USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 4
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In 1748, the English merchants and traders seenred a limited trade with the Miamis, in consequence, it is snid, of the failure of the French traders who had held the supremacy in this department during the preceding century, to supply the increasing wants of the Miamis, especially those on the borders of the Ohio and its tributaries. Thus a favorable influence was exerted on the
part of the Miamis toward the English, which resulted in a treaty of alliance and friendship between the English and the Twightwers ( Miamis) on the 230 of July of that year.
By their several treaties with the United States, the Miamis ceded an aggregate of 6,853,020 acres of land. Aggregate of lands given in exchange, 14,610 acres, the total value of which was 855,800. The aggregate con- sideration paid for these lands in money and goods, was $1,205,907. Total consideration paid. 81.261,707. as shown by the official records of these transactions.
THE DELAWARES.
This tribe belongs also to the Algonquin family, and is said to stand in order among the best representative types of the primitive race, if, indeed, it is not entitled to be recognized as the prototype of that most extensive division of the aboriginal inhabitants of America. They have been known, heretofore, as the Lenne Lenapi, and were, at an early period in their history, separated into three divisions, each of which was designated by an insignia, or emblem- attic tatem. These totomie divisions were known as the l'ammi, or turtle branch, the Minsi, or wolf, and the I'walachigo, or turkey. When they crossed the Alleghanies, the whole nation wore called Loups, or wolves, by the French, " funn confounding them with the Mohicans of the Hudson, who appear, in the formative tribal ages, to have been descendants of the wolf totem." " At the beginning of the sixteenth century. this tribe ocenpied the banks of a large river, flowing into the Atlantic, to which they applied the mme Lenupihittuk. This term is a compound of Lenapi, the mme given to themselves, and ittuk, a geographical form, which is equivalent to the English word domain or torri- tory, and is inclusive of the specific sepa, their name for a river. After the Kucerasfil planting of n colony in Virginia, the coast became more subject to observation than at prior periods, by vessels bound to Jamestown with supplies. On one of these voyages Land De la Warre put into the rapex of the river, and hence the present name of both the river and the tribe."
" The true meaning of the term Lesapi lots bern the subject of various interpretations. It appears to carry the same meaning an baba, a male, in the other Algonquin dialects; and the word was probably used, nationally, and with emphasis, in the sense of men. For we learn, from their traditions, that they regarded themselves. in past ages, as holding an eminent position for anti- mity, valor and wisdom. And this claim appears to be recognized by the other tribes of this linrage, who apply to them the term of Grand Father. To the Iroquois they apply the word Quele ; and this relation is reciprocated by the latter with the term acpherr. The other tribes of the Algonquin lineage, the Delawares call brother, or younger brother. These names establish the ancient rank and influence of the tribes." [Schoolerant. ]
In the early days of their known history, especially after their loss of power and caste, the off-repeated remembrance of their former high position among the numerous tribes orenpying the lake region, was a source of proud satisfar- tion The relation connecting them with the period of their prosperity, was regarded as a golden epoch in their tribal history. It was then that the bravery uf their warriors, the wisdom of their counselors and the brilliancy of their warlike exploits, gave them a prestige worthy to be rerounted, in after years, among the traditions of their fathers. Then they were allied with the Iroquois, and retained their ancient character for prowess and enterprise. To recall these was pleasant. When, however, the Five Nations confederated at. Onondaga, and were no longer engaged in petty quarrels among themselves, the former pleas- But relations ceased, and the over-confident Delawares were made to feel the effect of concentrated power and consequent arrogance of their ancient allies. The concentrated energies of the Five Nations thirsting for prominence among the North American tribes, soon set them about acquiring and maintain- ing the supremey. To do this, aggressions were the order, and ultimate con- quest the end of movements thus directed. So the Dolawares lost their native independence in the rise of Iroquois power, and became a subordinate nation, denied the enjoyment of their ancient rights and territory.
In 1744, during the progress of the trea'y at Lancaster, Penn., the Iroquois denied thein the right to participate in the privileges incident to the treaty, and refused to recognize them as an indepedent nation entitled to sell and transfer their lands. C'an issatego, one of the Iroquois chiefs, on that occasion, upbraided them in public council for having attempted to exercise any rightsother than such as belonged to a conquered people. "In a strain of mixed irony and arrogance, he told them not to reply to his words, but to leave the council in silence. Ile ordered them in a peremptory manner to quit the section of country where they then resided and move to the banks of the Susquehanna." They departed from the council, and, ere long, left forever their native hunting-grounds, on the
15
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
bank . . " the Delaware, and turned their faces west ward. humiliated and subdued exerjat in the proud recollections of their past achievements, Again, in 1751, they inhabited the region about Shamokin and Wyalusing, on the Susme- hanna, threatened on the one hand by the intrusive tread of white settlers, and the tomahawk of the Iraquois on the other. After a few years of mixed joys and reverses, they took shelter on the White River, of Indiana. This was about the beginning of the nineteenth century, and here a missionary effort was set om Git among them, which was afterward broken up by the inter- ferenre of the prophet-brother of Tecumseh, during his career of popular jngalery and imposition
The coming of' the Delawares, and the occupancy of this immediate terri- tory by them, was with the approbation and consent of the Miamis. After the treaty of Greenville, they had removed from the month of the Anglaise to the head-water- of White River-a large branch of the Wabash. By the terms of the treaty of Greenville, it was determined that the community of interests in the lands among the Indian tribes, as claimed by Termsch, should not be recognized, but that each individual tribe should be protected in every claim that should appear to be founded in reason an I justire. It was also determined, that, as a measure of policy and liberality. such tribes as lived npon any fract of land which it would be desirable to purchase, should receive a portion of the compensation, although the title might le exclusively in another tribe. Upon this principle, the Pelawares, Shawanoes, Pottawatomies and Kickajmos were submitted as parties to several treaties, Care was taken, however, to place the title to such tracts as might be desirable to purchase hereafter, upon a finst- ing that would facilitate the procuring of them, by getting the tribes who had mo claims themselves, and who might probably interfere, to recognize the titles of these who were ascertained to junges them.
This was particularly the case with regard to the lands watered by the Wabash, which were declared to be the property of the Miamis, with the exception of the tract & suped by the Delaware, on White River, which was to be considered the joint property of them and the Miamis. [Gov. Harrison to Secretary of War. ]
By the treaty of' St. Mary's, om the 3 of October, 1818. between the Delawares and the United States, the former ceded all their claims to lands in the States of Ohio and Indiana, under a perpetual annuity from the latter of squon, to provide them with comfortable homes ingand the Mississippi. In this treaty, the Pelawares reserved the right to occupy their lands in Indiana for a period of three years subsequent thereto.
are properly classified as members of the same family, springing from the same parent stock as the Miamis and Pelawares, oreupying, also, a high position among the lilian tribes formerly inhabiting the territorial area of the I'nited States, By the Delaware, they were called Shawana, and by the French Chotanel-occasionally. Massawoman's, let, by the Iroquois, they were dosig- nated as Satanas. The name Shawanan appears to have been derived from their location at the time when it was so applied-Southern-then inhabiting the Savanna country. They were erratie; hence, their abiding ¡dare, prior to lars, was almost unknown. At that time and siner, however, their locality is acertainable. Thomas Jefferson, in his " Notes on Virginia," states that in 160s, when Capt. John Smith had been in America about one year, having lamdied in this country in April. B987, a fieree war was raging against the allied Mobican- residing on Long Island. and the Shamaners on the Susquehanna and to the westward of that river, by the Irpois. During that year. he traversed the Susquehanna to its mouth, where he met sit or seven canon's filled with Shawanoe warriors preparing to attack their enemies in the rear.
" In 1632. De Laet mentions them as being then on either side of the Delaware River. Charlevoix speaks of them. in 1672, under the name of Chastanons, as neighbors of the Andastes an Iroquois tribe, south of the Srmeras, and were, perhaps, represented at the treaty of Kensington, Penn., in 1642. They were parties to the treaty at Philadelphia in 1501, which was signed by their chiefs, Wa-pa-tha, Lemoytungh and Pemayajagh." [Proud's Hist. J'onn.] Coblen, in his history of the Five Nations, speaks of them as wcopying territory of the Miami- upem their invitation, with a view to war ngminst the Iroquois, by whom the Shawanves had been defeated as early as the year 1672. Subsequently they were heated on the south side of the Ohio River, below the month of the Wabash, in Kentucky, in Georgia, and in the Carolinas at later periods, Mr. Gallatin says that, in 1708 and after, there was a settlement of them on the head-waters of the Catawba or Santee, probably the
Yadkin. From there they returned, under Black Hoof, to Ohio, about 1750, They were the allies of the French against the English, during the continuance of the French and Indian war, from 1755 to the declaration of prace, in Feb- ruary, 1763. Being dissatisfied with the conditions of prace between the two Iwiligerent powers, they refused to abide by its terms, and continued their depredations against the settlers on the border with ummeasured barbarity. Souum after the couchision of their war against the English, in Derember, 1764, they were involved in a controversy with the Cherokees, which continued until 176%, when, pressed hard by the united force of the former tribe and the Del- aware, the Cherokees solicited and obtained a peace. During the succesling six years, these several tribes remain in comparative quiet, living on amicable terms with the whites. In 1774. however, hostilities woor again renewed, and presented with vigor during a series of years. Having united in the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, with the exception of those who fought at Tippecanoe, the Shawanoes remained at peace with the Government of the United States. Since that time, having sold all their lands in this State and moved west of the Mississippi, we hear little of them in the attitude of warrior-,
THE WYANIHITS (OR 10 RONS ).
In the beginning of the seventeenth century, when the settlement of Now France lagan to extend westward along the borders of the lakes, this trile occupied territory on the north and south. and at the west end, of lake Erie. Then. they were known as Humor, and sleepreally a Haron-hopmois. They belonged to the division of the bropois, and sustained an enviable reputation among the primitive tribes, froides bring the recognized allies of the French during all the vicissitudes af varly settlement and the incidents af trude. They, with the Ortawas, were the last for gatherer, or rather. the gatherers of the best fors, being especially skilled in the procurement of the beaver, which, commanding the readies rale and best prices, was most sought after. The French, from their treatment of the natives, were letter able than any other people to secure these advantages of trade, and thus almost monopolized the traffic. In the course of time, this advantage became a source of great annoy. anre and chagrin to the English trader-, who were unable to gain the confi- denee, and so seeure the trade, of these great fint-gathering triles, To wer- come this, the English resorted to various means, some of' which would not com- pat with honor and fair dealing Petty jealon i wore excited between con- tigmeus triles, resulting in way and blood-hard. One of the chief curaquence of the pwilies adopted by the English to secure an advantage in the priseen- tion of this especially lucrative trade in beaver. was that the flavor. from ling the warm friends and allies of the French, came to be their seret and ulti- mately oyun enemies. This, however, was the work of time ; almost a century elged from its inception to the period of culmination in the Nicholas con- spiracy in 1747-19 The inmediato pretest for this movement of Nicholas, the Haron chief. while it was known to be the outgrowth of jealousy on the part of the English, was assumed, for the purposes contradated. to have been occasione by the circulation of English belts, by their agents, the Iroquois, among the neighboring triles, as a means to that end. Nicholas was something's known as Sandoshot, from having his principal village on the bay of Sandusky, south of Lake Erie. He was a Thiron chief of' considerable notoriety, Int. from some disaffection, left Detroit with a few followers and settled at Sandusky, where salvequently, his well-matured plans of conspiracy were formulated. After- ward, having been foiled in the everution of his scheme Is the indiservet haste of a few of his oversonditions followers, and meeting with greater opposition than was contemplated, he finally succumbed to the inevitable, abandoned his town. on the Sandusky bay. destroyed it, and, at the head of' 119 warriors and their fonilies, Jeff for White River. Indiana, on the 7th of April, 1718, where he died in the fall of that year. His scheme was one of the most gigantic of the eighteenth century, and seldom, if ever. surpassed in the arrangement of its details. As a diplomatist, he was no doubt the peer of Pontiac, but puis- Hosing less of his effective fire as an eratur.
Gov. Harrison, in his letter to the Secretary of War, dated March 22, 1814, thues speaks of this tribe and its relations to the situation then present. " The Wyandots are admitted by the others to be the leading tribe. They hold the grand calumet which whites them and kindhy the council tire. This tribe ix nearly equally divided between the trane, at Sandusky, who is the grand sachem of the nation, and Walk -in-the- Water, ut Browntown, near Detruit. They claim the lands bounded by the settlements of this State, southwardly and eastwardly : and by Lake Erie, the Miami River, and the claim of the Shawanoes upon the Auglaize, a branch of the latter. They also chim the lande they live on near Detruit, but I am ignorant to what extent."
19
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
" The Wyandots of Sandusky have adhered to us through the war. Their chief, the Crane, is a venerable, intelligent and upright man. Within the tract of land claimed by the Wyandots, a number of Senecas are settled. They bruke off from their own tribe six or eight years ago, but received a part of the annuity granted that tribe by the United States, by sending n deputa- tion for it to Bufido. The claim of the Wyandotx to the lands they occupy, is not disputed, that I know of, by any other trib. Their residence on it, how- ever, is not of long standing, and the country was certainly once the property of the Miamis."
CHAPTER II. INDIAN TREATIES
Affirting the title to lunds on White River.
BY the provisions of the treaty of Greenville, Ohio, on the 3d day of August, 1795, between the United States and Indian tribes-the former represented by Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne, commanding the armios, and sole commissioner, of the United States, and the latter by their sachems, chiefs and warriors-an end was put a destructive war, all controversiessettled, harmony restored and friendly intercourse established between the parties named in the treaty. In addition to the foregoing general provision, ammities were granted to the several tribes in- terested, of $1,000 each; also, by Article V. " To prevent any misunderstanding about the Indian lands relinquished by the I'nited States in the forth article. it is now explicitly declared, that the meaning of that relinquishment is this; the Indian tribes who have a right to those Jamls, are quietly to enjoy them, hunting, planting, and dwelling thereon, so long as they please, without any molestation from the United States ; but when thus triles, or any of them, shall be dis- jused to sell their lands, or any part of them, they are to be sold only to the I'nited States ; and, mitil such sale, the I'nited States will profeet' all the said Indian films in the quiet enjoyment of their lands against all citizens of the I'nited States, and against all other white persons who intrude upon the same. And the said Indian tribes again acknowledge themselves to he muler the protection of the said United States, and no other power whatever." Nunur- was other provisions were included, intending the more strongly, not only to establish a lasting peace but to define with particularity the respective rights of all the contracting parties thereto.
This treaty and these provisions were signed on the part of the Delawares in this vicinity, by Kith-a-we-mund, or Capt. Anderson ; Bak-ung-e-he-lax; Pecher-land. Magh-pi-way, or Red Feather. and many others of expat rank and influener.
Again, by the provisions of Article IV, of the treaty between the J'aited States and the Delaware tribe of Indians, on the 18th day of Angust, 150t. it. is stipulated that, " the said tribe having exhibited to the above-named com- missioner of the United States, sufficient proof of their right to all the country which lies between the Ohio and White Rivers, and the Miami tribe, who were the original proprietors of the upper part of that country, having explic- itly acknowledged the title of the Delawares, at the general council held at Fort Wayne, in the month of June, 1803, the said I'nited States will, in future, consider the Delawares us the rightful owners of all the country which is bounded by the White River on the north, the Ohio on the south, the general boundary line running from the month of the Kentucky River on the east, and the tract erded by this treaty, and that ceded by the treaty of Fort Wayne, on the west and southwest."
By the treaty at Vincennes, on the 27th of August, 1801, the Piankeshaws, who previously had claimed a right in certain lands lying between the Wabash and the tract before ceded by the Kaskaskias in 1803. relinquished all said right to the United States, thus acknowledging the right of the Delawares thereta. Also, by the provisions of Article V, of the treaty at firems land, near Vincennes, on the 21st day of August, 1805, " The Pottawatumies, Miamis, Eel Rivers and Weas explicitly acknowledge the right uf the Pela- wares to sell the tract of land conveyed to the United States by the treaty of the 18th of Angust, 1804, which tract was given by the Piankcshaws to the Delawares, about thirty-seven years ago."
Article 11, of the treaty at Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809, between the I'nited States and the Delawares, Pottawatomies, Miamis, and Ecl River Miamis. " The Miamis explicitly acknowledge the equal right of the Dela- wares with themselves to the country watered by the White River. But it is
also to be clearly understood, that neither party shall have the right of dispus- ing of the sinne without the consent of the others; and nny improvements which shall be made on the said land by the Delawares, or their friends the Mohrcans, shall be theirs forever." This treaty was signed on the part of the Delawares, by Capt. Anderson, Pet-che-ke-ka-jum, The Beaver, Cupt. Kilbuck, and by Cant. Anderson for Hocking-pom-skon, who was absent. On the part of the Miamis, by Pnean, The Owl, Little Turtle, Wa-pe-mangua (or the Loon ), Silver Heels and Sha-wa-pe-no-mo.
The Delawares, also, by the first article of the treaty with the I'nited States, at St. Mary's, on the 3d day of October, 1818, erded to the I'niteil States all their claim to land in the State of Indiana And, hy Article HI, " In consideration of the aforesaid cession, the I'nited States agree to provide for the Delawares a country to reside in, upon the west side of the Mississippi, and to guarantee to them the prarcable possession of the same." By Article 111, " The United States also agree to pay the Delawares the full value of their improvements in the country hereby ceded: which valuation shall be nudle by persons to be appointed by the President of the United States," etc. Hy Article VIL. "One-half section of land shall be granted to each of the following persons, namely : Isaac Wobby, Samuel Cassman, Elizabeth Pet-cha-ka, und Jacob Dick ; and one-quarter of a section of land shall be granted to each of the following persms, namely : Soloman Tindell and Benoni Tindell ; all of whom are Delawares; which tracts of land shall be located, after the country is surveyed, at the first creek above the old fort on White River, and running up the river , and shall be held by the persons herrin named, respectively, and their heirs ; but shall never be conveyed or transferred without the appro- bation of the President of the United States." They were, also, by the fourth article, " allowed the use and areupation of their improvements, for the term of three years from the date of this trenty, if they so long require it." This treaty was signed by Capt. Anderson, La-pah-ni-hi (or Big Bear), James Nan- tiroke, Apa-ra-hund (or White Eyes), Capt. Kililmek, the Benver, Ne-in-hat- pan-a, Capt. Tunis, Capt. Ketchum, The Cat, Ben Beaver, The War Mallet, Capt. Cash-kon, the Buck, Fet-the-mana-las, John Quake, Que-nagh-to-oth- mait, and Little Jack.
In a note appended to this treaty, " It will be perceived that they are the first nation of Indians with which the United States entered into a formal treaty ; and it seems by the sixth article, of No. 1, of this chapter, that it was contem- plated in the year 1778, during the American Revolutionary contest with fireat. Britain, to institute an Indian State, with the Delawares at its head, and with a right to a representation in Congress. The wandering mode of life and peculiar habits of the Indians no doubt frustrated this benevolent plan. The Delaware Indians are parties, in common with several different tribes, to other treaties with the United States."
CHAPTER III. THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.
Indian Opposition to English Control-The Strategy of Pontiar - Hie great Infte we amony the Indians-Sueresses and Reverses-Ultimats Failure.
EN 1847-48, in the conspiracy originating with Nicholas, a Huron chief, better known, perhaps, by the name of Samdosket, from the situation of his village in the vicinity of Sandusky Hay, we have an example, somew hut unomalons, it is true, of Indian dissatisfaction toward the French people. From the first introduction of the French policy among the savage nations, this mulet- tered people, because of the uniformly kind and generous conduct manifested toward them by the former, had always been attached to and in unchangeable alliance with them. When, therefore, this wily Huron began to develop his scheme of opposition to the former friends and allies of his people, it was a sur- prise to all, except those who were cognizant of his movements. At first, his supporters were few, but, possessing unusual diplomatic talent, in a short time a formidable force was on the war-path, ready to execute his every command. But the fates were against him, and, after n stubborn pursuit of his skillfully arranged plans, he yieldled sullenly to the power he could not overcome. Ilis opposition had grown from the patronizing infinence of English traders exerted during n long series of years. With Pontine, the case was different. When the long-continued warfare between the English and French for Anpremt- ney had culminated, and the latter had surrendered to the former ; when Quebec had fallen into the hands of the English, and one after another of the
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