A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 12

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826

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and Michigan territory ceded to the United States their title and interest to all the lands in Indiana, Michigan, and in Illinois south of Grand river. From this general treaty a large number of small individual reservations were made. Among them was a reservation of two sections to Naswagee, and one section to Quashqna, both on the east shore of Lake Maxinkuckee, and twenty-two sections to Me- nominee, Pepinawa, Nataka, and Maeataw- maaw, adjoining the town of Plymouth on the west and extending south to Twin Lakes, a short distance north of Lake Maxinkuckee; several sections in the vicinity to Aubenaube and other chiefs making in all 160 sections. These reservations were all ceded baek to the government between 1834 and 1837, mostly under treaties negotiated by Abel C. Pepper. All of these treaties contained the following :

"Artiele 3 .- The United States further agrees to convey by patent to the Pottawato- mies of Indiana a tract of country on the Osage river. southwest of the Missouri river, sufficient in extent and adapted to their wants and habits, remove them to the same. furnish them with one year's subsistenee after their arrival there, and pay the expenses of the treaty, and the delegation now in this city."

The first removal under these treaties took place in July, 1837, and within the two years from the date of these treaties to Angnst. 1837. all had gone peaceably, or had been removed without force, except Menominee and his band, whose village was on the north bank of Twin lakes. On the 6th of August. 1838. the time stipulated in the treaties for the In- dians to emigrate having expired. and Menom- inee and his band declining to go, a council was held at his village, at which Col. Abel C. Pepper, agent of the Government, was present, and most of the chiefs in that part of the coun- try, as also many white residents of the sur- rounding country. The treaty was read where- in it was shown that in ceding their lands the Indians had agreed to remove to the western reservation within the time specified and that the date was then at hand when they must go. It was plain to those present who were fa- miliar with the Indian character that there was great dissatisfaction among them and a spirit of rebellion growing which if not soon suppressed would probably lead to serious results. The leader and principal spokesman for the Indians was Menominee. By the treaty of 1832 twenty-two sections of land had been reserved to him and three other

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

chiefs, viz., Pepinawa, Nataka and Macataw- maaw. The last three named chiefs entered into a treaty, with Col. Abel C. Pepper on behalf of the government August 5, 1836, by which they ceded all their interest in the reservation above described for which the gov- ernment paid them $14,080 in specie, and they agreed to remove to the country west of the Missouri river provided for them within two years from the date of the treaty. Chief Menominee refused to sign the treaty and per- sistently declined to release to the government his interest in the reservation. When Col. Pepper had made his final appeal and all had had their say, Menominee arose to his feet, and, drawing his costly blanket around him, through an interpreter he addressed the coun- cil as follows :

"Members of the Council-Tne President does not know the truth. He, like me. has been imposed upon. He does not know that you have made my young chiefs drunk and got their consent and pretended to get mine. He does not know that I have refused to sell my lands and still refuse. He would not by force drive me from my home, the graves of my tribe, and my children who have gone to the Great Spirit, nor allow you to tell me your braves will take me tied like a dog if he knew the truth. My brothers, the Presi- dent is just, but he listens to the word of young chiefs who have lied; and when he knows the truth he will leave me to my own. I have not sold my lands. I will not sell them. I have not signed any treaty and will not sign any. I am not going to leave my lands, and I don't want to hear anything more about it."

Describing the scene, one who was present said: "Amid the applause of the chiefs he sat down. Spoken in the peculiar style of the Indian orator-although repeated by an interpreter-with an eloquence of which Lo- gan would have been proud, his presence the personification of dignity, it presented one of those rare occasions of which history gives but few instances, and on the man of true appre- ciation would have made a most profound impression."

Considerable time was spent in trying to persuade Menominee and his following to ac- cept the inevitable and remove peaceably to the reservation provided for them, and that if they did not, the government would be compelled to remove them by force. Without accomplishing anything, however, the council

disbanded. Menominee was a wise and ex- perienced chief, and he knew the final con- summation was near at hand. As soon as the council had disbanded the began at once to fire the hearts of his followers, with a deter- mination to resist the government officers in their evident intention to remove them, peace- ably if they could, forcibly if they must. The consequence was the Indians became desper- ate, intoxicating liquors were drank to excess; threats of violence were freely made, and the white settlers in the immediate neighborhood became greatly alarmed for the safety of themselves and families. In this alarming condition of affairs, a number of white settlers of Marshall county, early in August, 1838, petitioned the governor of Indiana for pro- tection against what they believed would re- sult in the certain destruction of their lives and property. In his message to the legisla- ture December 4, 1838, Governor David Wal- lace said :

"By the conditions of the late treaty with the Pottawatomie Indians in Indiana, the time stipulated for their departure to the west of the Missouri expired on the 6th of August last. As this trying moment approached a strong disposition was manifested by many of the most influential among them to disregard the treaty entirely, and to cling to the homes and graves of their fathers at all hazards. In consequence of such a determination on their part. a collision of the most serious character was likely to ensne between them and the sur- rounding settlers. Apprehensive of such a result. and with a view to prevent it, the citizens of Marshall county, early in the month of August, forwarded to the executive a peti- tion praying that an armed force might be immediately sent to their protection. On re- ceipt of this petition I repaired as speedily · as circumstances would permit to the scene of difficulty in order to satisfy myself by a personal examination whether their fears were justifiable or not. On my return to Logans- port a formal requisition awaited me from the Indian agent, Col. A. C. Pepper, for one hundred armed volunteers to be placed under the command of some competent citizen of the state, whose duty it should be to preserve the peace and to arrest the growing spirit of hos- tility displayed by the Indians. The requisi- tion was instantly granted. I appointed the HIon. John Tipton to this command and gave him authority to raise the necessary number of volunteers. He promptly and patriotically

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

accepted the appointment, and, although sick- ness and disease prevailed to an alarming ex- tent throughout northern Indiana, yet such was the spirit and patriotism of the people there that in about forty-eight hours after the requisition was authorized the requisite force was not only mustered, but was trans- ported into the midst of the Indians before they were aware of its approach or before even they could possibly take steps to resist or repel it. The rapidity of the movement, the known decision and energy of General Tipton, backed by his intimate acquaintance and popularity with the Indians, whom it was his business to quiet, accomplished every- thing desired. The refractory became com- placent ; opposition to removal ceased, and the whole tribe, with a few exceptions amount- ing to between 800 and 900, voluntarily pre- pared to emigrate. General Tipton and the volunteers accompanied them as far as Dan- ville, Illinois, administering to them on the way whatever comfort and relief humanity required. There they were delivered over to the care of Judge Polke and the United States removing agents. Copies of all the communi- cations and reports made to the executive by General Tipton while in the discharge of this duty I lay before you, from which I feel as- sured you will discover with myself that much credit and many thanks are due not only to him but to all who assisted him in bringing so delicate an affair to so happy and successful a termination."

David Wallace served as governor of In- diana from 1837 to 1840. The most important aet of his administration was his order to re- move the remaining Pottawatomie Indians as set forth in his message herein quoted. After his term as governor expired. he was subse- quently elected to Congress. He was made a member of the committee on ways and means, and in that committee gave the casting vote in favor of assisting with a donation to Pro- fessor Morse to develop the magnetic tele- graph. This vote was ridiculed by his po- litical opponents and cost him many votes the last time he ran for Congress. But he lived to see the telegraph established in nearly all the countries of the world and the wisdom of his aetion acknowledged by all.

General Tipton recruited and organized the company of soldiers authorized by Governor Wallace immediately after the requisition was made. These recruits were nearly all from Cass county, at Logansport, and in the vicin-

ity. They started from Logansport the latter part of August, marching along the Michigan road through Rochester, across Tippecanoe river, and then along the old Indian trail northwestward until they came to Menominee village at Twin lakes, five miles southwest from Plymouth. A great many of the white settlers in the neighborhood turned out to welcome the soldiers and to render such as- sistance as might be necessary. The Indians were surrounded before they realized that the soldiers had been sent to remove them. Such arms as they had were taken from them and preparations at once commenced for the start- ing of the caravan. Squads of soldiers were sent out in every direction for the purpose of capturing the straggling bands encamped in various places in the county, and such others as might be found hunting and fishing in the neighborhood. Several days were occu- pied in getting everything in readiness. The names of heads of families, and other Indians were registered, and when the list was com- pleted it showed a total of 859.

On the day prior to the exodus a meeting of the Indians was held at the little grave- yard, a short distance from the village, at which a final farewell of the dead was taken by those who were to leave the following morning, never to return. Addresses were made by the chiefs present and several white settlers. (An address of some length was de- livered by Myron HI. Norton of Laporte which was afterwards printed. but unfortunately no copies of it ean now be found.) The seene is said to have been affecting in the extreme. Weeping and wailing, which was eonfined to a few at first, became general, and until they were finally induced to disperse, it looked as though a riot would surely ensue. In solemn reverenee they turned their weeping eyes from the sleeping dead never to look upon the graves of their kindred again.

The Indian chapel which was used as Gen- eral Tipton's headquarters while preparing for the removal was situated on the north bank of the middle Twin lake about twenty rods west of the Vandalia railroad. It was erected by Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin, the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States. He was born at Orleans, France, in 1768, ordained May 23, 1793, and died at Cincinnati. April. 19. 1853. The chapel was erected about 1830 and was built of hewn logs and covered with clapboards. It was about 30 by 40 feet,

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH. COUNTY.

the west half being two stories high. There was a hallway through the center. The room for the missionary was over the west end of the chapel which was reached from below by means of a rustic ladder. The furniture was of the most primitive kind; and the food. corn, and wild meat and such fruits and vegetables as were suitable to eat during the summer season. The chapel was torn down many years ago. Bishop Bruté, of Vincennes, under whose supervision this mission was established, writes as follows in regard to the Indians, their village and chapel :

"A large number of their huts are built around their chapel, which is constructed of logs with the bark on with a cross erected behind and rising above it, and filled with rudely made benches. The Indians begin and end their work without hammer, saw or nails, the ax being their only implement, and bits of skin or bark serving to fasten the pieces together. The room of the missionary is over the chapel, the floor of the one forming the ceiling of the other. A ladder in the corner leads to it, and his furniture consists, as did the prophets, of a table and chair, and a bed. or rather a hammock swung on ropes. Around the room are his books, and the trunks which contain the articles used in his chapel, as well as his own apparel. IIe spends his life with his good people, sharing their corn and meat, with water for his drink, and tea made from the herbs of his little garden. He abjures all spirits, as all Catholic Indians are for- bidden to touch that which is the bane of their race and he would encourage them with his example. I attended at the evening cate- chism, prayers and cantieles, and in the morn- ing said mass, at which a large number at- tended." .

At the time the arrangements for the re- moval were being perfected. Father Benjamin Marie Petit was the missionary in charge of the chapel. He was about twenty-five years old, and had been born and reared in France. This ardent youthful spirit evinced an in- tense enthusiasm from first to last in the work of his chosen field, and in an outburst of fervency he tells something of his feelings and of his ministrations: "How I love these chil- dren of mine, and what pleasure it is for me to find myself among them. There are now from 1,000 to 1,200 Christians. Could you see the little children when I enter a cabin crowding around me and climbing on my knees-the father and mother making the

sign of the cross in pious recollection, and then coming with a confiding smile on their faces to shake hands with me-you could not but love them as I do." Of the chapel exer- cises he gave the following interesting ac- count : "At sunrise the first peal was rung ; then you might see the savages moving along the paths of the forest and the borders of the lakes. When they were assembled the second peal was rung. The catechist then, in an ani- mated manner, gave the substance of the ser- mon preached the evening before; a chapter of the catechism was read and morning prayers were recited. I then said mass, the congregation singing hymns the while, after which I preached, my sermon being trans- lated by a respectable French lady, seventy- two years old, who had devoted herself to the missions in the capacity of interpreter. The sermon was followed by a pater and ave; after which the congregation sang a hymn to Our Lady, and quietly dispersed. The next thing was confession which lasted till evening, and sometimes was resumed after supper. At sun- set the natives again assembled for catechism. followed by an exortation and evening prayers which finished with a hymn to Our Lady. I then gave them my benediction-the benedic- tion of poor Benjamin. In the first three weeks of my pastorate I baptised eighteen adults and blessed nine marriages."

About this time officers and soldiers arrived at the chapel and village to arrange for the departure of the Indians. Father Petit again wrote as follows:

"One morning I said mass and immediately afterward we began removing all the orna- ments from my dear little church. At the moment of my departure I assembled all my children to speak to them for the last time. I wept, and my auditors sobbed aloud. It was indeed a heartrending sight, and over our dy- ing mission we prayed for the success of those they would establish in the new hunting grounds. We then with one accord sang :

"'O. Virgin, we place our confidence in Thee.

"It was often interrupted by sobs and but few voices were able to finish it. I then left them.

When General Tipton and his soldiers had arranged everything in readiness to move, the teepees, wigwams and cabins were torn down and destroyed and Menominee village had the appearance of having been swept by a hurri-

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

eane. Early on the morning of September 4, 1838, orders were given to move, and at once nearly one thousand men, women and chil- dren, with broken hearts and tearful eyes took up the line of march to their far western home.

General Tipton accompanied the Indians as far as Sandusky Point, Illinois, at which place the caravan arrived on September 18, 1838. two weeks after the departure from Twin lakes. From that point he made a lengthy report to Governor Wallace, giving a histori- cal sketch of the occurrences that led up to the removal, together with a copy of his daily journal in which is shown in detail all that occurred during the time he had charge of the caravan. The report is too lengthy for insertion here in full, and only brief extracts ean be given. He says :

"The arrival of the volunteers in the In- dian village was the first intimation they had of the movement of men with arms. Many of the Indian men were assembled near the chapel when we arrived and were not per- mitted to leave camp or separate until matters were amicably settled and they had agreed to give peaceable possession of the land sold by them."

As has been stated heretofore. Menominee, the principal chief in the ownership of the reservation which bore his name, never signed the treaty executed by the three chiefs asso- ciated with him in the reservation, viz., Pe- pinawa. Nataka and Maekatawmaaw. The reason he did not sign this treaty was because he knew from past experience that the amount of money received from the government by these chiefs would all be spent for whisky and riotous living before the two years ex- pired stipulated by the treaty that they should remove to the west. His worst fears were fully realized. The $14,080 the govern- ment paid them to sign the treaty had all been squandered for spirituous liquors and trinkets of one kind or another purchased at enor- mous prices from the white traders that gath- ered about them like erows about a dead car- eass until their money was all gone. Menom- inee declined to sign the treaty, and never did sign it, but there was at no time any danger of an uprising. The Pottawatomies as a tribe were always friendly with the white settlers, and in northern Indiana never caused any disturbance except in individual cases where they were driven into it by white traders and other designing persons who sold and gave

them whisky for the purpose of getting them drunk and robbing them of their lands and annuities paid them by the government.

At the time of the removal none of these Indians were armed for defense or warfare. and had only a few rifles which they had purchased from the white traders at exorbi- tant prices, and the bows and arrows for killing game for food. Menominee, the head of the band, was a religions man, and an exhorter. He taught his followers to avoid the use of intoxieating liquors: not to cheat, or murder, or lie, or steal. or quarrel with one another, or the white settlers, although they might have ample provocation, but to live in peace with all men. They were com- pletely under his control. and that of their priest. Father Petit. No trouble ever occurred between them and the whites except that re- lated by General Tipton in his report to Gov- ernor Wallace, as follows :

"On the 5th of last month. the day on which the Indians were to have left the res- ervation, the whites demanded possession which they-the Indians-absolutely refused. Quarrels ensned and between the 15th and 20th the Indians chopped the door of one of the settlers-Mr. Watters-and threatened his life. This was followed by the burning of ten or twelve Indian eabins which produced a state of feeling bordering on hostilities."

Having made a thorough and exhaustive investigation of this subject a few years ago when many of the settlers were still living and several who were there at the time and participated in the removal and knew all about the circumstances leading up to the re- moval, it is but the truth to say that the origin of the trouble was not with the Indians, but with Mr. Watters, who had settled in the reservation, without anthority, a few months previous, and desired the Indians to leave so he could preempt 160 acres of the reservation under the laws of Congress passed in June of that year. He was the disturbing clement, and set about deliberately to work up the dis- turbance so that the Governor would be eom- pelled to remove them. The information on which Governor Wallace based his action was that received from Mr. Watters and a few other white settlers in the vicinity that al- lowed him to be the spokesman. The Indians were not consulted and had no say in the matter.

Further along in his report General Tipton, speaking of the Indians, said :

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

"Most of them appeared willing to go. Three of their principal men, however, ex- pressed a wish to be governed by the advice of their priest (Mr. Petit, a Catholic gentle- man), who had resided with them up to the time of the commencement of the quarrel be- tween the Indians and the whites, when he left Twin lakes and retired to South Bend [Notre Dame]. I addressed a letter inviting him to join the emigration and go west. He accepted the invitation and I am happy to inform you that he joined us two days ago and is going west with the Indians. It is but justice to him to say that he has both by example and precept, produced a very favor- able change in the morals and industry of the Indians; that his untiring zeal in the cause of civilization has been and will con- tinue to be eventually beneficial to these un- fortunate Pottawatomies, when they reach their new abode."

On the 16th of September Father Petit re- joined his flock near Danville, Illinois. He found them moving onward, enveloped in clouds of dust, and surrounded by the sol- diers who hurried on their march. Behind eame the wagons in which were crowded to- gether the sick, the women and the children. The scene as described by Father Petit was one of the most mournful description; the children overcome by heat were reduced to a wretched state of languor and exhaustion. By this time General Tipton had begun to understand something of Father Petit's worth, and treated him with marked respect. The chiefs who had hitherto been treated as pris- oners of war were released at the priest's request and took their places with the rest of the tribe. First went the flag of the United States borne by a dragoon; after which came the baggage; then the vehicle occupied by the native chiefs; next followed the main body of the emigrants, men, women and children, mounted on horses, marching in file after Indian fashion, while all along the flanks of the multitude might be seen dragoons and volunteers urging on unwilling stragglers, often with the most violent words and gestures. The sick were in their wagons under an awning of canvas, which, however, far from protecting them from the stifling heat and dust, only deprived them of air. The interior was like an oven, and many conse- quently died. Six miles from Danville, Il- linois, there was a halt for two days. "When we quitted the spot," Father Petit said, "we

left six graves under the shadow of the cross." Order had been so thoroughly re- stored through the presence of the good priest that the troops now retired and Father Petit was left with the civil authorities to conduct the emigrants to their destination. Having seen the emigrants safely landed on their res- ervation on the Osage river southwest of the Missouri river, such as had not died and escaped on the way, Father Petit started on the return trip. At St. Louis he was taken siek from fatigue and malarial fever and died. His remains were afterward removed to Notre Dame, Indiana, where they lie buried beneath a beautiful chapel at that place.

Of the onward journey after leaving San- dusky Point, Illinois, where the caravan was placed in charge of Judge Polke, we have only the general statement that 150 persons were lost on the whole way by death and desertion. What amount of suffering fell to the lot of these poor Indians every day of this horrible journey, no tongue can tell. Hundreds of them were daily burning with the terrible malarial fever so universally prevalent during the warm part of 1838. These hundreds were crowded into common rough wagons and com- pelled to bear the downpouring rays of a sultry sun, and the only beverage to quench the prevailing thirst was dipped from some mud stream just drying up. The food was composed of beef and flour cooked as might be while encamped for the night. Alas, how these poor little dusky infants must have suf- fered. No wonder that their little graves marked the daily journey.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 12

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 826

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826