USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 7
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KILLBUCK (GELELEMEND)
was also a noted chief of the Delawares, and was the son of Gelelemend (or Killbuck ) the chler, a chieftain of high renown among his people. Kiltbuck the younger, the subject of this sketch, was one of the most conspicuous of those noticed in the provisions of the treaty at Fort MeIntosh, in 1783. The provision specially alluded to, is as follows :
" It is agreed that the Delaware chiefs, Kolekunand ( Killburk ) or Col. Henry Hongarpushes, or the Big Cat ; Wicocalind, or Capt. White Eyes, who took up the hatchet for the I'nited States, and their families, shall be reerived into the Delaware nation, in the same situation and rank as before the war, and enjoy their due portions of the lands to the Wyandot and Dela- ware nations in this treaty, as fully as if they had not taken part with Amor- ica." His name, Gelelemend, signified a leader, but was called Killbnek, beranse his father had been called so by the white people, hence the latter was known as Killbuck, Jr.
Lake Capt. White Eyes, he had accepted the office of chief during the minority of the heir in regular line. He was prevented, however, by Capt. Pipe, from continuing the course of policy established by his predecessor, and forced to abandon their council-house at Goschoching, and retire under pro- tretion of the Americans near Pittsburgh.
Afterward, his many services to Pennsylvania, while they were thoroughly appreciated and acknowledged by the white people, brought down upon him the hatred of his enemies and subjected him to great indignity, to such an extent, inderd, that he was, by them, ordered to he shot on sight. la after years, he joined the Christian Indians, und lived under their protection, never venturing far from home, lest the Munseys should meet and kill him. He died in full fellowship with this band, in January, 1811, aged about eighty years,
PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD.
CHAPTER I. ARCHEOLOGY.
Pre-Historie Remains-Their Character-Where Situated, and their Use- The Mound-Buildere-Who Were They, and What Became of Them!
DIE consideration of the question involved in the title to this article has, of late, become one of absorbing interest, and the investigations pertinent to the issue have been in the recent past engaged, and do now command, the energies of the best class of minds having a prachauf for researches among the ruins of a lost roce. Half a century ago, little was known, or cared for. concerning the existing evidences of a pre-existing people, endowed with many of the elements of genins, well developed in the remains so numeronuty found along the valleys of the principal rivers of Indiana, Ohio and other Muldie and Western States. "These remains," says a recent writer, " have been carefully examined, and, after long and patient investigations, the archaeologist has arrived at certain definite conclusions, and so apparently accurate are they that we may safely say that we are very well acquainted with this lost race. By what appellations they were known during their existence is [yet] past finding ont. They have been called the Mound-Builders, on account of the innumer- able mounds which they erected, and which remained until the advent of the white man."* So numerous are these remains, that, in " Ohio alone, there are not less than thirteen thousand, including both mounds and inclusures. Within a radius of fifty miles from the month of the Illinois River, in the State of Illinois, there are about five thousand mounds." The extent and variety of these in the State of Ohio would seem to indicate that there the country wny most densely populated by them, and, certainly, not without a purpose, since the regions en generally occupied by them, consisting of a great system of plains, seems well adapted to the wants of a people apparently necustomed to agricultural pursuits, who, therefore, exercised grent furesight and wisdom in selecting and occupying such a locality. " This whole country affords a per- feet system of navigation. The Alleghany rises, on the borders of lake Erie, nt an elevation of nearly seven hundred feet above the level of the lake and one thousand three hundred feet above the sen. A bont may start from within
seven miles of Lake Erie, and alnost in sight of Buffalo, and float down the Connewango or Cassadaga to the Alleghany, thence into the Ohio, and finally, into the Gulf of Mexico, the whole distance being 2, 400 miles. Add to this the great natural advantages, and the fact that this is pre-eminently the garden spot of North America, with almost innumerable other considerations, we may be able to judge of the wisdom of the Mound-Builders."
The following description of the general classes of these remains, copied from Melean's " Mound-Builders," will be found of interest, as giving the most recent exposé of the situation.
" The ancient remains, composed of works of earth and stone, naturally divide themselves into two general classes, viz, inclosures and mounds ; and these, again, embrace a variety of works, diverse in form and designed for different purposes. The first is characterized by being boutudled by cubank- ments, circumvallations or walls, and include fortificationsur strongholds, sacred inclosures and numerous miscellaneous works, mostly symmetrical in structure. I'nder the second head we have the true mound buildings, which constitute one general or single system of works, and include what has been spreially desig- nated sacrificial, temple, sepulchral, symbolical and anomalous."
" Inclosures .- The inclosures, to the general observer, form the most inter- esting class of these renmins, They are massive, sometimes of greut dimen- sions, and required great labor in their construction. Their number is great, Ohio alone containing over one thousand five hundred of them. They are composed of clay-sometimes of stone-the walls having a height ranging from three feet to thirty, and in-losing areas of from one nere to four hundred. Inclusures of from one to tifty nerey are common ; of two hundred acres, not infrequent, and of greater extent, only occasionally met with."
" A large proportion of the inclosures are regular in nuitline, being con- structed in the forms of the square, circle, parallelogram, ellipse and polygon ; the first two predominating. The regularly formed works occur on the level river terraces, and the irregular works, being used na plees of defense, are made to conform to the nature of the brows of the hills upon which they are situated. The square and cirelo frequently occur in combination, and are cither directly connected with ench other, or else hy nvenues inclosed by parallel walls. Nearly all tho embankmenta give evidence of having been fully completed. A few
* The Mound-Bull Jers-Mclenn, p. 14.
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
romain which were left in an nafinished state. The walls are usually account- panied by a dutch either interior or exterior to the embankment. From this ditch the earth was taken for the foundation of the walls. Where the ditch does not occur, pits or excavations are usually found in the innmediate vicinity."
Of the several classes of inclosures there located and created for purposes of defense are, perhaps, the most important, and involve a higher degree of shill in their construction. These were generally situated oyun bluffs or hilltop, overlooking settlements in the adjacent valleys. Sites for works of this character are sometimes found surrounded by deep rasines, difficult of Bernt, on three sides, Many of them, also, are on isolated hills with bread and level suonuits, presenting all the requisites of a stronghold. When such sites are adjacent to an extensive valley, the works created thereon appear to have been of more elaborate construction, with best slaptations to the pur- proses of defense, and exhibit superior military skill ; the sides nost exposed to attack and approaches being protected by trenches and overlapping wally. more or less formerons, according to the vireminstances, the trendis being usually found on the exterior of the walls, Not unfrequently the gateways. situated at the points most cases of approach. are guarded by a series of over- lapping walls, sometimes with a mound accompanying, which gives alove the rest of the works, designed. perhaps, for the double purpose of observation and
SACRED INCLANSTRES.
These works are generally regular in structure and usually found in groups. While the military inclosures were uniformly situated on elevated positions, of Wall's and hills, the sacred inclosures occupied the lower and more level river lodtrans-selden or never upon table lands where the surface is broken. There of a circular form are generally small. having nearly a uniform diameter of' from 250 to 300 fiet, the larger ones sometimes reaching more than a mile in circonférence. The gateways to these inclusures usually faire toward the rast. In the immediate vicinity of the larger circles, small ones, varying from thirty to fifty fist in diameter, consisting of a light embankment and no gate- way, are quite monerous. Compared with the walls of defensive inclosures, the walls of these appropriated to sacred parpires are comparatively slight, ranging from three to seven feet, occasionally, however, reaching a height of thirty fort. The walls are composed of surface material and clay. They works, many of them, are accompanied by parallel walls of slight elevation. while others are more elaborate, sometimes reaching the length of 800 fret. In form. some of these works combine the square. circle, ellipse, octagon. also paralel walls, in their construction. A description of such a system of works, how- ever, would be of ton great length to lee practicable in'a volume of this may- nitude. An eveellent example of such a combination may be found at the juiwtion of the South and Raccoon Forks of Licking River, near Newark, Ohio, and Wilson's " P're- Historie M.m." contains an account in descriptive detail, to which reference may be made. A very satisfactory description is fomul, also, in Mebran's " Mound- Builders."
" The mounds proper form an interesting feature of these ancient remains ; they have been carefully studied, and are undoubtedly of as much importance in the arterologist as the inclusares. Among the people generally, who live within the vicinity of the earthworks, the mounds are better known than the inclosures, On inquiring for the latter, great difficulty is often experienced in finding it, while almost any one could readily point out the mounds," which are more numerous. Works of this class vary in dimensions from a few feet in height and a few yards in diameter to ninety fort in height and covering soveral veres at the base. I'sually, they range from six to thirty feet in per- pandicular height by forty to one hundred feet base-diameter. Common earth is find generally to be the composition of these mounds, though not infrequently they are composed chiefly of stone. Again, they are find entirely of clay, while the material arunud is gravel or loam. The pur- jussex for which mounds were created were various, depending very watch upon their location. Sometimes they are found on hills or higher elevations and ocupging commanding positions. Generally, they are within or war inclos- urex ; sometimes in groups, again detached and isolated.
TEMPLE SHI'NTIN.
A distinguishing feature of this class ed monds is their great regularity of form, and large dimensions. They are chiefly trineated pyramids, having graded avenuex or spiral pathways to their sunnite. Some are round, others square,
olong, oval or octagonal. Generally, they are high, set in some instances they are elevated a few fert only, while covering many acres of promed. Another feature is, they are alnost uniformly surrounded by embank ments and diteles. In some instances, also, they are terraced, having successive stages. But, whatever their form, they invariably have flat or level tops, which were probably crowned with tempdes, but. being composed of parishabe material, all traces of them have long since disappeared frion view. The opinion is enter- tained, too, by some careful observers, that these temple moumls were fre- quently need for sepodlebral pourpres, and many instances are cited white vist quantities of human skeletons have been found. " The tirar-Creek Mound. which is in the form of a truncated come-the flattened area on the top being fifty fort in diameter, and therefore coming moder the classification of tourde mounds-was found to inclure two vault- originally constructed of world, which contained human skeletons." [Pre-Historie Bares. p. 187-8]
" The truncated pyramid." says the same wider. " is among the stranged links in the chain which connects the ancient inhabitants of the Missi-qui Valley with those of Movies and Central America. In the rude earthworks We see the form of the idea which was subsequently wrought ost in propor- tions of beauty and harmony, giving origin to a unique style of architecture."
Descriptively, these generally consist of a simple kaddl or group of kondh. ad no considerable height, without any definite arrangement. " Examples of this character may be seen at Poloque. Merom. Chicago, and La Porte, which. on exploration, have sichled skulls differing widely freon the Indian type. It often happens that in close proximity to a large structure there is an inconsiderable une which will be found rich in relies," In shape they are usually conical, but Frequently are elliptical or pwar- shaped. from six feet to vighty in height, aver. aging from fifteen to twenty-five fort in altitude, and are situated outside the walls af ilosures, at distances more or less remote. As a rule, when a nim ber of these mounds are found connected, one of the group is uniformly two or three times larger in dimensions than any of the others, the smaller arranged around the larger at its lese, indicating an intimate relation between them. Such monds invariably cover a skeleton, smuetimes more than one, near the original surface of the soil.
This class, as compared with others, processes many distinguishing features. one uf which is that they are invaialdy situated within the inclosures, or in the immediate vicinity. They are regularly constructed with uniform layers of gravel, earth and sand, alternately, in strata confin malde to the shape of the mond, and are covered by a symmetrical altar of burn clay of stone, upon which numerous relies are found -in all instances exhibiting traces of having. been subjected to the action of fire. These altar- are carefully formed, varying both in size and shape, some being romul, while others are elliptical ; others again being in the form of squares or parallelograms. In size, they vary from tww to fifty fort hy twelve or fifteen-usually, however, they are from five to right fort. " They are modeled from fine clay, and usually rest upon the original surfare. In a few instamers they have been found with n layer or sinall elevation of sand under them. Their height sellom exceeds a foot or twenty inches alove the adjacent level. I'mon the altars have been found calvined human bones, elaborate carvings in stone, ornaments ent in mica, copper instruments, disks, and toles, pearl and shell beads, pottery, year- heads, ete."+
WHO WERE THE MORE NP-HI ILDERN ?
In this day of ethnological investigation, when so much has been developed concerning the mysterious works of a race of people, who, in the remote just, erected, overpied and maintained them, the inquiry naturally suggests itself'- " Who were, and whenre came they and whither did they go ?" All thesites . tigations, while they olicit an interest sufficient to maintain a healthy progress in the work, awaken new zeal and induce greater activity in the pursuit of wilitional information. Such interest is only equaled by the importance of the ahjert to be attained. Great diversity of opinion und much learned discussion have been the result. With all this diversity, however, there are some points upon which little difference of opinion obtains. One of these points is involved in the answer to the query, " Whenre emme they ?" It is now generally accepted by ethnologists that this people migrated from the region of the tropick, where these monumental remains most nomerondy abound. The
. Muund Bolters, p 47.
27
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
status of this branch of the inquiry is well presented in the following extract from Baldwin's "Ancient America."
" They were unequestionably American aborigines, and not immigrants from another continent. That appears to be the med reasonable suggestion which assumes that the Mound-Builders omur originally from Mexico and Central America. It explains many facts connected with their remains, tu the fireat Valley their most populous settlements were at the south. Coming from Mexico and Central America, they would tesin their settlements on the Gulf Coast, and afterward advance gradually up the river to the Chin Valley. It soms evident that they came by this route, and their remains show that their only connection with the coast was at the South. Their settlements did not reach the coast at any other point.
" Their constructions were similar in design and arrangement to these found in Mexico and Central America. Like the Mexicans and Central Americans they had many of the smaller structures known as tocallis, and also large high mounds, with level summits, reached by great flights of stops. Pyramidal dat forme or foundations for important edifices appear in both regions, and are very much alike. In Central America, ingertant alifives were built of hewn Hope, and can still be examined in their ruins. The Mound-Builder, like some of the ancient prople of Movie and Yucatan, used word, sundried brick, or some other material that could not resist decay. There is evidence that they ased finder for building purposes. to one of the monads opened in the Chia Valley, two chamber- weir found with remains of the timber of which the walls were made, and with arched ceilings precisely like those in Central America, even to the overlapping stones, Chambers have been found in some. of the Central American and Mexican monde, los these hewn stones were used for the walls. In ledd regions the elevated and terraced foundations remain, and can be compared I have already called attention to the cher resemblance between them, but the fat is so important in any endeavor to explain the Mound- Builders, that I must bring it to view here.
" Consider, then, that elevated and terraced foundations for important font- ings are peenliar to the ancient Mexicans and Central Americans; that this method of construction, which, with them, was the rule, is found now here che, save the terraced elevations, carefully constructed, and precisely like theirs in form and appearance, bertpy a chief place among the remaining works of the Monnsl Builders. The use made of these foundations at Palenque, Uxmal and Chichen Itza, shows the purpose for which they were constructed in the Mis- sissippi Valley. The resemblance is not due to phaner.
" A very large proportion of the old structures in Ohio and farther south, called ' mounds '-namely, those which are low in proportion to their horizontal extent- are terraced fondations for buildings, and, if they were situated in Yucatan, Guatemala and Southern Mexico, they would never be mistaken for anything else. The high monats also, in the two regions, are remarkably alike. In both cases they are pyramidal in shape, and have level smmmunits of considerable extent, which were reached by stairways on the outside. + + 1 4 All these mounds were constructed for religious uses, and they nre, in their way, as much alike as any five tinthie churches,"1
From these statements, and similar opinions expressed by other eminent arehavelogists, it may be sadily assumed, for the purposes of this work, that the Maund- Builders were offshoots of the original projectors and builders of those structures so monerously found in Central America, who emigrated northward through Mexico, Texas and the Mississippi Valley. This is indicated very plainly in the tradings of their route through these countries. Other evidences of intercommunication are shown by the fact that the obsidian dug from those minds in the Ohio Valley, is only found in the mines of Mexico, and must. have been brought thence as an article of commerce.
WHAT HECAME OF THEM ?
This question can only he answered inferentially, since we have no dircet information on the subject. If we take those inferences drawn from apparently legitimate sonrees, the conclusion may he arrived at with a fair degree of cer- tainty, that they probably returned southward, Int under what circumstances ix romjertural also. " Civilization, as a rule, radiates from a center," says the author of " Pre-Historie Man," " and when, from any cause, it fades out, it contracts njom the center. Now, the vast stone temples and palaces of Central Amerien are, at least, ns old as the mounds of the United States. Central America was then, relatively, the birthplace and center of American aboriginal civilization, The influence spread northward to the Mississippi and Ohio
. Aucioni America, PP. 71-2.
Valleys. So the Mound-Builders appear to have receded from the lakes to the South."
" The existing remains shaw they had, north of the Ohio River, a strong line of fortresses along the Great Miami, from its month to Pigna, with advanced works near Oxford and Katon, and with a massive work in rear of this line, on the Little Miami, at Fort Ancient. There was andber live crossing the Scioto Valley at Chillicothe, and extending west up the valley of Paint Greek. These seem to have constituted a live of permanent defense.
" The situations were well chosen. were naturally very strong, and were fortified with great labor and some skill. Such works, if defended, could not. have been taken by assault by any means the natives possessed, and they were so constructed as to contain a supply of water. They would not be abandoned until the nations that hell them were broken. When these were abandoned, there was no retreat, except across the Ohio. South of the thin, in Kentucky and Tennessee, there are many works of defense, but none possessing the mas- sive character of permanent works like the Ohio system. They are, compar- atively, temporary works, thrown up for an exigeney, are moreover isolated, not forming, as in Ohio, a connected system. They are such works as a pen- ple capable of putting up the Ohio forts might vreet, while being gradually pushed South, and fighting an invader from the North or Northwest, South of the Tennessee River, the indications are different. We miss there the forts that speak of prolonged and obstinate conflict. And we find among the tribes, as they were when first discovered, lingering traces of what we have called characteristic traits of the Mound: Builders. "4
From what has been already stated, it requires no profound observation for exquisite judgment to understand what became of this people-north of the Ohio. Every indication shows that they were expelled from this territory by Boer. Bring barased by the inroads of warlike bands, they crerted strong fortifications as places of safety and retreat during the predatory visite of theme hostiles. They erected moments for observation on eligible points, and, when surprise was imminent, they estaldidad lives of signal quots upon which beacon fires were kindled, and the people warned of the enemy's approach.
These mounds of observation, or signal stations, indicate the direction whenre came the enemy. On the projecting highlands bordering the Great and Little Miami Rivers, are numerous small monds, well adapted to purposes of' observation, and, in addition to these, a similar series of them is found along the Seinto, across Ross County, and extending down into like and Pickaway Counties, and so situated that, in a few minutes, intelligence of an approaching enemy could be flashed from Delaware County to Portsmouth.
" From time inmemorial there has been immigration into Mexico from the North. One typeafter another has fidloved. In some cases, different branches of the same family have succesively followed one another. Before the Christian era the Nahoa immigration from the North made its appearance. They were the founders of the stone works in Northern Mexico. Certain eminent scientists have hell that the Naboas Inlonged to the race that made the monde of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, Following this people came the Toltees, and, with them, light begins to dawn upon ancient Mexican migration. They were cultivated, and constituted a branch of the Nahoa family."t
As to the time when the Tulters entered Mexico, there is great diversity of opinion among scientists, but it is generally coneeded that it was at a very remote period, as carly as the seventh century.
" In the light of modern discovery and scientific investigation, wo are able to follow the Mound-Builders. We first found them in Ohio, engaged in till- ing the soil, and developing a civilization peruliar to themselves. Driven from their homes, they sought an asylum in the South, und from there they wandered into Mexico, where we begin In learn something more definite concerning them."
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