Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 24

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co.
Number of Pages: 472

USA > Indiana > Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana > Part 24

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Adams County-Joseph Darlington and Nathan Vussie. Knox County-Shadrach Bond. Jefferson County-Jumes Pritchard.

Washington County-Return Jonathan Meigs.

Speaker, Edivard Tiffin; Clerk, John Reilley; Door-keeper, Joshua Row. land: Sergeant-al-Arms, Ahner Cary.

The message of Gov. St. Clair was nddressel to The Legislature, Seplem- bor 25, 1799 On the 3] of October, that hody elected a Delegate to Con- gress, viz .: William Henry Harrison, who received eleven votes, a majority of one prer his competitor, Arthur SI. Clair, Ir., sun of Gov St. Clair.

The Legislature adjourned December 19, 1199, after having passed forly- eight acts, thirty- seven of which the Governor approved, and veloed eleren. On the 30th of December, 1799, the I'resident nominated Charles Willing Byrd to the office of Secretary of the Territory rice William Henry Ilarrison, elected to Congress. The Senale confirmed his nominalion on the following duy.

TERRITORY OF INDIANA-ORGANIZATION.

On the fib of May, 1800, the President uf the United Siales approved an act of Congress, entitled " An net to divule the Territory of the United Slales. noriluvest of the Ohio, inlo hiro separale governments."

On the division of the Territory, pursuant lo this sel, the material parts of the ordinauec of IT8; remained in force in the Territory of Indinns. The inhabitants ivere iuvested with all the rights, privileges and advantages granted und secured lo the people by thal ordinance. The seat of govern- ment for the Territory ins localed al Vincennes. William Henry Harrison ins appointed Governor ; John Gibson, Secretary of The Territory ; William Clerk, Henry Vanderburgh and John Griffin, Territorial Judges.

At This time, the population of the Indiana Territory was about 4,875 souls.

The Secretary, precciliug the arrival of Gov. Harrison al Vincennes, pro- ceeded in July. 1>00, to make further appointments of Territorial officers, and to provide for the administration of the laws. January 10, 1501, Gur Harrison, baring arrired, issued n proclamation requiring The allendance of the Judges al the seal of government, who accordingly convenel af Vin- cenues, on Monday, January 12, ISul, and continued iu session till the 2Gll, when they adjournedt, having allopled and published seven luiss and three resolutions. These laws related mainly lo the judiciary and lo county olhees.

The Judges held the first session of the General Court of the Territory. al Vincennes, beginning Murch #, 150]

The first grand jury of Indiana Territory was as follows : Luke Decker, Antoine Marchal, Joseph Baird, Patrick Simpson, Antoine l'etil, Anilre Moutplniseir, Jobb Ockiliree, Jonathan Marney, Jacoh Tevebaugh, Alex- ander Varley, François Turpin, F. Compagnoille, Charles Languedoc, Louis Serero, F. Innguciloe, George C'att, John Bi. Barois, Abraham Decker and Philip Call.

There ivas no Legislature in ludiaun Torrilory till after the separation of Michigan, which occurred Juno 30, 1805. pursuant lo an net of Cougress, approved on the 11th of January preceding. On the 11th of September, 1804, s vote hail been taken and a majority of 138 of the freeholders of the Territory had voted in favor of organizing a General Assembly ; Ivhereupon Gov. Harrison issued a proclamation, calling for an election of members of a House of Representatives, to be holden on Thursday, January 3, 1~15, And citing The quembors eleet lo meet at Vincennes on the Ist of February, to take morsures for the organization of n Territorial Council. The members con- vened acconlingly, and on the ill of February, 1805, proceeded lo elect by batlol, the unmes of leu residents of the Territory, to be forwarded to the President of the United States, five of whom the President was authorized, by Congress, to appoint anil commission as members of the Legislative Coun. eil of loiliana Territory. The ten persons irhoso nantes nure seul to Ibe President nere : John Rico Jones and Jacob Ruykendull, of Knox County ; SauLuol Gwalhmey and Marsion Green Clark, of Clark County ; Benjamin Chambers, of Dearborn County ; Jean Francois l'errey and Jobn llay, of SI. flair County ; Pierre Mouurd, of Randolph County: and James May and James Henry, of Detroit, Wayne Conuly-the Intler being in Indiann Ter- rilory & the limo of the election, bul boing set off to Michigan prior to the meeting of tho Legislature, ou Ibo 29th of July following.

President Jeffersen declined to select the five names as members of the Legislative Council, as the parlies were strangers to hija; but forwanted to

210

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF INDIANA .- CONTINUED.

Gov. Harrison a blank for him to fill with the names most suitable, rejeeling " land jobbers, dishonest men, and those who, though how it, might suffer theuuglves to be warped by party prejudices."

The first General Assembly of Indiana Territory conrened at Vincennes, July 19, linh, purmunt to a proclamation issued by Gov. Ilnrrison, June 7. The members of the House of Representatives ivere as follows : . Jesse B. Thomas, of Dearborn Connly: David Floyd, of Clark County : Benjamin Parke nnd lohn Johnson, of Knox County ; Shadrach Bond nnd William Bigge, uf St. Clair County ; And George Fisher, of Randolph County,

On the ilttth of July, Gor. Harrison delivered his message. Soon after, the Conseil und llouse of Irpresentatives, hy' juint ballot, elected Benjamin I'nrke the first Delegate to L'ongress from Indiana Territory. Mr. Farke irus a uatire of New Jersey, nod enme to the Territory in 1801.

TREATILS WITH THE INDIANS,

The boundaries established by the treaty of tireenville, in li95, umie to the lodian nations oll the territory within the prevent State of Iniltone, except the fallowing tracts : 1. One tract six miles square, where the city of Fort Wayne is now situated. 2. the tract Two miles square, on the Walsh Hiver, ot thr enil of The portago fram the Mauve Birer, nhout eight miles westunnl fram Fort Wayne. :. One tract six tuiles square, at the ohl Wra towns on the Wabash. I 'The irnet called the " Illinois Grant," maile to livn. Georgo Rogers Clark, nene the Falls of the filno, consigling of 140,00kt mores. b. The lowu of Vincennes and adjacent lands, to which the Indinn title lind been extinguished, mul all similar londs nt nther pinces in posses- sinn of the French and other reuters. I. The strip of land east of the lmundury line, running ihrertly from the site of l'ort Recovery, so hs to in. trravet the thio Rn vr ot u peint opposite the mouth of thy Kentucky.

When Wet. Murrison heemmne Governor of the Territory of Indiunn, he Was invested hy the tiovernment of the United States with authority to muke further trenties with tho luiliens, nud thereby to extinguish their titlu tu Inuile lying within the boundaries of the Territory. In the exercise of this authority be nuuly the following treaties :

1. At Vinceuuce, September 17, 1602, certain chiefs nud head met of the l'ottawattomie, Eel lurer, Piankeshow, Win, Knekaskia, and Kickapoo tribes, nominated and appointed the Miami Chiefs, Little Turtle and lich- nrilvillo, and the l'ottawattotnie chirfe, Winonine and Topinejak, to settle thy terms of n treoty for thr extinguishmeul of Iniliun ofnims to certain lunds un the horilera of the Wabash en the vicinity of Vincennes.

". At Fort Wayne, Inne 7, 1808, certnin chiefs muud bead men of the Deluwore, Shawner, Pottnienttomie, Eel River, Kickapoo, Piunkeshar and Ansknakin tribes ceded to the United States about 1,600, QUtt neres of lund. .; By the provisions of a treaty coneludleil nt Veneennes, Attgust lit, 1801, certain chitefs nnil ieneriors of the keskaskia tribe ceded to the Umted States about 8, bit,tunt neres of land lying on the borders of the Mississippi otel linias Rivers.

4 At Vincennes, Aitgust 18, 1801, the chiefs amil hend men uf the Del- unure trite ended tu the United States their claim to the tract uf Innd lying heteron the Wabash and the Olne Rivers and south of the road which led friin Vinrennes tu the fulls uf the Obio liver. The Pionkeshmirs reliti- nghisuril thoir elniena to the same territory hy n treaty concluileil at Viu. ceunes, . Mitgust 27, 1804

6. By a treaty mudr nt St. Louis, November 3, 1804, several chiefs of the Sae mul l'oa tribes cedeil to the United States a inst extent of territury lying principnily un the rast sile of the Mississijqu, between the Illinois nud the Wisconsin Rivers The dispute about these lands, including the Ssc viltage, near Rock Islonil, brought on the Bluck Inirk war in 1832.

1. At a treaty conelniled al Virouceland, brar Vinceunes, August 21. 1805, certain chiefs ouil nurriors of the Delaiyury, l'oltawattomic, Mimui, l'el River and Wes trities erdeit to the United States theer territory lying southengt off the litte running northensterly from u point about fifty-seven miles due cost from Vinerones, so os to strike the general boundary liny (running from n jurant oggwitr the manth of the kentucky River tu Fort llecovery ) nt the distance of fifty miles from the commencement on the nhịo.

i. Mt A treaty concluded at Vincennes, Dreember 30, 1805, the chiefs und head men of the Jhankeshaw tribr ceded tu the linited Sintes about 4,600,000 neres lying west of the Wabash River.

8, At L'art Wayne, Septemher Bet, 180", the chiefs of the Delowure, Kel River, Fottutrattoinie nud Mimni tribes codvil tu the United States ubont 4, 'nt,cut nerey of Imul lying principally on the sonthenytern side of the Wabash, before the month of Ruccoon Creek. The chief's and leailing mett of the Wen tribe met tior, Burrison nt Vinerones, tetofier 26, 18/71, nud sekte wirilged the suludity of the above treaty uf Fort Warne. The same trinty was also confirtued hoy' the sachems And wur chiefs of the Kiekopoos, Iteeember 1, 1800, nul the Kickapoos cedil to the United States nlwest 113,000 neres of Innd.

Up to this period, the tutul quntiity of lund procured to the Puitrd Stutrs through treathe muile ty Gor, Horrison amounted to 20, 119, 580 nepes.

LAND OFFICES, ETC.

lly un net of Congress uppoived March 26, 18/04 tbreo land offices for the disposal of the public Intils u ory established atthin the bonularies nf Indiuun Territory One of these offices was nt detroit, nuother nf Vincennes and the third m Kaskaskin, each having a lund district in which it una Inenel. \ fuerth Iwl other was established ut leffersnuville hy un set uf Congress upprorml Murth 3, 1807. The town of Jefersourille wns thet firn pents ofd, it hinving bren luid ont in IMel, necopiling to a phon proposed by Thomas Jetlerson, then President of the United States.

lu 1808, ibe white population of Indinus Territory was about 28,1Kkt, af whom about 11, 00it live] west of the Wubash. During this year, Benjutott Turke was appointed to n sent on the supreme beuch of the Territory, and the Legislature electuil the Speaker of the House, Jegse B. Thouma tu suppdy his place as Itelegate in Congress.

liulinon Territory was divided, and the Territory of Illinois erected out of thut portion of it "lying nest of the Wabash River and Post Viteennes due north lo the territorial litie between the I'mteil States unil Conadn." by In set of Congress passeil Febinary 3, 18th, nud which took effect from and after the frel day of Much following. In May, 18tt!, the only organized counties in the Territory of ludium were Rinus, Harrison, Clark nul Deurbort. la the election fur Delegate to Congress, on tho 22d of May, 011 votes were polled, of nineh Jonathan Jennings receiveit 428, Thotuns Rnwelch, 402: and John Johnson, SI. A census was taken in 110, show- ing the population uf Iwhaus Territory to be 44,520. There were in the Territory thirty three grist wills, fourtech shiv mills, three horse-mills, eighteen tanneries, turnby-eight distilleries, three powiler-mills, 1,266 Inimus und I,Bht spinning wheel. The value of muunfnetures was estimated us filmes: Woolen, cotton, hempen undl Ausen cloths, and mixtures, $100,054; comum und woul yunu in mills, $150; unile (20,000 pounds), $1,ANXt ; Jeather, tanneil, $0,300; promets of distilleries (36,'450/gallons), $10,230; gnupourder (3,stk youmils), $1, 800; wine from grapes ([0] har- rels), $4,000; maple sugar (h0,0(it), mulue not «tuted.

TECUMSEHI AND THE WAR OF 1811.

Atler the treaty of Greenville, the ludiaus remained quiel till the yenr 1810 Discontent, bou eier, had been brewing among Them, through the influence of Tecumseh and bis brother, the Shou uce Prophet, for several years prior to the outbreak of netual hostilities. Theye noted Indinn leuders

steadily mninteneil their opposition to the cession of lanils lo the United States, And wery enconraged nul ahled in their discontent by petty officers in the British Iuilino Department, und A number of land speculators residing in Indiana Territory.

In 1805, the Shinuneo warrior, Tecumseh, nud his brother, La.le-nos.i- kair (Loud Voice), resided ot one of the Delaware villages, on Ile borders of the West Furk of White River, within the present boundaries of Delaware County. Sometime during 1805, Lair-le-was-i-knw took upon Jumself the chinmeter of a prophet ond reformor, assuming the name of Peins. quat-n-wrah, which in The Shawnee ilinleet signifies Open Door. Among the manny evils he declaimed against ns tho siny of his times nuit his people, tho olnef promi- nence was given to writeheraft, the use of intoxicating liquors by the Indians, the custom of Imliun women intermarrying will white men, and the practice He smir that the Indian tribes of selling Indian lunds to the United States. had become vastly deteriorated hy contact with the whites, and n ilepurlure from their ancient spirit and customs, and were fast being swept niny before the ndrance of the white race ; and lus purpose was to reformu them, unite them, nud, hy infuvitig into thent their ancient courage, rirtue and endur- noce, to make them equal to the task of resisting the eneroachmeuts of the Americans upon their territory. With this general purpose in view. be commenced preneling to bis people-preaching reformation us to their per- sonal behurior, noil, nt the same time, A sort of Indian state policy, which he taught them would innko them a great confederacy, or nation, lle pro- fessed to be inspired by the Great Spirit, to be able to cure all kinds of disenses, to confontol his enemies, and lo star the arm of death on the battle feld. By his preaching be guhereil around him a considerable band of Shawnees, Anil, about the close of the year 1805, took up his residence at Greenville, Ohio, where he remained, tuerensing the number of his follon ers and creating considerable excitement und alarin among the seltlere, till the spring of 1>08 when he seitled on the banks of the Wabash, uenr the mouth of the Tippecanoe River, ot n place which afterward became famous as the Prophet's lown. Here, in June, 1808, his followers numbered nbont oue buudred anıl forty person4, of whum nhout forty irere Showtecs.

Meantime, Tecumseh was actively engaged in an effort to foren the rnriots tribes into one grent confederney, and openly proclaimed in the connoils which be held with the Indians that thetreatins made with the United States for the cession of Their lands were unfair and of no binding foree.

Early in 1808, Gor. Ilnrrizon sent .John Conner, nu early įnoncer and friend of the Inthians, with a message to thr Shawnees. It contunel the following passage: "My children-This business must be stopped. I will no longer suffer R. You have called A number of men from the inost dislunt tribes to listen to n fool, who speaks not the weils of the Great Spirit, but those of the deril and The British agents, My children, yenr cowhiet lens much alarmed the white settlers. They ilesire that you will sendl nivny these people ; and if they wish lo bare the imposter with them, they enn carry bim. Let bim go to the lakes, he can hear the British more distinctly."

In the latter part of June, ISO8, a deputation of Imilinus arrived at Vin- cennes, with n message from the Prophet to Gor. Harrison, assuring him thot his followers had no intention luit to live in peace with the white people. In August, INOS, the Prophet himsell visitril Vincennes, and, in an inter- riew with Gov. InFrisou, saidl : " Father, it is three years since I first begaa with that system of religion which I practice. The white people atil some of the Indians were against me ; but I had no other intention than to intro- duee among the Indinus those good principles of religion which the white peuple profess. Tho Grent Spirit told me to tell the luilians that be had made them und ninde the world . that he humel placed them on it to do good, and nol evil. hield all the red skins that the way they were in wns nol good, and that they ought tu abandon it ; and that it is the cause of all the mischief The Indinus suffer, that we must always follow the dirertions of the Great Spiril, delermitrd to listen to nothing that is bad. Do not take up the tomahniyk sbonll it be offered by the British or by the Lang knives. Do nol meddle with anything that does tint belung to you, but mind your own business and cultivate the ground, thot your women and children muay have enough to live on. My futher, I have mformed you what we mean to do, And I call the firent Spirit to witness the truth of my declaration."

The professions of the Prophet and the femperate conduet of the few of his followers, who were with him, induced Gov. Harrison to take a more favorable rien of their pacihe intentions for a fime ; but this opinion was soon changeil by reports which be constantly received of the conduct of the Indians at the I'rophet's town, anil he was compelled to regaril the Prophet and Tecumseh ns very dangerous persons to the safely and pener of the country.

During the year 1810, Gov. Harrisun frequently sem roufidentinl messce. gers to the Prophet's town and to the principal villages of the Indians throughont the Territory, to assure them of the protection unil friendship of the I'niteil Stutes, and to warn them of the danger of encouraging the pre- tensions And elnime of the Shawnee Prophet.

Among the inosl tofluoncial persons sent on these missions were Francis Vigo, Toussaint Dubois, Joseph Barrou, Pierre Inplante, John Conner, M. Brouilette auil William l'rince.

In the spring of 1810, certain bonlmorn, who were sent up to the Prophet's town to dolirer to The Imlings their ountity of salt, were insultoil and enlled " American dogs," the Imlians refusing to receive the solt. In July, Gov. Harrison sent the Prophet a letter, dosigned to convince him of his folly in attempting to make war upon the United States; hut it selus to have had little effeet. "Mr. Barron-who carried the letter-was conilucted, in A ceremonious manner, to the place where the l'rephet wns sitting, surrounded by o number of his followers, and left atoniling at a distance of soule twelve feet from hiu, The l'royhol looked stesthly at bim for several minutes, withont saying n nurd or making a sign of recogtution. At length be demnoded, " For what purpose ilo you come here" Brouiletie was bero ; ho ivas n spy. Dubois waa here ; he was n spy. Now you have come ; you, too, ore a spy. There is your gruve ; look on it! "-pointing to the ground near where Barron stood, llis inlent was evidently to frighten the morsoa-, ger. But just m that moment Tecutusch euterel from one of the lodges. He told him his life uns not in donger, nmil wished to know the object of his visit.

After receiving Mr. Barron's answer, Tecumseh iuformed hitu that he would soon risit Vincennes in person und have an interview with Gov. Harrison. Accordiugly, ou tho 12th of August, attended by seventy-five of his wir- riors, he arrived at Vincennes ; oil from that tune until the 22d, Gov. Hor- rison uns alurost constantly engageil in holling conference wrilb Tecumseh.

In one of these interviews the Intter smd, " Brother-Since the treaty of Greenville yon have killed some of the Shannees, Winnebagoes, Delawaros aud Minns, and you have taken our intuils from us; and I ilo not see bow we can remain at peace with you, if you enutwue to do eo. l'ou try to force the red people lo ilo some injury, It is you that are pushing thom on to do mischief. You endeavor to innke distinctions. You wish to prevent the In- dinbs from doing ns we wish them-to nuite and let them consider their land: 85 the common property of the whole. You tuke tribes nyide nud advise them nol to come inlo thes mensure ; nul, until onr ilesign is accomplished, we ilo not wish to necept of your invitation to go and see the President.

If the land is pot restored to us, yon will eco, when we return to our homes, how it will he settled. We shall have a great council, at which all the tribes ball he present, irhen we shall show lo those who sold that they had no rigbl to the claim they set up; and we shall see what will be done with those chiefe that did sell the land to yon I ous not alone in this determinn- tion. It is the determination ef all the warriors and red people that listen fo mc."

Tecumseh seems to have become considerably excited during the delivery of this speech. When Gov. Harrison commenced bis reply, be wus inter-

rupteil and contradicted by this Shurnce chief, who, with angry anil violent gestures, ilcolareil the statements of the Gorertior to he (nlyo, At the anme fimo the nrtned warriors of Tecumseh sprang In their feet and stood in a tenneing nlliende. The Governor orilered Gen. Gibson to be ready with n guard of twelve men, under command of Lieut, Jesse Jennings. The guard was brought forward. Gov. Ilurrison then closed the interview, declaring that he was determined to extinguish the council fires anil no longer to hold Any communication with the Indians.

He, however, afterward consented to another interview with Tecumseh, who, when the conference was opened on tho 21sl of Angust, nililresseil the Governor in A respectful and dignified TADnet. At this conference Gov. Itarrison asked Teenmych explicitly if the Indmas would forcibly resiel nu attempt to survey thu Innda ceiled by the trenty of Fort Wayne, aud uns nuswered, in substance, That they would re- Bist. Snill ho: "We do not irish you lo take the Innil." Gor. Harrison Antwivered that his " elnitus nad pretensions would not be noknowledged hy tbe I'resident of the United States." " Well," said Tecumseh, " as the great chief is to determine the matter, I hope the Great Spirit will put sense enough into his head to inluce lum to dircet yeu to give up the land. It 19 True, lie is so far off that he will not be injured by the war. lle may sil still in his town and drink hin wine while you nul I will bove to fight it eut.""

In October, 1810, Gor. Harrison sent a Mr. MeDounhl to surrey lhe boundary lene of the trael ol Inmil which had been arequired by the treaty of Fort Wayne.

In Ibe curly part of 1811, the British Agent of ludinn Affairs in Cannila, believing thol A war iras soon lo bresk out between the United States und Great Britain, adopted a policy calculated lo secure for bis gorernment the friendship of the Norlinrestern tribes of Indians, Gor, Harrison, in the menntime, acting upou tho instructions receiveil from the President of the United States, continued his efforts to break up tho confeileraoy of lodians al tho Prophel's town, noil began to tonkr preparations to ercel a fort on the Wabnsh for the protection of the settlers in that quarter.

Indinn ilisturbances broke out during the sminmor of this year, and deprentions were committed by struggling parties upon the property of the white setllers Several white men engaged in surreyiug land were frighi- ened away ; others were killed, A quantity of " nonuity salt" being con- verel in boats from Vincennes lo the Indian villages up the Wabash I'ne seized at the Prophet's town, and approprinted to the use of the Indions at that place The Prophet sent back word by the boatmen to the Governor requesting bim " not to be angry at his seizing the salt, is ho had got none Insi year, und bad moro than two thousand men to ferd."

On the 24th of ,Inne, 1811, Gor. Harrison desuntebed Capi. Wolfer Wilson to the Prophet's town ns the brarer of a speech addresseil to the l'rephet nnd Teenmusch. In tins speech the Governor still remonstrated Against violence, and tried to maintain pence. Teetimech seul back n leugthy Ro- swer by the messenger, in which, among other things, he proposed to visit the Governor again in person at the head of a band of his young warriors, and on the 27th of July he uppeared of Vincennes, with about three hundred attenilonts, nmiong whum were tirenty or thirty women and children. The nuproneh of so large a force created considerable ulnrm among the inhofe- it.inis; but The militin worr in readiness, numbering nhonl seren hundred unul fifty, well artned, nud Gov. Hurrison stntioneil tiro companies and a de. tachment of dragoons on The borders of the town. Tecumseh, howorer, de- clared that it was not his intonliou to go to war with the United States. 10 This declaration be was nodoubteilly iusineere, for immediately upon the close of the conference he proceeded down the Mississippi, in company with sonie livenij' Indians, to propagale his scheme of confeilerating the ludivo tribes among the Creeks, Chickasaws anil Choctaws of the South.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 24

Author: Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co. Number of Pages: 472

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co.
Number of Pages: 472