearly to the ground. This ornament, of course, had no practical use and could not be worn on the chase. Single feathers of the golden eagle were sometimes worn in the hair.

8. The earliest drum was most probably made by tying a skin (stretched tight) over a section of hollow log. An earthenware bowl or large gourd was sometimes used.

9. The rattle had an important part in all ceremonials, whether sacred, war or otherwise. They were commonly made of gourds, turtleshells, reeds and hollowed tubes were used, as well as bags of hard surfaced objects' tied on to canes. Bones, pieces of horn, stones, seed, etc., were used in these bags or other receptacles.

10. The designs employed in war paint- ing varied much with the different tribes. A form of heraldry existed. The fish clan painted a fish on their standards, their robes, their moccasins, etc. "Standards" must not be confused with “flags.” A sort of "baton" such as carried by a drum major, however, was used. Red was always the

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sign of war, and white the sign of peace. The war shirt was generally painted. Later, after the introduction of horses, the war pony was painted with certain designs. Rings of dif- ferent colored paint, one within the other, were often shown on the breasts and fore- heads of the warriors.

INDIAN HEAD MILLS OF ALA., Cordova. See Cotton Manufacturing.

INDIAN MOUNTAINS. The several high mountains with their spurs, to the north of the Southern Railway in the southeast corner of Cherokee County, being merely the exten- sion to the northeast of the Terrapin or Ladiga Mountains (q. v.). They extend into Alabama 5 or 6 miles, and are several miles in width. The altitude of the group varies from 1,000 to nearly 2,000 feet. These mountains are bulges, or the faulted folds of a great faulted anticlinal with a general north- east and southwest trend. The group is com- posed of interstratified quartzites, conglom- erates, and shales, which contain in their upper strata large quantities of limonite.

REFERENCE .- McCalley, Valley regions of Ala- bama, Pt. 2, Coosa Valley (Geol. Survey of Ala., Special report 9, 1897), pp. 18, 756-757.

INDIAN TRADING HOUSES. By Act of Congress, April 18, 1796, the establishment of government trading houses was author- ized.

Soon there were established fourteen trad- ing posts among various tribes. They were established as follows: At Coleraine on the St. Mary's River, Georgia, 1795; at Tellico block house, or Hiwasee, Tennessee, 1795; at Fort St. Stephen, Alabama, 1802; at Chickasaw Bluffs, now Memphis, Tenn., 1802; Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1802; at Detroit, Mich- igan, 1802; at Arkansas, on the river Ar- kansas, 1805; at Natchitoches on Red River, Louisiana, 1805; at Belle Fontaine, at mouth of the Missouri River, 1805; at Chicago, Lake Michigan, 1805; at Sandusky, Lake Erie. 1806; on the Island of Michilimackinac, Lake Huron, Michigan, 1808; at Fort Osage, on the Missouri River, Missouri, 1808; at Fort Madison, 1808.

Detroit was discontinued in 1805, and Belle Fontaine in 1808. The post at Cole- raine, Georgia, was moved to Fort Wilkinson in 1797 and again to Fort Hawkins in 1806.

The United States hoped hy the establish- ment of these trading houses to create a more satisfied and friendly feeling among the Indians toward the government. It was designed to bring to them in their own ter- ritory, such supplies as would add to their domestic comfort and at a price that would undersell the private trader. For a time the policy seemed to be most successful, but gradually the Government came more and more to see that the system was a failure. Every trading house was protected by U. S. soldiers and the factors, in most cases, thus protected, were indifferent as to whether the

Indians were in a friendly attitude toward him or not, while the private trader, being constantly in their power, became identified with the tribe which he commonly visited. Again, the Government factors,. generally, carelessly allowed their stock to become in- ferior, and of such character as was not suited to the needs of the Indians, while the private trader carried just what they wanted.

The Choctaw Trading house in Alabama was established at Fort St. Stephen in 1802. The first factor was Joseph Chambers, who was instrumental in bringing into Alabama from Tennessee, George S. Gaines, who served as his assistant until 1807, when he suc- . ceeded Chambers as factor. The building occupied by the factor being old and inade- quate, a new brick warehouse was built near the old Fort. This was probably the first brick house within the bounds of the pres- ent State of Alabama.

This trading house under the management of Mr. Gaines was highly satisfactory. He fully realized the importance of his position and the mission he had to perform and was proud of the results of his labors. The busi- ness of the trading house increased wonder- fully. Not only did the Choctaws frequent the post, but also the Creeks, from the Black War- rior River, and even the Chickasaws. Mr. Gaines was careful to treat all fairly and justly. If the goods was defective or in- ferior, he pointed it out to the Indians and reduced the price. Consequently he won their utmost respect and confidence.

As the stream of immigration came into the State and as the white population about St. Stephens grew and multiplied, it was found advisable to move the trading house farther into the Choctaw country. George S. Gaines called on the famous Choctaw Chief, Pushmataha to advise a suitable location. He suggested the site of the old Fort Tombeche, the Spanish Fort Confederation. Work upon the new post immediately began and on its completion in May, 1816, the post was opened to active trade with the Indians.

In October of the same year, the U. S. War Department authorized Colonel McKee to arrange for a treaty to be held at the Choc- taw trading house in order that new sessions of lands might be secured from the Indians. The chiefs and commissioners spent several days discussing all sides of the question till October 24th, when the treaty was signed. By this treaty all of Alabama, with the ex- ception of the territory of the Cherokees in the lower Tennessee Valley, was open to white settlement.

John Hersey succeeded Gaines as factor in October, 1819, and served so long as the trading house existed.

The entire system of Government trading houses was abolished by act of Congress, May 6, 1822.

REFERENCES .- Hamilton, Colonial Mobile (1910), pp. 376-378, 455; Pickett, History of Ala- bama (Owen's edition, 1900), p. 505; Alabama

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Historical Society Transactions, 1898-99, vol. 3, p. 230; Hamilton, Mobile of the five flags (1913), p. 184; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 393; U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 2, p. 652; American State Papers; Indians affairs, vol. 1, pp. 684, 768, vol. 2, pp. 66, 329-331, 417, 421.

INDIAN TRIBES, THE SMALL. See Apa- lachee; Chattos; Mobilians, Naniabas; To- homes; Tensaws.

INDIAN VILLAGES AND TOWNS. Under this head reference is made to both aborig- inal and later day towns, as well as places shown on early maps to which there is no positive location given. Streams and points having aboriginal associations, at which there were probably located settlements in these early days, are also included. The locations of these points, as shown, has been arrived at, after a thorough examination of the bibli- ographical references shown, and after use of the material brought together during the last ten years, in the investigations of the Ala- bama Department of Archives and History, and the Alabama Anthropological Society, both institutions working in co-operation, with the effort to locate, geographically, all aboriginal points in this State. See

Abihka, Abikudshi, Aequite, Ahiki Creek, Alibamu, Alkehatchee, Anatitchapko, Apal- achee, Apalatchukla, Asbury Mission, Assil- anapi, Atagi, Atasi, Atchina-algi; Atchina Hatchi, Athahatchee, Aucheucaula, Autossee, Battle, Bachcha Chuka, Bachcha Illi, Bashi, Bashi, Skirmish; Bear Creek Village, Big Shoal Creek Indian Village, Black Bluff, Black Warrior Town, Bogue Chitto, Bogue Homma, Bogue Loosa, Brown's Village, Bur- gess Town, Burnt Corn Creek, Burnt Corn Fight, Caantakalamos, Cabusta, Cahaba Old Town, Cahaba Town, Caujauda, Calebee, Battle of, Canoe Fight, Casiste, Cauwaoulau, Caxa, Cedar Creek Indian Village, Chakihlako, Chalakagay, Chananagi, Chatoksofki, Chat- tooga Village,

Chattos, Chattukchufaula, Chawocelauhtachee, Chiaha (ancient), Chiaha (Creek), Chiahudshi, Chichoufkee, Chickasaw Bogue, Chickasaw Creek, Chickasaw Town, Chickianose, Chinnaby's Fort, Chinakbi, Chi- ska Tolofa, Chollocco Litabixee, Chuahla, Chukfi, Chukka Chaha, Chunchula, Co- hatchee, Coassati, Cold Water Village, Co- loomee, Conaliga, Coosada (Creek Indian), Coosada, Coosakhattak Falaya, Corn Silk's Village, Cosa, Coste, Creek Path, Crow Town, Dauphin Island, Double Head's Village, Ecor Bienville, Ecunchati, Elm Bluff, Emuckfau, Battle of; Emussa, Enitachopco, Battle; Eu- faubee, Fakitchipunta, Faluktaeunna, Fite's Village, Fin'Halui, Fort Mims Massacre, Fort Sinquefield Attack, Fullemmy's, Funacha, Fusi-Hatchi, Ghullahatchee, Griffin's Village, Gunter's Village, Haihaigi, Halbama, Haptibo- kosi, Hatchaosi, Hatchetigbee, Hatchitchapa, Hillabee, Hitchiti, Hobuckintopa, Hoithle- wauli, Holy Ground Campaign and Battle, Horseshoe Bend, Battle of; Hulitaiga, Hu-

mati, Ikanatchaka, Ikanhatka, Imukfa, Ipi- soga, Istapoga, Istudshilaiki, Kailaidshi, Kan- chati, Kashita, Kawaiki, Kawita, Kawita Tal- lahassi, Kimbal-James Massacre, Kayomulgi, Kitchopataki, Kawaiki, Kohamutkikatska, Kulumi, Kunsha Chipinta, Kusa, Lalokalka, Lanudshi Apala, Lapiako, Liikatchka, Line Creek Indian Village, Litafatchi, Littafuchee, Letohatchie, Long Island Town, Lutchapoga, Melton's Village, Mobilians, Moculixa, Muk- lassa, Murder Creek, Muscle Shoals Villages, Nafolee, Nanafalia, Naniabas, Nani Kosoma, Nanipacna, Nannechahaw, Nannachubba, Nanne Chufa, Natchez, Ninnipaskulgi, Nita Abe, Nita Alabani , Bok, Nitahaurits, Nita- hobachi, Niuyaka, Noxubee River, Oakchinawa Creek Indian Village, Oakfusk'dshi, Odshia- pofa, Oka Kapassa, Okchayi, Okchayudshi, Okfuskee Fort, Okitiyakni, Okmulgi, Oquechi- ton, Opillako, Osonee Old Town, Osotchi, Otchisi, Otipalin, Otituttchina, Pafallaya, Pa- kana, Pakan Tallahassee, Patsilika River, Pa- wokti, Penootaw, Pinhoti, Potchushatchi, Quilby, St. Stephens, Sakapatayi, Sakit Hom- ma, Sakti Hata, Sakti Lusa, Sakti Nakni Ontala, Satapo, Saugahatchi, Sauta, Sawonogi, Sawokli, Secharlecha, Shawnees, Sinta Bogue, Sooktaloosa, Suka Ispoka, Sukinatchi, Tali Hula Tali Lusa, Talimuchasi, Talipakana, Talishoki, Talisi, Talisihatchie Town, Talatigi, Talladega, Battle of, Tallaseehatchi, Battle of, Talladega Creek Indian Village, Taluahadsho, Talualako, Tamali, Tamahita, Taskigi, Tchna 'nagi, Tchukolako, Tensas, Thoblocco, To- homes, Tombecbe, Fort, Tombigbee Turkey Town, Tomeehettee Bluff, Tomonpa, Touale, Toulouse Fort, Tukabatchi, Tukabtachi Tala- hassi, Tukpafka, Tulawahajah, Turkey Creek, Turkey Town (Upper), Turkey Town (Lower), Tuskahoma, Tutalosi, Tuxtukagi, Uktahasasi, Uncuaula, Wako Kayi, Walla- hatchee, Wasasa's Village, Watulahoka, Weo- gufka, Wetumpka Creek, Wetumpka, We- woka, Wihasha, Will's Town, Witumka, Wo- koyudshi, Yagnahoolah, Yaknipakna, Yama- see, Yuchi, Yufala (5).

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 11

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 724

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 724