USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of Fort Wayne, from the earliest known accounts of this point, to the present period. Embracing an extended view of the aboriginal tribes of the Northwest, including, more especially, the Miamies with a sketch of the life of General Anthony Wyane; including also a lengthy biography of pioneer settlers of Fort Wayne. Also an account of the manufacturing, mercantile, and railroad interests of Fort Wayne and vicinity > Part 22
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Not unlike most Indian tribes, the origin of the Shawanoes is en- veloped in much obscurity. Many tribes, it is true, can be traced back for many centuries ; but beyond that, all is conjecture or so wrapped in legendary accounts, that it is most difficult indeed to trace them further.
The Lenni-Lenape, or Delawares, have long received the first claim to attention as an active and war-like branch of the Algonquin family ; but the Shawanoes are evidently, in so far, at least, as their chiefs and the spirit of war is concerned, entitled to a first considera- tion, while the Miamies, evidently, were early the superiors, in many essential respects, of most of the Algonquin tribes of the northwest.
The French knew the Shawanoes as the Chaouanous, and were often called the Massawomees. The famous Iroquois called them the Satanas ; and the name was often spelt Shawanees, Shawaneus, Sawanos, Shawanos, and Shawanoes. The latter style of spelling the name is the one adopted in these pages.
Mr. Jefferson, in his "Notes on Virginia," speaks of a savage warfare between several tribes, one of which was the Shawanoe, at the period of Capt. John Smiths's advent in America. In 1632, by another historian, the Shawanoes were dwelling upon one of the banks of the Delaware; and it is variously conceded that this tribe participated in the treaty with Wm. Penn, in 1682. Accounts agree that " they were a marauding, adventurous tribe," while "their numerous wanderings and appearances in different parts of the continent, almost place research at defiance." To become em-
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broiled with neighboring tribes, wherever they dwelt, seems to have been their fate ; and to save themselves from utter destruction as a tribe, it is told that they had more than once been obliged to fly for other and more secure parts of the country.
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Parkman is of opinion that the Five Nations (Iroquois) overcame them about the year 1672, and that a large portion of them sought safety in the Carolinas and Florida; where they soon again be- came involved in trouble, and the Mobilians sought to exterminate them. Returning northward, with others, they settled in what is now the Ohio valley. Gallatin, who is well versed in the aborigi- nal tongues, is of opinion that this tribe was of the Lenni-Lenape branch of the Algonquin family, and thinks that their dispersion took place about 1732. The Suwanee river, in the southern part of the United States, takes its name from this tribe, whither they had wandered before settling in the northwest. Says Heckwelder, referring to this tribe before their settlement upon the Ohio, they " sent messengers to their elder brother, the Mohicans, requesting them to intercede for them with their grandfather, the Lenni-Lenape, to take them under his protection. This the Mohicans willingly did, and even sent a body of their own people to conduct their younger brother into the country of the Delawares. The Shawan- oes, finding themselves safe under the protection of their grand- father, did not choose to proceed to the eastward, but many of them remained on the Ohio, some of whom settled as far up that river as the Long Island, above which the French afterward built , Fort Duquesne, on the spot where Pittsburgh now stands. Those who proceeded further, were accompanied by their chief, Gach- gawatschiqua, and settled principally at and about the forks of the Delaware, between that and the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers ; and some, even on the spot where Philadelphia now stands ; others were conducted by the Mohicans into their own country, where they intermarried with them and became one peo- ple. When those who settled near the Delaware had multiplied, they returned to Wyoming, on the Susquehanna, where they resided for a great number of years."
In 1754, during the French and English war, the Shawanoes took part with the French. The Wyoming branch, through the efforts of the missionary Zingendorf, through this period, remained quiet, taking no part in the struggle. A few years later, however, a trivial dispute having arisen between this tribe and the Delawares as to the possession of a grasshopper, a bloody conflict ensued between them, wherein about one-half of the Shawanoe warriors were de- stroyed; while the remainder removed to the Ohio, where they dwelt for several years, during all the period of those desolating struggles of the early frontier settlements, referred to in former chapters, during the latter part of the past and the first of the pres- ent century. In what is now the State of Ohio, they had many con- siderable toyns. Tecumseh was born at one of these, known as
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A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE SHAWANOES.
Piqua, which stands upon Mad River, a few miles below Spring- field. This village was destroyed by the Kentuckians, under Clark, in 1780,
After their defeat by Col. Bouquet, in 1764, and the treaty of Sir William Johnson, they soon became embroiled in a difficulty with the Cherokees, maintaining the struggle until 1768, when they were forced to sue for peace. Remaining comparatively quiet for several years, but little is known of them, of a war-like nature, un- til 1774, soon after the breaking out of the " Dunmore War." But for the results that brought them into this struggle, it is said the Shawanoes were in no wise responsible. A report having gained credence among the whites that the Indians had stolen several of their horses, a couple of Shawanoes were taken and put to death by them, without knowing whether they were the guilty ones or not; and on the same day, the whites fired upon and killed several of the Shawanoes, the latter returning the fire and severely wound- ing one of the whites. Cresap also killed the famous Logan family about this period. An old Delaware sachem, known as "Bald Eagle," for many years the friend of the whites, was murdered, and the famous chief of the Shawanoes, one much beloved by that tribe, known as "Silver Heels," was fatally wounded, while returning in a canoe from Albany, where he had accompanied some white tra- ders seeking safety. When found by his friends, "Bald Eagle" was floating in his canoe, in an upright position, and scalped. The Indians were now exasperated to a high degree ; Logan, at the mer- ciless death of his wife and children,-and a sanguinary war was the result. It was in the month of October of the year in question that occured the famous battle of Point Pleasant, in which Colonel Lewis was killed, with some fifty odd other white men, with about a hundred wounded. The Indians were defeated, but the defeat was dearly bought.
After this, the Shawanoes allied themselves to the English, and became the implacable foe of the colonists in the struggle for In- dependence ; and even after peace was declared, in 1783, they re- fused to be friendly, and continued to wage war upon the whites, obstinately opposing the advancing army to the west. Several small expeditions were sent against them after the revolution, which they strongly opposed-Clark's, in 1780 and 1782; Logan's in 1786; Edward's in 1787; Todd's in 1788; and the reader is already famil- iar with their efforts, combined with other tribes, against the expe- ditions of Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne.
In the spring of 1803, Captain Thomas Herrod, living a short distance from Chilicothe, was murdered and scalped near his own house. A party of hunters coming upon the body, recognized it, and, from the appearance, were convinced that it had been done by Indians. The treaty of Greenville up to this time had suffered no violation, and the settlers now believed hostilities were about to commence.
Who committed this deed has never been ascertained,
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but there was strong suspicions among the immediate neighbors against a white man who had been a rival candidate with Herrod . for a captaincy in the Ohio militia. There being no tangible evi- dence against the man, he was allowed to remain unmolested, while those who suspected the Indians most cowardly retaliated upon them. The account of the death, as if borne on the wings of the wind, spread with great rapidity all over the Sciota valley, and the excitement and alarm produced among the citizens was most in- tense. Whole families, from five to fifteen miles apart, flocked to- gether for purposes of self-defense. In some places block-houses were run up, and preparations for war made in every direction. The citizens of Chilicothe, though in the center of population, col- lected together for the purpose of fortifying the town. The inhabi- tants living on the north fork of Paint Creek were all collected at Old Town, now Frankfort, and among others was David Wolf, an old hunter, a man of wealth and some influence. He had settled on the north fork, twenty miles above Old Town. After remaining in the town several days, he employed two men, Williams and Fer- ·guson, to go with him to his farm, with the view of examining into the condition of his stock. When they had proceeded about six miles, and were passing across a prairie, they saw an Indian ap- proaching them in the distance, and walking in the same path over which they were traveling. On a nearer approach, it was found to be the Shawanoe chief, Waw-wil-a-way, the old and faithful hunter of General Massie during his surveying tours, and an unwavering friend of the white men. He was a sober, brave, intelligent man, well known to most of the settlers in the country, and beloved by all for his frank and generous demeanor. He had a wife and two sons, who were also much respected by their white neighbors where they resided, near the falls of Paint Creek.
Waw-wil-a-way was frequently engaged in taking wild game and skins to Old Town, for the purpose of exchanging them for such articles as he needed. He had left home this morning on foot with his gun, for the purpose of visiting Frankfort, and meeting the com- pany named, he approached them in that frank and friendly man- ner which always characterized his intercourse with his white breth- ren. After shaking hands with them most cordially, he inquired of the health of each and their families. The salutation being over, Wolf asked him to trade guns with him, and the chief assenting, an exchange was made for the purpose of examining previous to concluding the bargain. While this was going on, Wolf, being on horseback, unperceived by Waw-wil-a-way, opened the pan, and threw out the priming, and, handing it back, said he believed he would not trade with him.
Wolf and Williams then dismounted, and asked the chief whether the Indians had commenced war. He replied: "No, no! the In- dians and white men are now all one, all brothers." ,
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ENCOUNTER BETWEEN WAW-WIL-A-WAY AND WOLF.
Wolf then asked whether he had heard that the Indians had killed Captain Herrod.
The chief, much surprised at the intelligence, replied that he had not heard it, and seemed to doubt its correctness. Wolf affirmed that it was true. Waw-wil-a-way remarked that perhaps some bad white man had done it, and after a few more words, the parties separated, each going his own way.
The chief had walked about ten steps, when Wolf, taking delib- erate aim, shot him through the body. Waw-wil-a-way did not fall, although he felt his wound was mortal, nor did he consent to die as most men would have done under similar circumstances.
Bringing his unerring rifle to his shoulder, he leveled it at Wil- liams, who, in his efforts to keep his horse between himself and the Indian, so frightened him that his body was exposed, and when the rifle was discharged, he dropped dead near his animal. Ren- dered desperate by his wounds, the Indian then clubbed his gun, and dealing Wolf a fearful blow, brought him to the earth. Recov- ering, and being strong and active, he closed upon the Indian, and made an effort to seize him by the long tuft of hair on the crown of his head. A shawl was tied around the Indian's head in the form of a turban, and this being seized by Wolf, instead of the hair, he gave a violent jerk for the purpose of bringing him to the ground. The shawl gave way, and Wolf fell upon his back. At this, the In- dian drew his scalping-knife, and made a thrust at Wolf, who, see- ing his danger, and throwing up his feet to ward off the blow, re- ceived the blade of the knife in his thigh. In the scuffle the handle. broke off, and left the blade fast in the wound. At the same time, Wolf made a stroke at the Indian, the blade of his knife entering the breast-bone. Just then Ferguson came to Wolf's assistance ; but the Indian, taking up Wolf's gun, struck him on the head a ter- rible blow, and brought him to the ground, laying bare his skull from the crown to the ear. Here the sanguinary conflict ended, and it all occurred in less time then it has taken the reader to peruse this acconnt of it.
When the deadly strife ended, the foes of Waw-wil-a-way were all lying at his feet, and had he been able to follow up his blows, he would have dispatched them, for they were completely within his power. But his strength failed him, and perhaps his sight, for he must have been in the agonies of death during the whole con- flict. It may be that the poor Indian relented, and that forgiveness played like sunshine around his generous heart. He cast one glance upon his fallen foes ; then turning away, he walked out into the grass, and fell upon his face amid the wild-flowers of the prairie, where his heart at once and forever was still.
During the entire engagement he never spoke a word. Silently he acted his part in the fearful drama, as though moved by an in- visible agency. The course of Wolf and his comrades was most unwise indeed, and should never have been encouraged by any one.
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They first attempted to disarm him by throwing the priming out of his gun, and then talking with him and parting under the mask of friendship. Had Wolf and his companions supposed him to be ac- cessory to the death of Herrod in any way, he would have gone with them cheerfully to Old Town or Chilicothe, and given himself up to an investigation. But Wolf was determined on murder, and the blood of Waw-wil-a-way rests upon his head .*
Williams, when found, was stone dead, but Ferguson and Wolf subsequently recovered. The surgeon who examined Waw-wil-a- way stated that every one of his wounds was mortal, and those of the two whites were so severe that it was many months-and they underwent great suffering-before they were themselves again.
This occurrence added fuel to the excitement. The Indians fled in one direction and the whites in another, each party undecided what course to pursue. Several of the prominent citizens of Chili- cothe went into the Indian country, where they found Tecumseh and a number of his people. These disavowed all connection with the murder of Herrod, and affirmed that it was their intention to remain true to the Greenville treaty. To quell the apprehension, Tecumseh returned with the deputation to give them personal as- surance of his intentions. The people were called together, and through an interpreter, Tecumseh delivered a speech of which a listener said : " When he rose to speak, as he cast his gaze over the vast multitude, which the interesting occasion had drawn to- gether, he appeared one of the most dignified men I ever beheld. While this orator of nature was speaking, the vast crowd preserved the most profound silence. From the confident manner in which he spoke of the intention of the Indians to adhere to the treaty of Greenville, and live in peace and friendship with their white breth- ren, he dispelled, as if by magic, the apprehensions of the whites- the settlers returned to their deserted farms, and business generally was resumed throughout that region." As Drake remarks, the declaration of no other Indian would have dissipated the fears of a border man which then pervaded the settlement.t
The maternal history of the Prophet and Tecumseh is, that their mother gave birth, about 1770, to three children at one time, who were subsequently named Tecumseh (meaning a couger crouching for his prey) ; Ellskwatawa, (an open door); and Rumskaka. The latter seems, however, never to have created any special attention among the tribes. During the early period of the life of the Prophet (Ellskwatawa), he is said to have given himself up almost wholly to a life of intoxication ; and it was not until about 1804 that he be- gan to abandon his old habit of drunkenness. A sudden change then came over him. One day, in his wigwam, while lighting his pipe, the account runs, " he fell back in a trance upon his bed, and continued a long time motionless, and without any signs of life." Supposing him to be dead, his friends immediately began to pre- * J. B. Finley. + Life of Tecumseh, by Edward S, Ellis.
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ACCOUNT OF ELSKWATAWA, THE PROPHET.
pare for his burial. Agreeably to Indian custom, the head men of the tribe at once gathered about the body, and were in the act of removing it, when, to their great astonishment, Ellskwatawa, (the Prophet) suddenly awoke, and began to address those about him as follows: " Be not alarmed," said he; "I have seen heaven. Call the tribe together, that I may reveal to them the whole of my vis- ion." His request was readily complied with, and he at once began to speak. He said " two beautiful young men had been sent from Heaven by the Great Spirit," who spoke to him thus: "The Great Spirit is angry with you, and will destroy all the red men, unless you abandon drunkenness, lying, and stealing, If you will not do this, and turn yourselves to him, you shall never enter the beautiful place which we will now show you." Whereupon, he affirmed, he was " conducted to the gates of Heaven," and saw "all the glories, but was not permitted to enter. Thus viewing the beauties of the other world, without being permitted to enter, he was told to return to the earth again, and acquaint the Indians with what he had seen, and to persuade them to repent of their vices, saying that then "they would visit him again." After this, Ellskawatawa assumed the powers and title of " Prophet," establishing himself at Green- ville, near the point where General Wayne had held the famous treaty with the tribes in 1795 ; and so famous did he become, that "immense throngs of men, women, and children from the tribes on the Upper Mississippi, and Lake Superior" visited him, and "the most extravagant tales were told and believed by the Indians of his power to perfom miracles." Indeed, "no fatigue or suffering was considered too great to be endured for a sight of him." Like the famous Delaware Prophet, at the period of Pontiac's move- ments, he proclaimed that " the Great Spirit who had made the red nen, was not the same that made the white men ; " and urged that the misfortunes of the Indians were owing to their having aban- coned their old modes of living, and adopted many of the customs and usages of the pale faces, in the use of their guns, blankets, whisky, etc .- all of which must be thrown away, and the red men arain return to their primitive customs, clothing themselves in skins, etc. His followers were now numerous, and the frontier settle- ments gradually became alarmed at his movements and those of hi, brother, Tecumseh .*
In 1805, the Shawanoes had wandered from their old hunting grounds and places of abode, and an effort was then made to bring the tribe together again. Tecumseh and his party had settled upon White river, and others of the tribe had begun to settle upon an- other tributary stream of the Wabash. Tecumseh and some others of he Shawanoes, from different points, having some time in 1801, started for the Auglaize towns, met at Greenville, the site of the dd Wayne treaty ground, and there finding his brother, Ellskwa- tawa the Prophet, Tecumseh and the other party, through the per- famous Indians," pages 255, 256, and 257,
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snasions of the Prophet, concluded to proceed no farther, and at once began to establish themselves at the old treaty ground of Greenville.
Here, says Drake, the Prophet commenced the practice of those sorceries and incantations by which he gained such notoriety. In the autumn, he assembled a large number of Shawanoes, Delawares. Wyandotts, Pottawattamies, Ottawas, Kickapoos, Chippewas and Senecas, upon the Auglaize river, where he made known to them the sacred character he had taken upon himself. He harangued them at considerable length, denouncing, it is said, the belief and practice of witchcraft common among them, and declaiming against drunkenness with great eloquence and success. He advocated many practices which were really virtuous, and ended by affirming with great solemity that power was given him by the Great Spirit, to cure all diseases, to confound his enemies, and to stay the arm of death, in sickness, or on the battle-field .*
These assertions of the Prophet had great weight with the people -and so much confidence was placed in him, that he did not hesi- tate to put to death those who in the least disputed his peculiar claims. His plan, when he desired the death of any one, was to denounce him as guilty of witchcraft, and then to call in the help of others in putting him out of the way. Several prominent men of the tribe, who were unfortunate enough to possess more common sense then the others, were put to torture. Among these was a well known Delaware chief, named Teteboxti, who calmly assisted in making his own funeral pile. Others of his family were doomed to death, and the sacrifices at last grew so numerous that Governor Harrison sent a special messenger to the Delawares with the fol- lowing speech:
" MY CHILDREN :- My heart is filled with grief, and my eyes are dissolved in tears, at the news which has reached me. You have been celebrated for your wisdom above all the tribes of red people who inhabit this great island. Your fame as warriors has extended to the remotest nations, and the wisdom of your chiefs has gained for you the appellation of grandfathers, from all the neighboring tribes. From what cause, then, does it proceed, that you have ce- parted from the wise counsel of your fathers, and covered your- selves with guilt? My children, tread back the steps you have taken, and endeavor to regain the straight road which you have abandoned. The dark, crooked and thorny one which you are 10w pursuing, will certainly lead to endless woe and misery. But vho is this pretended prophet, who dares to speak in the name of the Great Creator ? Examine him. Is he more wise or virtuous han you are yourselves, that he should be selected to convey to you the orders of your God ? Demand of him some proofs at least, o his being the messenger of the Deity. If God has really empoyed him, he has doubtless authorized him to perform miracles, thit he Drake.
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ADDRESS OF GOV. HARRISON.
may be known and received as a prophet. If he is really a prophet, ask of him to cause the sun to stand still-the moon to alter its course-the rivers to cease to flow-or the dead to rise from their graves. If he does these things, you may then believe that he has been sent from God. He tells you the Great Spirit commands you to punish with death those who deal in magic; and that he is au- thorized to point such out. Wretched delusion ! Is then the Mas- . ter of Life obliged to employ mortal man to punish those who of- fend him ? Has he not the thunder and all the powers of nature at his command ?- and could he not sweep away from the earth a whole nation with one motion of his arm? My children, do not be- lieve that the great and good Creator of mankind has directed you to destroy your own flesh; and do not doubt but that if you pursue this abominable wickedness, his vengeance will overtake and crush you.
" The above is addressed to you in the name of the Seventeen Fires .* I now speak to you from myself, as a friend who wishes nothing more sincerely than to see you prosperous and happy. Clear your eyes, I beseech you, from the mist which surrounds them. No longer be imposed upon by the arts of an impostor. Drive him from your town, and let peace and harmony once more prevail among you. Let your poor old men and women sleep in quietness, and banish from their minds the dreadful idea of being burnt alive by their own friends and countrymen. I charge you to stop your bloody career; and, if you value the friendship of your great father, the President-if you wish to preserve the good opin- ion of the Seventeen Fires, let me hear by the return of the bearer, that you have determined to follow my advice."
The effect of this speech was very great, both with the Delawares and the Shawanoes, for the governor was a man much beloved by the Indians of the northwest. For a time the influence of the prophet was greatly checked, though the Kickapoos, with some smaller tribes, who were still inclined to acknowledge and encourage the claims of the prophet, put the greatest trust in him. And it was about this period, that a Wyandott chief, from Lower Sandusky, a Christian preacher, licensed by the Methodist denomination, visited the Prophet, with a view of gaining some clue as to his noted power. After a year's sojourn with him, the Wyandott chief, returned to his people, fully persuaded that the Prophet was an impostor.
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