USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 4
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All agree in saying that an indefatigable and burning zeal never was seen under more amiable and graceful form than in Rev. Father Petit. He had literally become a sort of idol among his beloved savages, whose frank- ness and childlike simplicity delighted him. In 1838 he wrote as follows: "Here I am in my Indian church of Chi-chi-pe Ou-ti-pe (Chapel at Twin lakes). How I love my children and delight in being among them." Speak- ing of the Indian chapel at Twin lakes, he said: "Now my cherished place of residence is in my Indian village (Menominee village) ; here I have a grand habitation, built of entire logs, placed one above the other; in more than one place we can see daylight through the walls. My fireplace is large enough to contain a quarter of a cord of wood. I have no carpet and the boards of my floor are so slightly fastened that they yield to the pressure of the foot like the keys of the piano to the musician's fingers."
Just before the removal of the Indians, while preparations were being made for that sad event, he wrote:
"One morning I said mass, and immediately afterward we began re- moving all the oranments 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 heart-rending sight, and over our dying mission we prayed for the success of those they would establish in their new hunting grounds. We then with one accord sang,
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
'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."
Bishop Bruté, of Vincennes, visited Menominee village in 1836 and de- scribed the village and the chapel as follows :
"A large number of the Indian huts are built around the 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 imple- ment, 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 that of 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. He spends his life with his good people, sharing their corn and meat, with water as his drink, as all Catholic Indians are forbidden to touch that which is the bane of their race, and he would encourage them with his example."
Recollections of Rev. Warren Taylor.
Rev. Warren Taylor was one of the early pioneers, having settled here about the time of the organization of the county in 1836. He was an itiner- ant Wesleyan Methodist preacher, and divided his time between farming, preaching and writing his recollections of early times. He wrote with great care, from personal knowledge so far as was possible, and in his sketch of the Pottawattomie Indians in this part of the country it will be observed that where he does not know, he says "probably," or "it is said," or "it is reported," etc. His paper on this subject is as follows :
When the first white settlers came to Marshall county they found within its bounds a somewhat numerous branch of the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians. These Indians were divided into bands, the most or all of which by the treaty of 1832 obtained reserves. The largest of these reserves were those of Aub-be-naub-bee and Me-no-mi-nee. The first was situated west of the Michigan road, and in the southern part of the county, extending perhaps into the county of Fulton.
Me-no-mi-nee reserve embraced a region of country southwest of Plymouth, its northeastern corner being near the western border of the town. These two reserves contained twenty or thirty sections each. The reserves of Ben-ack, Nis-wau-gee and Quash-qua were much smaller, each of them containing two or three sections. The two latter lay on the east side of Maxinkuckee lake; the former was situated on the Tippe- canoe river in the southeastern part of the county.
The Indian bands above mentioned while living in this region had several villages. The Aub-be-nau-bee village was on or near the southern line of the county, and about two miles west of the Michigan road. From three to four miles to the southwest of Plymouth in the neighborhood of the Twin lakes was a settlement of the Me-no-mi-nee band which contained near 100 wigwams. Around and among the wigwams were partly cleared fields from which the Indians raised considerable quantities of corn. This settlement was partly on the north side of the Twin lakes, and extended over one or two sections. The Ben-ack village was near the Tippecanoe river and about five miles south of the town of Bourbon. There was also a village on the Roberts prairie four miles southeast of Plymouth, and one at the Taber farm, about four miles south, on the Michigan road, which was called Pash-po, from its principal chief.
The Pottawattomies were formerly a powerful tribe, inhabiting the northern part of Indiana, the southern part of Michigan, and the northeastern part of Illinois. In the early history of Indiana they were said to be for several years hostile to whites. It is said that a detachment of the Pottawattomies were on the way to oppose Harrison when that general approached the Prophet's town near the mouth of the Tippecanoe
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
river. But before they could reach the scene of action the battle of Tippecanoe had been fought, and the Prophet's warriors had been defeated. It is reported, too, that, after the battle, the Indians retreated to a spot a few miles to the west or southwest of the present village of Marmont (now Culver) in Union township, which was so surrounded with marshes as to be almost inaccessible. During the last war with Great Britain the Pottawattomies were probably engaged with Tecumseh against the United States. In 1812 a detachment of the United States army marched from Fort Wayne and destroyed a large Pottawattomie village on the Elkhart river. Soon after the death of Tecumseh peace was declared with the Pottawattomies, the Miamis, and some other tribes inhabiting the Northwest territory. In 1832 the infant settlements of La Porte, South Bend, and Niles strongly feared that the Pottawattomies, with whom they were surrounded, would espouse the cause of Black Hawk and wage, if possible, against the white settlers a war of extermination. These fears, however, appear to have been unfounded. These facts have been mentioned because they belong to the history of the Pottawattomies, and with a branch of this tribe the early history of Marshall county is intimately connected.
The great mass of the Pottawattomie nation had embraced the Catholic religion long, perhaps before, the settlement of northern Indiana by the whites. French missionaries had been among them and among many other tribes of the Mississippi valley. In some of the villages in this region, the Sabbath was observed as a day of worship. Many of our old citizens can recollect the time when they attended Indian meetings at the chapel on the Menominee reserve. This chapel, which was of good size and built of hewed logs, occupied a beautiful site on the north bank of the Twin lakes. The Indians who attended these meetings generally formed large congregations, and their behavior during services was very exemplary. Generally these meetings were conducted by ministers of their own nation, but occasionally French clergymen were present and took the lead.
The demeanor of the Indians toward the white settlers was with few exceptions peaceable and friendly. A few of them had received an English education, and many of them were able to read books that had been translated into their language. In dress they had partly adopted the habits of the whites. Occasionally individuals would be seen dressed in fine broadcloth, which was made up in fashionable style. Such would, however, affix to their garments more or less of the fantastic ornaments which char- acterize the dress of an Indian.
It has been observed that the Pottawattomies in this region were generally peace- able in their demeanor. All, however, did not possess this spirit. (Mr. Taylor then relates the tragic end of Au-bee-nau-bee practically as recorded in another place in this history .- EDITOR. )
It has been observed that the Indians by the treaty of 1832 obtained within the county several reserves. Something like three years afterwards Col. A. C. Pepper, agent for the United States, held a council with the Indians for the purchase of the above mentioned reserves, which council was held, according to some, at the Potta- wattomie mills, about one mile east of Rochester, and according to others on the Tippecanoe river, about two miles above the crossing of the Michigan road north of Rochester. The purchase was effected, but whether fairly or otherwise has been a matter of considerable dispute. Many of the Indians were extremely dissatisfied with the result of the treaty, maintaining that a few individuals bad consented to the purchase; that the wishes of the great mass of the owners had not been consulted. By this treaty the Indians obtained a tract of land in the then territory of Kansas, and perhaps something besides in the shape of an annuity. The news of this purchase soon brought to these reserves many white settlers, who were called "squatters,"' as the lands were not then in market. The settlers would build a house and sometimes make a small improvement upon the quarter section which they wished to secure. This was considered as establishing their claim. During the years 1836 and 1837 the most of the Au-bee-nau-bee and Menominee reserves were in this way taken up. The Indians who still lived upon the grounds regarded these settlers as intruders. Disputes frequently took place between them, but none of them, it is believed, terminated seriously. About this time congress passed a preemption law, which secured 160 acres at $1.25 per acre, to all actual settlers upon United States lands, if these lands were paid for within a specified time. The settlers of our reserves were included within the provisions of this act, and most of them succeeded in paying for their claims.
WARREN TAYLOR.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Those who may be interested in knowing all the facts in relation to this unfortunate affair are referred to the article in this work entitled "Removal of the Pottawattomie Indians from Northern Indiana"; and also to an article, "A Monument to the Pottawattomie Indians."
III. REMOVAL OF THE POTTAWATTOMIE INDIANS FROM NORTHERN INDIANA.
The first emigration of the Pottawattomie Indians from northern Indiana under the treaty stipulations made in 1836 that they would remove to the reservation west of the Missouri river within two years from the date of signing the treaty, took place in July, 1837. Under the direction of Abel C. Pepper, United States commissioner, the small bands of Ke-wa-na, Ne-bosh, Nas-wau-gee, and a few others, assembled at the village now known as Ke-wa-na, in Fulton county. They were placed in charge of a man by the name of George Proffit, who conducted them to their reserva- tion. In this emigration there were about one hundred all told, all of whom went voluntarily.
Forcible Removal of Menominee and His Band.
On the 6th of August, 1838, the time stipulated in the several treaties for the Indians to emigrate having expired, and Menominee and his band declining to go, a council was held at Menominee village, just north of Twin lakes, in Marshall county, five miles southwest from Plymouth. Col. Abel C. Pepper, Indian agent for the government, was present, and most of the chiefs in that part of the county; also many of the white residents of the surrounding country. The treaty was read wherein it was shown that in ceding their lands the Indians had agreed to remove to the western reservation within the specified time, and that the date was then at hand when they must go. It was plain to those present who were familiar 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 Me-no-mi-nee. By the treaty of 1832 twenty-two sections of land had been reserved to him and three other chiefs, viz., Pe-pin-a-waw, Na-ta-ka and Mack-a-taw-ma-ah. This reservation bordered on the west of Plymouth, north as far as the Catholic cemetery and far enough south to take in Twin lakes, about half way between Plymouth and Maxinkuckee lake. 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 government agreed to pay them $14,080 in specie, being one dollar an acre, there being in the reservation 14,080 acres of land, and they agreed to remove to the country west of the Missouri river provided for them within two years. Chief Menominee refused to sign this or any other treaty, and persistently declined to release to the government his interest in the reserva- tion. When Col. Pepper had made his final appeal and all had had their
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
say, Menominee rose to his feet and, drawing his costly blanket around him, is reported by one who was present to have said in substance :
"Members of the Council: The President does not know the truth. He, like me, has been imposed upon. He does not know that your treaty is a lie, and that I never signed it. He does not know that you 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 brother the President is just, but he listens to the word of the 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 Logan would have been proud, his presence, the personification of dignity, it presented one of those rare occasions of which history gives few instances, and on the man of true appreciation would have made a most profound impression."
In order that a clear understanding may be had of the cause that led up to the forcible removal of Menominee and his band, it may be briefly stated that at a treaty held on the Tippecanoe river October 26, 1832, negotiated by Jonathan Jennings, John W. Davis and Marks Crume on the part of the United States, and the chiefs, etc., of the Pottawattomies, exten- sive reservations belonging to the Pottawattomie Indians were ceded to the United States, from which a number of small reservations were given to certain chiefs and their bands named therein as follows:
Article 2. From the session aforesaid, the following reservations are made, to-wit: For the band of Au-bee-nau-bee thirty-six sections, to include his village.
For the bands of Me-no-mi-nee, No-taw-kah, Muck-kah-tah-mo-way, and Pee-pin- oh-waw, twenty-two sections (and to several others too numerous to mention).
The object of copying the foregoing is to show how Me-no-mi-nee came in possession of his interest in the twenty-two sections of land in dispute. This record may be found in "A Compilation of all the Treaties Between the United States and the Indian Tribes," published by the United States in 1873, at page 680.
Menominee's contention was that he never signed any treaty trans- ferring his interest in the twenty-two sections above named, and the gov- ernment book of treaties above referred to does not show his name attached to any treaty, while it does show the names of the other three chiefs as having signed a treaty transferring their interest in the twenty-two sections named to the United States August 5, 1836, and in that treaty the three chiefs agreed to remove west of the Mississippi river within two years. In order that the treaty may be handy of reference, it is copied below in full as found on page 712 of the book of treaties above referred to:
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
POTTAWATTOMIES-PE-PIN-A-WAW, ETC., CHIEFS.
Articles of a treaty made and concluded at a camp near Yellow river, in the State
of Indiana, between Abel C. Pepper, commissioner, on the part of the United States, and Pe-pin-a-waw, Nataw-ka and Mack-a-taw-mo-ah, chiefs and headmen of the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians and their bands, on the fifth day of August in the year 1836.
Article 1. The above named chiefs and headmen and their bands hereby cede to the United States twenty-two sections of land reserved for them by the second article of the treaty between the United States and the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians, on Tippecanoe river, on the twenty-sixth day of October, 1832.
Article 2. In consideration of the session aforesaid, the United States stipulate to pay the above named chiefs and headmen and their bands the sum of $14,080 in specie after the ratification of this treaty, and on or before the first day of May next ensuing the date hereof.
Article 3. The above named chiefs and headmen and their bands agree to remove to the country west of the Mississippi river provided for the Pottawattomie Nation by the United States within two years.
Article 4. At the request of the above named band it is stipulated that after the ratification of this treaty the United States shall appoint a commissioner, who shall be authorized to pay such debts of the said band as may be proved to his satisfaction to be just, to be deducted from the amount stipulated in the second article of this treaty.
Article 5. The United States stipulate to provide for the payment of the necessary expenses attending the making and concluding this treaty.
Article 6. This treaty, after the same shall be ratified by the President and Senate of the United States, shall be binding upon both parties.
Proclaimed February 18, 1837.
This is the treaty that Menominee at the council above referred to declared he had never signed, and from the treaty record made by the government from which it is taken he was correct.
From Gen. Tipton's report of the removal, which will be copied in full later on, it appears that the government had been trying for some time previous to get this land from Menominee. In 1834 a commissioner was appointed by the President to purchase this land. He succeeded in pur- chasing one-half of the land at 50 cents per acre. The other half (eleven sections) was reserved for individual Indians, Menominee coming in for a large share of individual property. There is no record of this treaty, as the President did not submit it to the senate. The refusal of the govern- ment to ratify this treaty undoubtedly offended Menominee and caused him to refuse to further treat with the government agents with reference to the sale of his interest in the reservation, and there negotiations ceased.
At the council above referred to considerable time was spent in trying to persuade Menominee and his following to accept the inevitable and remove peaceably to the reservation provided for them, as, if they did not, the government would remove them by force. Without accomplishing anything, however, the council disbanded.
Menominee was a wise and experienced chief, and he knew that the final consummation was near at hand. As soon as the council had dis- banded he 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 from their lands and homes which Menominee had never sold or transferred to the government. The consequence was the Indians became desperate ; intoxicating liquors, which the white traders and schemers
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
had supplied them with, 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. Several white men, who had squatted on the reservation expecting to enter the land as soon as the Indians went away, urged on the disturbance and it seemed probable that a general fight would ensue. In this alarming condition of affairs a number of white settlers early in August, 1838, petitioned the governor of Indiana for protection against what they believed would result in the certain destruction of their lives and property. On this subject, in his message to the legislature of Indiana, December 4, 1838, Gov. David Wallace said :
"By the conditions of the late treaty with the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians in Indiana, the time stipulated for their departure to the west of the Mississippi expired on the sixth 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 ensue between them and the surrounding 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 petition praying that an armed force might be immediately sent to their protection. On receipt of this petition I repaired as speedily as circumstances would per- mit to the scene of difficulty, in order to satisfy myself by a personal examina- tion whether their fears were justifiable or not. On my return to Logansport 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 hostility displayed by the Indians. The requisition was instantly granted. I appointed the Hon. John Tipton to this command and gave him authority to raise the necessary number of volunteers. He promptly and patriotically accepted the appointment, and although sickness and disease prevailed to an alarming extent 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 transported into the midst of the Indians before they were aware of its approach, or before even they could possibly take steps to repel it. The rapidity of the movement, the known decision and energy of Gen. Tipton, backed by his intimate acquaintance and popularity with the Indians whom it was his business to quiet, accomplished everything desired. The refractory became com- placent ; opposition to removal ceased; and the whole tribe, with a few exceptions, amounting to between 800 and 900, voluntarily prepared to emigrate. Gen. Tipton and the volunteers accompanied them as far as Danville, Ill., administering to them on the way whatever comfort and relief humanity required. There they were delivered over to Judge Polke and the United States removing agents. Copies of all the communications and reports made to the executive by Gen. Tipton while in the discharge of this duty I lay before you, from which I feel assured you will discover with myself that much credit and many thanks are due not only to him
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
but to all who assisted him in bringing so delicate an affair to so happy and successful a termination."
Before referring to the message of Gov. Wallace, the writer desires to state that diligent search and inquiry has been made in the several depart- ments of the state at Indianapolis, and it is much to be regretted that none of the papers referred to have been preserved, or at least cannot be found.
The reader will observe by perusing the message of Gov. Wallace, and the report of Gen. Tipton, which appears later on, that Menominee nor any other of the Indians were in any way consulted in regard to the matters in dispute. Undoubtedly the information forwarded to Gov. Wallace was furnished him by one Watters and others like him, who were waiting to enter the lands as soon as the Indians were driven away. Watters was aided in his scheme by a few others who joined him in working the Indians up to a point where armed soldiers would be necessary to quell the disturbance and remove the Indians by force from the reservation. These disturbers were assisted in securing the cooperation of the governor by Gen. Tipton and Col. Pepper, who, without doubt, prepared and forwarded the petitions signed by Watters and others. The governor says on receipt of the petition he repaired to the scene of the disturbance as speedily as possible. He does not say how long he stayed or what the nature of the trouble was that he discovered. He says on his return to Logansport he found a formal requisition awaiting him from the Indian agent, Col. Pepper. And then he adds, "The requisition was instantly granted." And this, too, without consulting Menominee or any other of the Indians to get their side of the story or to see if he could not hold a conference with them, ascertain the real cause of the trouble and see if some terms of settlement could not be agreed upon. But he did nothing of the kind. He instantly granted a requisition for a company of soldiers, and appointed Gen. Tipton, an Indian fighter and an Indian hater, who, the governor says, "promptly and patriotically accepted the appointment." And then, the rapidity of the movement, etc., accomplished everything desired. The refractory became complacent, opposition to removal ceased, etc. Of course it did! Gen. Tipton says: "The arrival of the volunteers in the Indian village was the first intimation they had of the movement of men with arms. Many of the Indian men were assembled near the chapel and were not permitted to leave camp or separate until matters were amicably settled and they had agreed to give peaceable possession of the land sold by them." They were simply surrounded by the soldiers, their guns, bows and arrows, tomahawks, etc., they had in their possession were taken away from them; they were surrounded and placed under guard, and, as the gov- ernor said: "The refractory became complacent, opposition to removal ceased, and the whole tribe, with a few exceptions, amounting to between 800 and 900, voluntarily prepared to emigrate." Of course "they volun- tarily prepared to emigrate." How could they have done otherwise, being deprived of their arms and surrounded with one hundred armed soldiers prepared to shoot the first one that offered resistance ?
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