History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 33

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time > Part 33

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124

HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.

sang, wept, yelled, and whooped in their various encamp- ments. With all this, the whites seemed to me to be more pagan than the red man. You will have understood that the large body of Indians collected in the vicinity consisted not merely of chiefs and warriors, but in fact the greater part of the whole tribe were present; for where the warrior was invited to feast at the expense of the Government. the squaw took care to accompany him; and where the squaw went, the children followed, or pa- pooses, the ponies, and the innumerable dogs followed, and here they all were living merrily at the cost of the Government.

"All was bustle and tumult, especially at the houses set apart for the distribution of the rations. Many were the scenes which here presented themselves, portraying the habits of both red men and the demi-civilized beings around them. The interior of the village was one chaos of mud, rubbish, and confusion. Frame and clapboard houses were springing up daily under the active axes and hammers of the speculators, and piles of Inmber announced the preparation for yet other edifices of an equally light character. . Races occurred frequently on a piece of level sward without the village, on which temporary booths afforded the motley multitude the means of 'stimulating,' and betting and gambling were the order of the day. Within the vile two-storied barrack, which, dig- nified as usual by the title of hotel, afforded us quarters, all was in a state of most appalling confusion, filth, and racket. The public table was such a scene of confusion that we avoided it from neces- sity. The French landlord was a sporting character, and everything was left to chance, who, in the shape of a fat housekeeper, Inmed and toiled round the premises Trom morning to night.

"Within there was neither peace nor comfort, and we spent much of our time in the open air. A visit to the gentlemen at the fort, or prairie, filled up the intervals in our perturbed attempts at reading or writing indoors, while awaiting the progress of the treaty.

"" I loved to stroll ont, towards sunset, across the' river, and gaze upon the level horizon, stretching to the northwest over the surface of the prairie, dotted with innumerable objects far and near. Not far from the river lay many groups of tents constructed of coarse canvas, blankets, and mats, and surmounted by poles sup- porting various painted Indian figures dressed in the most gaudy attire.

"Far and wide the grassy prairie teemed with figures; warriors mounted or on foot, squaws, and horses. Here a race between three or four Indian ponies, each carrying a double rider, whooping and yelling like fiends. There a solitary horseman with a long spear, turbaned like an Arab, scouring along at full speed; groups of hobbled horses; Indian dogs and children; or a grave conclave of gray chiefs seated on the grass in consultation. It was amusing to wind silently from group to group, here noting the raised knife, the sudden drunken brawl quashed by the good-natured and even playful interference of the neighbors; there a party breaking up their encampment, and falling, with their little train of loaded ponies and wolfish dogs, into the deep, black, narrow trail running to the north.

" It is a grievous thing that Government is not strong-handed enough to put a stop to the shameful and scandalous sale of whis- ky to these poor, miserable wretches. But here lie casks of it for sale under the very eye of the commissioners, met together for pur- poses which demand that sobriety should be maintained, were it only that no one should be able to lay at their door an accusation of unfair dealings, and of having taken the advantage of the help- less Indian in a bargain whereby the people of the United States were to be so greatly the gainers. And such was the state of things day by day. However anxious I and others might be to ex- culpate the United States Government from the charge of cold and selfish policy toward the remnant of the Indian tribes, and from that of resorting to noworthy and diabolical means in attaining pos- session of their lan'Is-as long as it can be said with truth that drunkenness was not guarded against, and that the means were fur- nished at the very time of the treaty and under the very nose of the commissioners-how can it be expected but a stigma will attend every transaction of this kind ?

" But how sped the treaty? you will ask. Day after day passed. It was in vain that the signal-gun from the fort gave no- tice of an assemblage of chiefs at the council fire. Reasons were always found for its delay. One day an influential chief was not in the way; another, the sky looked cloudy, and the Indian never performs any important business except the sky be clear. . At length, on the 21st September, the l'ottawatomies resolved to meet the commissioners. We were politely invited to be present.

" The council-fire was lighted under a spacious open shed on the green meadow on the opposite side of the river from that on which the fort stood. From the difficulty of getting all together it was late in the afternoon when they assembled. There might be twenty or thirty chiefs present, seated at the lower end of the in- closure, while the commissioners, interpreters, etc., were at the

upper. The palaver was opened by the principal commissioner. He requested to know why he and his colleagues were called to the council. An old warrior arose, and in short sentences, generally of five syllables, delivered with a monotonous intonation and rapid utterance, gave answer. His gesticulation was appropriate, but rather violent. Rice, the half-breed interpreter, explained the sig- nification, from time to time, to the audience; and it was seen that the old chief, who had got his lesson, answered one question by proposing another, the sum and substance of his oration being that the assembled chiefs wished to know what was the object of their Great Father at Washington in calling his red children together at Chicago! This was amusing enough, after the full explanation given a week before at the opening session, and particularly when it was recollected that they had feasted sumptuously during the in- terval at the expense of their Great Father; it was not making very encouraging progress. A young chief arose, and spoke vehemently to the same purpose. Hereupon the commissioner made them a forcible Jacksonion discourse, wherein a good deal which was akin to threat was mingled with exhortations not to. play with their Great Father, but to come to an early determination whether they would or would not sell and exchange their territory: and this done, the council was dissolved. One or two tipsy old chiefs raised an occasional disturbance, else matters were conducted with dne grav- ity. The relative positions of commissioner and the whites before the council-fire, and that of the red children of the forest aod prairie, were to me strikingly impressive. The glorious light of the setting sun, streaming in under the low roof of the council- house, fell full on the countenances of the former as they faced the west, while the pale light of the east hardly lightened up the dark and painted lineaments of the poor Indians, whose souls evidently clave to their birth-right in that quarter. Even though convinced of the necessity of their removal, my heart bled for them in their deso- lation and decline. Ignorant and degraded as they may have been in their original state, their degradation is now ten-fold after years ot intercourse with the whites; and their speedy disappearance from the earth appears as certain as though it were already sealed and accomplished. Your own reflection will lead you to form the con- clusion, and it will be a just one, that even if he had the will, the power would be wanting for the Indian to keep his territory; and that the business of arranging the terms of an Indian treaty, what- ever it might have been two hundred years ago. while the Indian tribes had not, as now, thrown aside the rude but vigorous intel- lectual character which distinguished many among them, now lies chiefly between the various traders, agents, creditors and half- breeds of the tribes, on whom custom and necessity have made the degraded chiefs dependent. and the Government Agents. When the former have seen matters sn far arranged that their self- interest, and various schemes and claims, are likely to be fulfilled and allowed to their hearts' content, the silent acquiescence of the Indian follows, of course; and till this is the case, the treaty can never be amicably effected. In fine, before we quitted Chi- cago on the 25th, three or four days later, the treaty with the Pot- tawatomies was concluded-the commissioners putting their hands, and the assembled chiefs their paws, to the same."

The commissioners on the part of the Government were: G. B. Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen, and William Weatherford; on the part of the Indians all the chiefs and the leading men of the United Nation that could be gathered-a most motley crowd, of whom only one out of seventy-seven signed his name to the treaty with- out "his X mark," and probably not over half a dozen understood the provisions of the treaty, except as ex- plained to them imperfectly by interpreters, few of whom were themselves passable English scholars.

The treaty consummated at this time was signed on September 26, 1833, and ratified by the Senate, after some unimportant changes, May 22, 1834. Its pro- visions and terms were as follows:

Article I ceded to the United States all the lands of the United Nation of Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potta- watomie Indians "along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and between this lake and the land ceded to the United States by the Winnebago nation. at the treaty of Fort Armstrong, made on the 15th of September, 1832: bounded on the north by the country lately ceded by the Menominees, and on the south by the country ceded at the treaty of Prairie du Chien, made on the 29th of July, 1829, supposed to contain five mil- lions of aeres." This cession completely extinguished

125

CHICAGO IN 1830-33.

all the title to lands owned or claimed by the United Nation east of the Mississippi, and left the whole North- west, with the exception of some minor and unimportant reservations, open to the settlement of whites who, hence- forth, could look to the United States to protect them under its laws in any legal title they might acquire by pre-emption or purchase.

The considerations for thus yielding up their whole country were stated in Articles 2 and 3, and were :

(1) A tract of land of like extent as that ceded, five million acres, situated on the east bank of the Missouri River, between the mouth of Boyer's River on the north and the mouth of Nandoway River on the south ; the eastern and northern boundary being the western State line of Missouri and the western boundary of the reservation of the Sacs and Foxes, north to a point from which, if a straight line be drawn to the mouth of Boyer's River, the whole tract inclosed by the said boundaries should comprise five million acres .*

A deputation consisting of not more then fifty In- dians, accompanied by five agents of the United States, were to visit the lands granted previous to the removal of the tribes, at the expense of the Government, and, on the ratification of the treaty by the United States, the tribes living within the boundaries of the State of Illinois were to remove to the new reservation imme- diately : those living further north, in the Territory of Wisconsin, to remain, if they desired, three years longer, unmolested and under the protection of the United States Government, and were to receive sub- sistence on their journey, and for one year after their arrival at their new homes.

(2) Further payments in money and goods were to be made as follows : $100,000 to satisfy sundry indi- viduals in behalf of whom reservations were asked, which the commissioners refused to grant ; and also to indemnify the Chippewa tribe, who are parties to this treaty for certain lands along the shore of Lake Michi- gan, to which they make claims, which have been ceded to the United States by the Menominee Indians. The manner in which the sum was paid is set forth in schedule A, further on : $150,000, to satisfy claims made against the said United Nation, " which they have here admitted to be justly due, and directed to be paid." Who got this money appears in schedule B, hereafter : $100,000 to be paid in goods and provisions, a part to be delivered on the signing of the treaty, and the resi- due during the ensuing year ; $280,000, to be paid in annuities of $14,000 per year for twenty years ; $150,000 for the erection of mills, houses and shops for agricultural improvements, the purchase of agricultural implements, and the support of physicians, millers, farmers, blacksmiths and such other mechanics as the President of the United States may see fit to appoint ;

* These were the boundaries as defined in the treaty. An amendatory treaty, made -Octuber 1, and signed by the United States Commissioners and a minority of the chiefs and head men of the tribes numbering only seven, of whom Caldwell was one, changed the boundaries for a consideration of $10,000, for the benefit of the nation, and the further sum of Sz.ono "to be paid to Ghulson Kercheval for services rendered the said United Nation of Indians during the late war between the United States Government and the Saes and Fixe -. ' and $1,000 to George E. Walker, " for services rendered the said United Nations in bringing Indian prisoners fram west of the Mississippi River to Ottawa. Lasalle Co., IL., for whose appearance at the Circuit Court of said county said natinn was bound."

The boundaries were, for the above consideration, changed as follows: " Beginning at the month of Buyer's River ; thener down the Missonri River, to a point thereon from which a due east line would strike the northwest corner uf the State of Missouri ; thence alung said rast line In the northwest corner of Stid state ; thener along the northern boundary of said State of Missouri till it strikes the line of the lands of 'aes and Fox Indians ; thence northwardly along the said line to a point frion which a west line .would strike the sources of the Little Spuix River : thence along sud west line till it strikes the sources of siid river ; thenre down sud river to its merits ; thence down the Missouri River to the place of hosinging : Panile. the sud boundary shall contain live million aires, but should it contain more, then said boundaries are to be reduced so as to contain the sand five million acres."

$70,000 for educational purposes, to be applied at the discretion of the President of the United States.

(3) Individual stipends were granted as follows: Billy Cald- well, $400 per year for life ; Alexander Robinson, $300 per year for life : in addition to annuities before granted them ; $200 per year, each, for life, to Joseph Laframboise and Shawbonee ; $2,000 to Wah-pon-eh-see and his band ; and $1,500 to Awnkote and his band for nineteen sections of land, granted them at the treaty of Prairie de Chien, which were to be given up.

Article 4 provided for an equitable distribution of the annui- ties to the various bands.

Article 5 confirmed as grants in fee simple to alf individuals to whom reservations had been ceded by previous treaties, all such lands, to their heirs and assigns forever.

The close of the important document and the signatures an- nexed read as follows :

" In testimony whereof, the said George B. Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen, and William Weatherford, and the undersigned chiefs and head men of the said nation of Indians, have hereunto set their hands at Chicago the said day and year (September 26, 1833). G. B. Porter Me-am-ese, his x mark

Th. J. V. Owen Shay-tee, his x mark

William Weatherford Chis-in-ke-bah, his x mark

To-pen-e-bee, his x mark

Mix-e-maung, his x mark

Sau-ko-noek

Nah-bwait,. his x mark

Che-che-bin-quay, his x mark, * Sen-e-bau-um, his x mark

Joseph. his x mark

Puk-won, his x mark

Wah-mix-i-co, his x mark

Wa-be-no-say, his x mark

Ob-wa-qua-unk, his x mark N-saw-way-quet, his x mark

Mon-tou-ish, his x mark No-nee, his x mark

Puk-quech-a-min-nee, his x mark Mas-quat, his x mark

Sho-min, his x mark Ah-take, his x mark

Nah-che-wine, his x mark Ke-wase, his x mark Wah-hou-seh, his x mark Mang-e-sett, his x mark Caw-we-saut, his x mark

Ah-be-te-ke-zhic, his x mark Pat-e-go-shuc, his x mark E-to-wow-cote, his x mark

Shim-e-nah, his x mark

O-chee-pwaise, his x mark Ce-nah-ge-win, his x mark Shaw-waw-nas-see, his x mark* Mac-a-ta-o-shic, his x mark Shab-eh-nay, his x mark Squah-ke-zic, his x mark Mah-che-o-tah-way, his x mark Cha-ke-te-ah, his x mark

Na-mash, his x mark Shab-y-a-tuk, his x mark Quah-quah-tan, his x mark Ah-cab-o-mab, his x mark Ah-sag-a-mish-cum, fis x mark

In Presence of

Wm. Lee D. Ewing, Secretary to Daniel Jackson, of New York Commission

Jno. If. Kinzie

E. A. Brush

Robt. A. Kinzie

Luther Rice, Interpreter

G. S. Hubbard

James Conner, Interpreter

J. C. Schwarz, Adjt. Gen. M. M.

John T. Schermerhorn, Commis- Jn. B. Beaubien sioner, etc., West. James Kinzie

A. C. Pepper, S. A. R. P.

Jacob Beeson

Gho. Kercheval, Sub-agent

Saml. Ifumes Porter

Geo. Bender, Major 5th Regt. Inf. Andw. Porter Gabriel Godfroy

D. Wilcox, Capt. 5th Kegt.

I. M. Baxley, Capt. 5th Inf.

A. II. Arndt

R. A. Forsyth, U. S. A.

Laurie Marsh

I .. T. Jamison, Lieut. U. S. A. Joseph Chaunier

E. K. Smith, l.icut. 5th Inf.

John Watkins

Pa-mob-a-mee, his x mark Nay-o-say, his x mark Sho-bon-nier, his x mark Me-nuk-quet, his x mark Ah-quee-wee, his x mark Ta-cau-ko, his x mark

Kee-new, his x mark

Me-shim-e-nah, his x mark

Naw-bay-caw, his x mark

Wah-sus-kuk, his x mark

O'Kee-mase, his x mark Saw-o-tup, his x mark

Pc-nay-o-cat, his x mark Pay-maw-suc, his x mark Pe-she-ka, his x mark

Me-tai-way, his x mark

Shaw-we-mon-e-tay, his x mark

Na-ma-ta-way-shuc, his x mark Shaw-waw-nuk-wuk, his x mark Nah-che-wah, his x mark

Ah-be-nab, his x mark Sau-sau-quas-see, his x mark

He-me-nah-wah, his x mark Che-pec-co-quah, his x mark Mis-quab-o-no-quah, his x mark Wah-be-Kai, his x mark Ma-ca-ta-ke-shic, his x mark Sho-min, (2d) his x mark She-mah-gah, his x mark O'Ke-mah-wah-ba-see, his x mark

Ce-tah-quah, his x mark Ce-ku-tay, his x mark Sauk-ee, his x mark

Ne-bay-noc-scum, his x mark

* 'The names of neither Alexander Robinson nor Billy Caldwell, both leud- ing chiefs of the Pottawatomies, appear among the signers of the treaty. They were both able to write their names. Robinson's Indian name was Che-chee- hing-way or, as one historian spells it. "Che-the-jun-gua." "The "Che-che- hin-quay ' signature atto hed to the treaty was probably Rubinomi's " Shaw- waw-nsesre "was priestbly the signature of Billy Caldwell (Sauganush). F'n each of these signatures is attached the mark ixi of illiteracy. They could both write, but their signatures do not appear except in the above form.

٠١٨٥

I26

HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.

P .- Maxwell, Asst. Surgeon B. B. Kercheval

J. Allen, Lieut. 5th Inf. Jas. W. Berry

1. P. Simonton, Lieut. U. S. A. Wm. French

George F. Turner, Asst. Surgeon Thomas Forsyth

U. S. Army Pierre Menard, Fils

Richd. J. Hamilton Edmd. Roberts

Robert Stuart

Geo. Hunt

Jona. MeCarthy

Isaac Nash

The fund of $100,000, provided for " sundry indi- . viduals " in behalf of whom reservations had been asked

and denied, was distributed as follows :

Joseph Laframboise. 300

Nis-noan-see, (B. B. Kercheval, trustee). 200 Margaret lIall. ... 1000 James, William, David and Sarah, children of Mar- garet Hall. 3200

Margaret Ellen Miller, Mont- ( For each of whom ) gomery Miller, and Filly Richard J. Ham-

Miller, grand-children of ) ilton, of Chicago, Margaret Hall. is trustee.

Jean Letendre's children 200

Bernard Grignon. 100

Josette Polier 100

Joseph Vieux, Jacques Vieux, Louis Vieux, Josette Vieux, each. 100

Angelique Hardwick's children. 1800

Joseph Bourassa and Mark Bourassa 200

Jude Bourassa and Therese Bourassa. 200

Stephen Bourassa and Gabriel Bourassa 200

Alexander Bourassa and James Bourassa 200

Elai Bourassa and Jerome Bourassa 200

M. D. Bourassa. 100

Ann Rice and her son, William MI. Rice and

nephew, John Leib. 1000

Agate Biddle and her children 900

Magdaline Laframboise and her son. 400

Therese Schandler . 200

Joseph Dailly's son and daughter, Robert and Therese 500

Therese Lawe and George Lawe 200

Alexander Muller, Gholson Kercheval, trustee ...

800

Paschal Muller, 800

Margaret Muller

200

Socra Muller 200

Angelique Chevallier.

200

Josette Chevallier 200

Fanny Leclare, (Captain David Hunter, trustee) ... 400

Daniel Bourassa's children. 600

Nancy Contraman,

For each of whom J. B.

600

Betsey Contramar.,

Alexis Laframbois. 1800

Alexis Laframbois' children. 200

Mrs. Mann's children. 600

Mrs. Mann (daughter of Antoine Ouilmet). 400

Geo. Turkey's children (Fourtier), Th. J. V. Owen, trustee . 500

Jacques Chapeau's children, (Fourtier), Th. J. V. Owen, trustee

600

Antonie Roscum's children. 750

Francois Burbonnais' senior children 400

Francois Burbonnais' junior children 300

John Bt. Cloutier's children, (Robert A. Kinzie, trustee) . 600

Claude Laframboise's children

300

Antoine Ouilmet's children. 300

Josette Ouilmet, (John H. Kinzie, trustee) 200

Mrs. Welsh, (daughter of Antoine Ouilmet). 200

Alexander Robinson's children. 400

Billy Caldwell's children.

600

Mo-ah-way.

200

Madore B. Beaubien.

300

Charles H. Beaubien

300

John K. Clark's Indian children, (Richard J. Hamil- ton, trustee) 400

Mrs. Sol. Josette Juno and her children. 1000

Angelique Juno 300

Josette Beaubien's children 1000

Ma-go-que's child, (James Kinzie, trustee)

300

Esther, Rosene and Eleanor Bailly 500

Sophia, Ifortense and Therese Bailly. 1000

Rosa and Mary, children of Hoo-mo-ni-gah, wife of Stephen Mack 600

Jean Bt. Rabbu's children

400 Francis Chevallier's children 800

Mrs. Nancy Jamison and child 800

Co-pah, son of Archange .. 250 Martha Burnet, (Rt. Forsyth, trustce). 1000

Isadore Chabert's child, (G. S. Ifubbard, trustee) .. 400

Chee-bee-quai, or Mrs. Allan 500 Luther Rice and children 2500 John Jones 1000 Pierre Corbonno's children 800

Pierre Chalipeaux's children

1000

Phoebe Treat and children 1000 Robert Forsyth, of St. Louis, MD. 500 Alexander Robinson. *10000 Billy Caldwell *10000

· SCHEDULE A.

(Referred to in the treaty containing the sums payable to in- dividuals in lieu of reservations.)

Jesse Walker .$1500

Henry Cleavland

800

Rachel Hall. 600

Sylvia Hall .. 600

Joseph Laframboise and children 1000

Victoire Porthier and her children. 700

Jean Bt. Miranda, -

300

Jane Miranda,

For each of whom John . .

200

Mrs. Van Rosetta Miranda,

H. Kinzie is trustee.

300

Thomas Miranda,

400

David Lawe and George Lawe. 200

Rebecca Lawe and Maria Lawe. 200

Polly Lawe and Jane Lawe 200

Appototone Lawe. 100

Angelique Vieux and Amable Vieux. 200

Andre Vieux and Nicholas Vieux 200

Pierre Vieux and Maria Vieux

Madaline Thibeault .. 100

Paul Vieux and Joseph Vieux.

200

Susanne Vieux ... 100

Louis Grignon and his son Paul. 200

Paul Grignon, Sr. and Amable Grignon. 200

Perish and Robert Grignon 200

Catist Grignon and Elizabeth Grignon 200

Ursul Grignon and Charlotte Grigoon 200

Louise Grignon and Rachel Grignon 200

Agate Porlier and George Grignon 200

Amable Grignon and Emily Grignon 200

Therese Grignon and Simon Grignon. 200 William Burnett, (B. B. Kercheval, trustee) 1000

Shan-na-nees 400

Josette Beaubien 500

For the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomie stu- dents at the Choctaw Academy. The Hon. R. M. Johnson to be the trustee 5000

James and Richard J. Conner. 700

Pierre Duverny and children 300

Joshua Boyd's children, (George Boyd, Esq., to be trustee). 500

Joseph Baily 4000

R. A. Forsyth 3000

Gabriel Godfroy 2420

Thomas R. Covill I300

George Hunt. 750

James Kinzie. 5000

Joseph Chaunier. 550

John and Mark Noble. 180

Alexis Provansale .. 100

One hundred thousand dollars $100,000

Originally $150,000 was provided for the payment of claims acknowledged as justly due, and by a supple- mentary treaty $25,000 additional. Schedule B, follow- ing, shows that $175,000 was apportioned to claimants sufficiently numerous to constitute nearly a complete census of the white male population of the Northwest. It is not believed that these claims were audited on the part of the Indians, although they acknowledged them to be justly due by the formality of accepting the treaty of which the schedule formed a part. It was an ap- portionment of the ready money of the tribes among all the whites who could bring a claim against an Indian. The honest debtor and the unjust and dishonest claim-

* Cut down by the U. S. Senate to $5,000 each.

Sally Contraman,

Campbell is trustee.

127

CHICAGO IN 1830-33.

ant absorbed the fund. How large a portion of it repre- sented robbery, theft, and perjury will never be known until the great book is opened at the last day. The list of names and amounts apportioned is as follows :

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 33

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340