USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Indian history of Winneshiek county > Part 3
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* "Red Men of Iowa," A. R. Fulton; "The Making of Iowa," Sabin. + Same reference as above.
vation [Nebraska]. This man was known around Prairie du Chien and Lansing as John Waukon (there is a Charley Wau- kon who is now living at Lansing, Ia., but he is no relation to the Waukon Decorah family). John Waukon has one daugh- ter, Mrs. Henry Big Fire, and two sons, Henry Smith ('Hunting Man') and John Smith ('Che-wy-scha-ka') still living. John Waukon was my father-in-law; my wife's name, by birth and number of female children, was Oc-see-ah-ho-no-nien-kaw. She died February 21, 1913."
Waukon Decorah's portrait (recently identified), painted by J. O. Lewis* at the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825, is shown in Lewis' Aboriginal Portfolio. He is there called "Waa-kaun- see-kaa, or the Rattle Snake." Its chief distinction is a turban composed of a stuffed rattlesnake, wound around the head, on which are some feathers; a blanket is draped around the lower part of his form, while a bunch of hair (evidently horsehair) is thrown over his arm.
Waukon Decorah evidently had adopted for his badge a stuffed snake skin, so that by some he was called "snake skin," by others, "rattlesnake," the former term, according to historical data, being more commonly used. Thomas McKenney, later United States Indian Commissioner, gives a portrait of this chief in McKenney and Hall's "Indian Tribes," with a biography. Here he is called "Wa-kaun-ha-ka, a Winnebago Chief." In his biographic note McKenney speaks of "Wa-kaun-ha-ka" as a De- corah, moreover, he says that the subject was part French. The Wa-kaun-ha-ka of McKenney and the Waa-kaun-see-kaa of
* Mr. J. O. Lewis was employed by the Indian Department from 1823 to 1834 to make portraits of the Indians, which was in furtherance of the plan of Hon. J. A. Barbour, Secretary of War. He accompanied Governor Lewis Cass and Colonel H. L. McKenney in their western tours, 1819 and 1829, and was present at the several treaties made by these gentlemen with the Chippewas, Winnebagoes, Sioux, Pottawattamies, and others. One of the folios contained a letter from General Cass in September, 1835, to Mr. Lewis, confirming the correctness of his pictures and commending him to the public. The sketches made by Mr. Lewis were deposited in the Indian Office, War Department, at Washington, and many of them were afterwards copied, at two different times, for the work of McKenney and Hall .- Part 2, Smithsonian Report, 1885.
Lewis are portraits of the same person, and both coincide in the rattlesnake turban.
The variation in Indian names is not a formidable matter in identification. Mr. Lamere states that, "The literal translation/ of 'Wa-kaun-see-kaa' is 'the Yellow Snake.'" Mr. Saunders says: "At times of feasts or medicine dances Wa-kun-ha-ga wore on his head a cap [turban] made of yellow rattlesnake skins; the feathers denote bravery in battle." L. H. Bunnell mentions that the yellow rattlesnakes of the Mississippi bluffs were held as acred by the Winnebagoes and Dakotas, who killed them only when a skin was required for a religious ceremony or dance .*
Miss Kellogg, research assistant to Reuben G. Thwaitest, reports as follows : "We can unhesitatingly affirm, that there is every probability that this is the well known Winnebago known as Waukon Decorah. I think there can be no doubt that Lewis's portrait is a genuine one, and correctly iden- tified."
Several historians* of Iowa, it seems, have taken their ac- counts of Waukon Decorah from a statement originally made in the "Annals of Iowa," 1866, by Eliphalet Price of Elkader, Clay- ton county. This contains numerous errors. The Waukon De- corah described as a very small Indian is not the person of that name known to Wisconsin history. Price says,§ "He was usu- ally called 'the Blind Decorah,' having lost his right eye;" he further states that the meaning of Waukon Decorah is "White Snake." In this he is also mistaken, as the previously given treaty signatures testify. Decorah is a corruption of the French surname De Carrie. .
* Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 134.
+ Superintendent of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Iowa," A. R. Fulton, "The Red Men of Iowa:" B. F. Gue, "History of Vol. 1; Sabin in "The Making of Iowa" also gives the same account.
§ In his article entitled " Wakon Decorah," Annals of Iowa, 1866.
1
CHAS. PHIL. HEXOM-13
after J.O.LEWIS
WAA-KAUN-SEE-KAA (The Rattlesnake or Waukon-Decorah) From a painting by J. O. Lewis at the Treaty of Prairie du Chien, 1825
George W. Kingsley makes the following statements: "There was a White Snake also, but he was not a chief, although a very prominent Indian. He died in Houston county, Minne- sota, about the time the Decorahs lived in Iowa, his remains were left in a sitting position on the point of a hill about one mile north of the village of Houston. White Snake lost a part of his family in a massacre on the Wapsipinicon river, Iowa, a few years after the Black Hawk war while on an elk hunt, by a band of Sauk and Fox Indians by mistake. White Snake was part Sauk."
The speech referred to and partly quoted in W. E. Alex- ander's History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 1882, and credited to Waukon Decorah, is obviously connected with this incident. Evidently the speech was made by White Snake. He complained that his tribe had been firm friends of the whites, had aided them in the Black Hawk war, and because of this had incurred the enmity of the Sauks and Foxes, who first struck at his own family. He desired some token of remembrance for his services.
It is claimed by Alexander* that, "The name 'Wachon Decorah' is found translated in some places as the 'White Crow'; this is an error. There was a White Crow whose Indian name was Wa-haw-ska-kaw, also given as Kau-kich-ka-ka. He was a prominent Winnebago civil chief and orator and died about the year 1834 in Wisconsin, and was buried there. Spoon De- corah, a son of Old Gray-headed Decorah, stated that White Crow was a one-eyed chief.
Eliphalet Price took the census of 1850 and is credited by the Day family (who were some of the first white settlers in Winneshiek county) with suggesting Decorah as a very proper
* In his History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties.
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name for the town site that they had in mind to plat.t In the act of organizing the county (1851) Decorah is herein first named, two and a half years before the town plat was recorded. The district represented by Hon. Eliphalet Price consisted of Clayton, Fayette, Allamakee, and Winneshiek counties. John Day made the remark* that Decorah "was a small Indian about five feet in height."
Mr. Price and Mr. Day were probably mislead in their identification of this chief, as there were other Winnebagoes whose names began with Waukon. Apparently, they were familiar with the name Waukon Decorah, and had this in mind when it came to selecting a name for the new town. Mr. Price in his article relates that, "Soon after the removal of the Winne- bagoes from the Wisconsin to the Neutral Ground in Iowa, De- corah and his band took up their residence on the Iowa river near the present site of the town that bears his name, in the county of Winneshiek." Antoine Grignon states: "Wakun- ha-ga [Waukon Decorah] was camped on the Iowa river [Upper Iowa] when I knew him. * * He did not re- main in that section long." Mr. Saunders says, "Wakun-ha-ga, and his band, also had a village at or near Waukon, Ia., where they went in the summer, and raised corn and squash, and picked berries for winter use."
In a statement made by Col. C. A. Clark in "Annals of Iowa," 1903, he remarks that, "The name of the city of Decorah evidently comes from Little Decorah." This is very improbable, as there is nothing which corroborates it. Old Waukon lived a generation or two before Little Decorah, and was a distin- guished chief, while it appears that the latter was of lesser note.
It is evident, therefore, that our county seat is named in honor of the venerable Waukon Decorah. Alexander states,
+ From a paper prepared by A. K. Bailey for deposit in the corner stone of the new Court House.
* In Alexander's History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties.
"Our neighboring town of Waukon gained its name from the first half." Oliver Lamere confirms this in the following ac- count : "Waukon and Waukon Junction have derived their names from Waukon Decorah. A very prominent chief lived at the time the Winnebagoes were there [Iowa] called 'Ah-la-me-ga.' It is thought that the name Allamakee is taken from him, and therefore it is a Winnebago name."
Waukon Decorah was noted for his large and imposing stature and is said to have been a fine-looking man. Col. Bris- bois of Prairie du Chien, who knew him well, speaks particularly of his stature. Antoine Grignon states that, "he was a large man over six feet tall and very powerful;" he further states, "Mr. Price is mistaken,-Waukon Decorah wa's not blind." He is said to have had a family of several children while here in Iowa, but the number is not known. Wakun-ha-ga was a member of the Snake clan and belonged to the Lower phratry. It is said that his sons had eagle clan names and claimed to be of the eagle clan.
What are said to be the remains of Waukon Decorah, which have been twice re-interred, now repose in the Court House Square, near the northeast corner. These are, however, the bones of some other Indian. The first grave supposed to be that of Decorah was on ground now occupied by Winnebago street, just below Main, almost at their intersection. The open- ing of the street to travel made it desirable that the remains be removed to another spot. This was done by a formal meeting of prominent citizens August 4, 1859. When the grave was opened the remains were found to consist of human bones, a blanket, a tomahawk, a pipe, and a great number of beads. These were taken out and buried under Ellsworth and Landers' store, the place now occupied by John C. Hexom & Son, where they remained for about six months. When the stone wall in
front of the Court House was completed, the remains were re- interred. They were placed in the Court House Square, where they lay undisturbed for about seventeen years. But the grad- ing and terracing of these grounds and the building of the new stone wall compelled another re-interrment in the summer of 1876. The bones were taken out and placed in a box to be buried again inside the new stone wall.
When the remains were first exhumed in 1859, the skull had black hair ; this assertion is corroborated in a statement made by R. F. Gibson, January 27, 1913, to the writer of this article. Mr. Gibson was one of a committee of three appointed to take charge of the remains.
Waukon Decorah was at this time living in Minnesota with his people; this fact has been established beyond question. It is stated in Alexander's history that even prominent participants in the first exhumation of the alleged remains of Decorah were confused with doubts, by rumors, current at the time, to the effect that Decorah was still living. He died at the Blue Earth agency, southern Minnesota, in 1868, and was buried there. Mr. Lamere says, "He was about ninety- three years old when he died, and it is said that his hair was as white as it could be." This is practically conclusive proof that · the death of Waukon Decorah did not occur here, and that his remains are not buried in the Court House Square.
Little Decorah was the oldest son of Old Gray-headed De- corah. His Winnebago name is given as "Maw-hee-coo-shay- naw-zhe-kaw," which Mr. Kingsley interprets as "The pillar that reaches the clouds." The following treaties were signed by Little Decorah: November 1, 1837, Washington, D. C., as "Ma-hee-koo-shay-nuz-he-kah, (Young Decori);" October 13, 1846, Washington, as "Maw-hee-ko-shay-naw-zhee-kaw;" Feb- ruary 27, 1855, Washington, as "Maw-he-coo-shaw-naw-zhe-
kaw, "one that Stands and Reaches the Skies, or Little De- corie ;" April 15, 1859, Washington, as "Little De Corrie ;" March 1, 1865, Washington, as "Little Dacoria." It is probable that "Little Decorah" is simply another term for Decorah, Junior.
This chief established a village on the Iowa river (Upper Iowa) in 1840, and it is thought that he was about forty years old while here. Antoine Grignon, who was acquainted with him, says, "Little Decorah spent very little time in Iowa-but lived mostly in the region of Portage, Wis." He belonged to the Mis- sissippi river bands of Indians. Waukon Decorah and Little Decorah had separate camps on the Upper Iowa river.
Little Decorah was of medium height, five feet, eight or ten inches, and was chunky and fleshy. It is said that he was slow of action and speech, but possessed a mild and kind disposition and was very sensible. He belonged to the Cloud clan. Little Decorah died near Tomah, Wis., April 1, 1887, about 100 years old.
Spoon Decorah was a son of Old Gray-headed Decorah. (It will be remembered that Old Decorah had a brother Choukeka, also called Spoon Decorah). Spoon Decorah was born at his father's village near the mouth of the Baraboo river, Wisconsin. In March, 1887, Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites had an interview with him. He was then "living with his aged squaw," whose name, it is said, was Gray Eagle-eye. "His progeny, reaching to the fourth generation, were clustered about the patriarchal lodge in family wigwams." He could only converse in his native tongue. He related, "In 1840, we were all moved to the Turkey river [Iowa]; but in the spring our party went to Iowa [Upper] river, where Little Decorah had a village. We went down soon afterwards to the Turkey river to get our ammuni- tion, but for some reason-perhaps because we had moved to Iowa river without the consent of the" agent-we couldn't get
any."* He then went back to Wisconsin, where he died Octo- ber 13, 1889, in a cranberry marsh, near Necedah. It is said that he was about eighty-four years old when he died. t
Spoon Decorah, a cousin of the Spoon Decorah interviewed by Dr. Thwaites in 1887, was a son of One-eyed Decorah. In regard to him we have no further information.
Angel De Cora-known in private life as Mrs. William Deitz -is the daughter of a descendant of the hereditary chief of the Winnebagoes. The name "Angel" came about through an acci- dent; its bearer was carried, while a baby, to a young kins- woman, who, being asked to choose a "Christian name," opened a Bible at random, and the first word which caught her eye was "angel." Her Indian name, which means "Queen of the Clouds," identifies her with the Thunder-bird clan. Angel De Cora- Deitz states: "Wakan [Waukon Decorah] was a generation or two before Maw-he-coo-shaw-naw-zhe-ka [Little Decorah]. The latter was my grandfather."
Her education began, while very young, when she was car- ried off to Hampton, Va. A strange white man appeared on the reservation and asked her, through an interpreter, if she would like to ride on a steam car ; with six other children she decided to try it, and when the ride was ended she found herself in Hamp- ton. "Three years later, when I returned to my mother," says Angel De Corat, "she told me that for months she wept and mourned for me. My father and the old chief and his wife had died, and with them the old Indian life was gone." She then returned to Hampton, where, through the efforts of a kind family who gave her employment, she was enabled to work her way through a local preparatory school for girls, and later the art department of Smith College, Northampton, Mass. §
* Wisconsin Historical Collections.
+ Same reference as above.
# The Literary Digest, January 27, 1912, pg. 161.
§ Same reference as above.
Her husband's name is Wicarhpi Isnala, or Lone Star ; he is one-quarter Sioux and the rest German. Both are now teaching art at the Carlisle Indian School, her husband, having also studied art and become an artist of some note. Angel De Cora has been under the art instruction of such men as Howard Pyle, Frank Brown, Joseph De Camp, and Edmund Tarbell. She has won distinction in her work. In 1904 her husband, Lone Star, supervised the interior and mural decorations of the Indian ex- hibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. It was while in St. Louis that he became acquainted with Angel De Cora .*
Roger C. Mackenstadt, whose boyhood was spent in the city of Decorah, where his parents still reside, says, "Our best policeman, and one of my intimate friends, was Peter Decora, a grandson of Chief Wakan Decorah. In the wholc tribe I would say that fifty are named Decora. They drop the H. There are several Waukons, about ten, and twenty Winne- shieks. The Winneshieks and Waukons are all Wisconsin Win- nebagoes and about half of the Decoras are Wisconsin." Mr. Mackenstadt having received a promotion, is now stationed at the Uintah and Ouray Agency, Utah.
2
1
C. P. HEXOM-
1. Peace pipe presented by Old Gray-Headed Decorah to Maj. Zachary Taylor.
2. Chief Winneshiek's pipe (after suggestion furnished by Oliver Lamere.) 3. Winnebago courting flute, known on the frontier as the deerskin flute, after Geo. Catlin.
* From an article in The Literary Digest, January 27, 1912, pg. 161.
CHIEF WINNESHIEK
And though the warrior's sun has set, Its light shall linger round us yet .- -Translation from the Spanish by H. W. Longfellow.
Winneshiek, who seems to be a somewhat shadowy charac- ter, was a notable chief of the Winnebagoes. It appears that there was a family, like the Decorah family, that took that name. The name Winneshiek is evidently not a Winnebago name, but an Algonquian (that is, Fox) name, and is properly Winnishiga and signifies "a dirty person who is lying down." He was com- monly known by his Fox name. In his own language he was called "Wa-kon-ja-goo-gah," meaning "Coming Thunder ;" he was also called "We-lou-shi-ga," meaning "ties them up," or "has them tied up." It is also said that his name in his own language was "Maun-wau-kon-kaw;" *regarding the last two names Little Winneshiek says, "I understand that this name [We-lou-shi-ga] is a Sioux word for Wa-kon-ja-goo-gah, or Coming Thunder. The name, Maun-wau-kon-kaw, is unknown to us." The following treaty signatures show the name to be variously written : August 25, 1828, Green Bay, Michigan Ter- ritory, "Wee-no-shee-kaw;" February 27, 1855, Washington, D. C., "Wau-kon-chaw-koo-haw, the Coming Thunder, or Win-no- shik," (the first Indian to sign the treaty.)
From A. R. Fulton, in "Red Men of Iowa," we learn that, "He was promoted to the rank of a chief when quite young, and always maintained popularity among his people. * Both physically and intellectually he was a remarkably fine speci-
* Wisconsin Historical Collections.
men of his race. As a man he was modest, kind, and courteous ; as a chief, dignified, firm and just in the exercise of his authority. * Winneshiek was made head chief of the tribe in 1845 [at the Turkey river, Iowa], an appoint- ment that did not affect his position as chief of his own particular band." Alexander states *: "He was made chief by order of the United States War Department, on account of his ability and fitness for the position. Under him as head chief, there were several chiefs of respective bands into which the tribe was divided." When the tribe was removed to Long Prairie, Minn., Winneshiek was the head chief, and in 1857, when they were at Blue Earth, he was called a worthy chief and ruler of his tribe. t
Old chief Winneshiek was an intelligent and very kind man, and had perfect control over his people. He belonged to the Thunder clan, and was a member of the Upper phratry. Mr. Lamere says: "He is said to have been of medium size, had black mustache and chin whiskers. He was very handsome, and it is said that he always wore goggles, or dark glasses. He al- ways carried a pipe, which was made out of a round stick about a foot and a half long with the stem hole bored through it, and the bowl bored into the other end; he carried this most all the time, and especially at council meetings would he have it with him."
Mr. Kingsley says: "We-no-shee-kah was strictly a pagan ; he did not believe in the white man's way, therefore his band of followers, which consisted of about one-half or two-thirds of the tribe, were known as blanket Indians. He was a very shrewd, wise, and stubborn man, but free-hearted to everybody ; no per- son ever left or entered the chief's great lodge without receiving
* In his History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties. There is no further authentic mention regarding this statement.
t Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 156.
something to eat. These were his teachings; he regarded all the Winnebagoes as his children and treated them as such. We-no- shee-kah was no orator, therefore in council with the govern- ment, or otherwise, he always had a speaker. He was no trav- eler, although he made a trip or two to see his Great Father at Washington, President Polk, who, as a token of friendship, gave We-no-shee-kah a medal; struck on the reverse side were two hands clasped, an Indian's in that of a white man's [regarding this medal see statement by Little Winneshiek]. Chief We-no- shee-kah was a great father as well as a head chief. He had four wives, who, with himself and family, lived in one lodge. His principal home was about seven miles west of the village of Houston, on the Root river, Houston county, Minnesota ; here he lived, during the winter, in a dirt wigwam." Fulton states *: "He had four wives, one of whom was the reputed daughter of Colonel Morgan, a former officer in the United States army ;" there is no further authentic mention which corroborates this statement by Fulton.
That Winneshiek also had a camp on the Upper Iowa river is evident, as Antoine Grignon says, "While he [Winneshiek] was camped on the Iowa river my brother Paul and one James Reed visited his band to find out about some cattle the young Winnebagoes had stolen from the Sioux. They were given in compensation an equal amount of cattle, or a number cor- responding to the number that had been stolen, and Winneshiek warned his band not to molest the cattle as they were being driven out, as the young men were making preparations to stampede the herd by waving red blankets in front of them."
P. V. Lawson, a Wisconsin historian, sayst : "The Indians in a drunken pow-wow at Prairie du Chien had killed his
* "Red Men of Iowa," pg. 158.
t Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 156; taken from Wiscon- sin Historical Collections 3, 287.
brother. Word of this tragedy being sent to him, he coolly loaded his pistol, and with it concealed beneath his blanket, went to the place where his brother lay. He had the murderer brought beside his victim and then suddenly shot him dead;" there is no further mention made of this incident. It is stated,t however, that Winneshiek was in 1829 head chief of the Winne- bago village at La Crosse.
He was on the British side in 1812-15, and in 1832 refused to assist the Americans against the Sauks. When invited by the whites to join them, the matter was discussed with the chiefs and braves. "Win-o-she-kaw was opposed to the measure, and de- clined having anything to do with it. He said the Sauks had twice that season presented the red wampum to the Winne- bagoes at Portage, and that they had as often washed it white and handed it back to them; further, that he did not like that red thing; that he was afraid of it. Waudgh-ha-ta-kau [evidently the One-eyed Decorah] took the wampum, and said that he with all the young men of the village would go; that they were anxious to engage in the expedition and would be ready to ac- company us on our return."* A short while after this it was found that Winneshiek and Wau-mar-nar-sar had gone up the river with part of the band to hunt and dry meat.
His mother was a sister of Wabokieshiek (White Cloud), the half-Sauk, half-Winnebago Prophet, who assisted Black Hawk. Little Winneshiek says, "For this relationship he fought in a number of battles under Black Hawk in the war of 1832." Thomas Clay, an aged Winnebago, heard Winneshiek tell this from time to time at death-wakes, where the brave men, or war- riors, were supposed to tell the truth. Clay's statement is as follows :
+ Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 156: taken from Wiscon- sin Historical Collection 3, 287.
* Wisconsin Historical Collections, 2,-257, 256.
# As given by Mr. Oliver Lamere.
"Winneshiek was a nephew of a Sauk and Fox Indian called White Cloud [Wabokieshiek], that is why Winneshiek was an aid to the Sauk and Fox Indians during Black Hawk's war. Winneshiek was taking, or guiding, the Fox Indians into the Winnebago country, or to the village, and as they were crossing the Mississippi river somewhere near where Prairie du Chien now stands, a steamboat came up the river and anchored in the middle of the stream. Then some one called out from the boat and asked if Black Hawk was there among them. 'Yes,' was the answer from the Indians. 'Will he surrender or not?' was the next question from the boat. Then Winneshiek spoke up, and said : 'Uncles (meaning the Fox Indians, as that was what he always called them), tie a white cloth to a pole and I will go and surrender.' So they made a white flag for him, but as he was about to get into the stream to swim to the boat, the Fox people said : 'Perhaps after all you had better not go,' and saying thus, they held him; and the soldiers in the boat could see that he was being held. Then Winneshiek said : 'Uncles, I meant to do this that you might live, but the result shall be your fault.' Just then the question came again from the boat, 'Will you sur- render?' The answer from the Indians was 'No! we will not surrender,' and no sooner was it said than the soldiers fired upon them, and even at the first volley many of the Indians were killed. Then Winneshiek said: 'Uncles, thus far only, am I able to be with you, as I shall leave you here ;' and saying thus, he and his real uncles went up the bank of the river and there watched the fight. When night came upon them, he took his Fox uncles back to the Winnebago village with him. When they arrived at the village, Winneshiek's mother met him, cry- ing : "Oh! my son, because you have aided Black Hawk in the war, they have taken your father to the fort as a prisoner.' When the soldiers learned that Winneshiek was back at his own village they came after him and released his father. Winneshiek
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