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M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01103 1850
THE WEAR COAL CO.
0000
PANORAMIC VIEW OF TOPEKA
HISTORY
OF -
SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS
AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
EDITED AND COMPILED BY JAMES L. KING TOPEKA, KANSAS
"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples"
PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND & ARNOLD, GEORGE RICHMOND; C. R. ARNOLD. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 1905.
Preface
1214164
The aim of the publishers of this volume has been to secure for the his- torical portion thereof full and accurate information respecting all subjects therein treated, and to present the data thus gathered in a clear and impartial manner. If, as is their hope, they have succeeded in this endeavor, the credit is mainly due to the diligent and exhaustive research of the editor of the his- torical statement, James L. King, of Topeka. In collecting and arranging the material which has entered into this history, it has been his aim to secure facts and to present them in an interesting form. His patient and conscien- tious labor in the compilation and presentation of the data is shown in the historical portion of this volume. The record gives an interesting description of the aboriginal inhabitants, the natural features and the early society of this section, the story of its settlement and a comprehensive account of the organi- zation of Shawnee County and the city of Topeka, giving the leading events in the stages of their development and the growth of their industries to the present time. as set forth in the table of contents. All topics and occurrences are included that are essential to the usefulness of the history. Although the original purpose of the author was to limit the narrative to the close of 1904. he has deemed it proper to touch on many matters relating to the current year.
The reviews of resolute and strenuous lives, which make up the biographi- cal department of the volume, and whose authorship is wholly independent of that of the history, are admirably adapted to foster local ties, to inculcate patriotism and to emphasize the rewards of industry, dominated by intelligent purpose. They constitute a most appropriate medium of perpetuating personal annals and will be of incalculable value to the descendants of those commemo- rated. They bring into bold relief careers of enterprise and thrift and make manifest valid claims to honorable distinction. If "Biography is the only true
6
PREFACE.
History," it is obviously the duty of men of the present time to preserve in this. enduring form the story of their lives in order that their posterity may dwell on the successful struggles thus recorded, and profit by their example. These sketches, replete with stirring incidents and intense experiences, will naturally prove to most of the readers of this book its most attractive feature.
In the aggregate of personal memoirs thus collated will be found a vivid epitome of the growth of Shawnee County, which will fitly supplement the historical statement; for the development of the county is identified with that of the men and women to whom it is attributable. The publishers have endeav- ored in the preparation of the work to pass over no feature of it slightingly, but to give heed to the minutest details, and thus to invest it with a substantial accuracy which no other treatment would afford. The result has amply justified the care thus exercised, for in our belief no more reliable production, under the circumstances, could be laid before its readers.
We have given special prominence to the portraits of representative citi- zens, which appear throughout this volume, and believe they will prove a most interesting feature of the work. We have sought to illustrate the different spheres of industrial and professional achievements as conspicuously as possi- ble. To those who have kindly interested themselves in the successful prepara- tion of this work, and who have voluntarily contributed most useful informa- tion and data, we herewith tender our grateful acknowledgement.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CHICAGO, ILL., July, 1905.
Mote
All the biographical sketches published in this volume were submitted to, their respective subjects or to the subscribers, from whom the facts were pri- marily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press; and a reasonable time was allowed in each case for the return of the typewritten copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised ; and these may, there- fore, be regarded as reasonably accurate.
A few, however, were not returned to us; and, as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we can not vouch for their accu- racy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more valuable for- reference purposes, we have indicated these uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately after the name of the subject. They will all. be found on the last pages of the book.
RICHMOND & ARNOLD.
Contents
CHAPTER I.
"The Shawnee Indians in Kansas-Various Treaties with the Tribe-Indian Villages in the County-Kaw and Pottawatomie Reservations-The Kaw Half-Breeds and Their Descendants-Scenes and Incidents of the Early Settlements. .. .. . . . 19-27
CHAPTER II.
Organization of the County-Township Divisions-Physical Aspects of the County- Rivers and Streams-First Efforts in Agriculture-Topeka and Tecumseh Contest for the County-Seat-Territorial Elections, Judicial System, Roster of Senators, Representatives and County Officers-First Land Transactions-Bridging the Kansas River-County Buildings-Growth in Population-Assessed Valuation, Live Stock and Farm Statistics-Nursery and Creamery Industries-Post Offices and Rural Delivery Routes-A Prominent Landmark. .28-43
CHAPTER III.
History of the County by Townships-The Pioneer Settlers-Organization and Names of Townships-Hardships of Frontier Life-Historic Towns and Villages-Dis- possessing the Indians-Missionary Labors-Incidents of Home-Making and Agri- cultural Development ...... 44-53
CHAPTER IV.
Continuation of Township History-Sketches of Soldier, Tecumseh and Topeka Town- ships-Names of the Early Settlers-General Sherman's Pioneer Experience- Rival Towns and Their Promoters-Famous Farms and Their Owners-Present Day Conditions 54-62
CHAPTER V.
A Glance at the History of Kansas-Early Expeditions Across the Plains-The Slavery Contest-The Struggle for Statehood-Roster of Governors and United States Senators-Population, Resources and Institutions of the State-Business and Educational Statistics .63-72
CHAPTER VI.
Shawnee County in the Border Troubles-John Brown and His Followers-The Siege of Lawrence-Foraging Upon the Enemy-Gen. James H. Lane and the Free-State
9
CONTENTS.
Cause -- John Ritchie's Arrest-The Kansas Emigrant Route-Enlistments in the
Civil War-Campaigns Against the Indians 73-83
CHAPTER VII.
Repelling the Price Raid-Second Kansas State Militia-Preparations for War in Topeka-The Home Guards-The Battle of the Blue-Colonel Veale's Regiment in the Conflict-Capt. Ross Burns and His Famous Battery-The Gage Mon- timent 84-91
CHAPTER VIII.
Shawnee County and the War With Spain-The Famous 20th Kansas Regiment- Its Battles and Glory-List of Dead and Wounded-Enlistments and Service in Other Regiments-Their Record in Cuba and Elsewhere-Praise from President McKinley and Secretary of War-The Colored Troops .92-100
CHAPTER IX.
State Officials from Shawnee County-Record of Their Appointment, Election and Service-United States Senators and Congressmen-Federal Positions Filled- Prominent Railroad Men-The Press of Shawnee County-Newspapers of Early Days-List of Papers now Published-The Mortality Sheet. .101-116
CHAPTER X.
The Beginning of the City of Topeka-A Farm Changed to a Town-Site-Names of the Pioneers and Their Followers-The Chase Cabin-Organization of the Town Com- pany-Reminiscences of the Early Settlers-The First Fire-Description of the Country-Marking the Site of the First Building. 117-126
CHAPTER XI.
Dividing the Town-Site-The First Survey-Transactions in December, 1854-Title Acquired by Means of an Indian Warrant-Claim Jumping, and Rival Town Organizations-How Topeka Was Named, and Its Significance-The Street and Avenue Plan-Early Buildings and Schools. 127-136
CHAPTER XII.
County-Seat Location-Movements for the State Capital-Locations at Fort Leaven- worth, Shawnee Mission, Pawnee, Lecompton, Lawrence, Minneola and Topeka -The Several Constitutional Conventions-Free-State and Pro-Slavery Contests- First State Legislature-History and Description of the Finished Capitol. . 137-145
CHAPTER XIII.
Drought of 1860-Depression Resulting from the War-How the City Appeared in 1862-Prominent Business Firms and Professional Men-The Growth from 1865 to 1870-Renewed Activity in Real Estate Transactions-The Railroad Situation -Wagon Routes from Topeka-Association of Old Settlers. 146-150
CHAPTER XIV.
The Railway System-Four Trunk Lines at Topeka-Mills and Factories-Commercial and Banking Institutions-Public Utilities-Finances of the City-Parks and
IO
CONTENTS.
Resorts-Assessed Valuation, Bonded Debt and Financial Resources-Present City Officers and List of Former Mayors-The Commercial Club. . 151-164
CHAPTER XV.
The Decade from 1880 to 1890-Results of the Boom-Territory Added to the City- Population for Fifty Years-Immigration from the South-Prohibitory Liquor Laws and Their Enforcement-Early Work in Behalf of Temperance-Activity of Women in Civic Affairs 165-173.
CHAPTER XVI.
Public Institutions and Buildings, Federal State and Municipal-Post Office Locations and Postmasters-City Hall and Auditorium-Free Public Library-Charitable Associations and Hospitals-Halls and Opera Houses-Prominent Hotels and Their History-Political and Social Incidents-The Topeka Cemeteries. . 174-188.
CHAPTER XVII.
Topeka's Educational Facilities-Public Schools, Colleges and Other Institutions -- High School and Manual Training Departments-The City's Churches and Their His- tory-Early Pastors and Those of the Present Time-Religious Societies, Fra- ternal Orders and Club Organizations. 189-206
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Disastrous Flood of 1903-Principal Events in North Topeka-How the Sufferers Were Rescued-Boats and Cables in Service-Loss of Life and Damage to Property -Systematic Relief Afforded-Strange Experiences and Odd Incidents-Major Harvey and His Salvage Corps-North Topeka Restored. .207-22I
CHAPTER XIX.
Brief Historical Notes of City and County-Some of the First Happenings in Topeka- Social, Literary and Musical Events -- Native Kansans in Shawnee County-Com- mercial Features of Fifty Years Ago-Accounts of an Early Flood-Col. Richard J. Hinton's Reminiscences-Two Morning Scenes in Topeka. .222-237
Biographical
Sketches of Representative Men of Shawnee County. .243-628-
NINTH STREET, LOOKING EAST
STATE CAPITOL
Index
Biographical
PAGE
Alkire, H. L., M. D. 614
Allen, Henry S. 395
Allen, Samuel
345
Allen, Stephen H., Hon. 367
Allen, William J.
337
Arnold, Andrew
J.
424
Aye, Charles
526
Baker, Floyd P., Hon. 594
Barnes, Ida C., M. D., (P) 423
Bates, Walter L.
398
Bedwell, Stephen A., Jr. 509
Bergundthal, William
S.
290
Berry, J. Albert., M. D. 588
Betts, Joseph Benjamin Burton, Hon.,
(P) 363
Biddle, Thomas C., M. D. 497
Binns, Richard.
427
Bird, Winfield Austin Scott, Hon. (P)
393
Blakemore, James F.
550
Bonebrake, Parkinson I., Hon
248
Bowman, Christian
346
Bowman, Thomas Elliott. 488
Bradshaw, Royal C ..
566
Bromich, Joseph (P) 373
Brown, Milton, Hon. 355
Bruce, William M. 340
Burgess, James, Col.
425
Burke, DeLou, Rev.
564
Campbell, Matthew Thompson, Hon. .. 519 Campdoras, Marie Antonin Eugene Jaques, M. D. 364
Clark, Julius Taylor. 604
Clemens, Gasper Christopher.
626
Clugston, John McNulty
470
Colburn, Foster Dwight, (P)
257
PAGE
Cofran, Roswell L., (P)
583
Coldren, Elza V., M. D. 530
Conant, Ernest B. 254
Coney, Patrick H., Capt. 280
Cook, Perry Ellis
512
Corning, Cyrus 414
Cowgill, Elias Branson. 263
Crane, David O., (P) 403
Crane, George W.
358
Crosby, Roller Milling Company 338
Curry, William S ..
419
Curtis, Charles, Hon 279
Cuthbert, James.
472
Dana, Alston W., Hon. 291
Dawson, Benjamin Franklin
517
Dean, John S. 615
Dean, Martin Guy, Rev. 5.31
Decker, Levi 'M. 353
Dickey, John.
481
Dickinson, Ansel E 390
Disney, Richard. 508
Downing, Charles S.
379
Duck, Daniel.
460
Dudley, Guilford.
490
Entsminger, Augustus L.
297
Fagan, Walter E., Hon., (P)
475
Farnsworth, Russell U.
428
Farrell, Joseph S., Hon. 439
Faxon, Thomas
186
Firestone, P. D.
418
First National Bank, The, Topeka. 405
Fish, William R.
522
Forbes, W. M ..
565
Foster, Cassius G., Hon.
253
14
INDEX.
PAGE
Foster, Perry T., (P)
455
Frost, John F
317
Gage, Guilford G ..
349
Gemmell, Robert Brown, (P)
515
Giles, Frye W
292
Glenn, Henry H.
479
Green, John, (P)
413
Guibor, C. H., M. D.
246
Guild, Edward B ..
609
Guthrie, John Hon., (P)
323
Hackney, Herbert
456
Hagan, Eugene.
260
Hammatt, Abram
286
Hayden, Francis M., Very Rev. 579
Hayden, Richard F., Hon.
335
Haycs, James.
624
Hawley, Charles E.
407
Heath, Hubert A.
598
Hibbard William S.
617
Hickey, James A.
597
Higgins, Elbridge
329
Hindman, Samuel
336
Hoch, Edward Wallis, Hon.
528
Holcomb, Myron.
627
Holcomb, O. A.
318
Horton, Albert Howell, Hon., (P)
301
Horton, Nathan P.
368
Howard, David Millington, Hon.
489
Howe, Samuel T., Hon., (P)
311
Hughes, James W. F., Gen ..
414
Humphreys, Dugarde Thomas
314
Hungate, Otis E ..
482
Huron, George A., Hon., (P)
333
Jewell, Charles E.
617
Jewell, Charles W. 616
Johnson, Alexander Soule, Col., (P) 449
Johnson, J. B., Hon. 245
Johnson, Timothy R
461
Jordan, John S.
440
Keck, Philip, (P)
525
Keith, Henry H., M. D.
492
Kellam, E. P.
360
Kellam, Thomas Jameson.
400
Kimball, Frederick Marius, Capt. (P)
King, James L., (P)
555
Kingman, Samuel A., Hon ..
501
Knowles, Edwin
610
Knox, John D., Rev.
302
Koger, Daniel H.
430
Kreipe, Theodore F.
409
Lakin, David Long.
261
Leavitt, Sylvanus Lorenzo.
268
Lewis, J. P., M. D., (P) 613
Lovewell, Joseph T ..
348 .
Lucas, Albertus T., (P) 573
Lydic, James R.
320
Mackey, William H., Jr. 310 .
Mac Vicar, Peter, Rev
549
Madden, John.
529
Magaw, Charles A.
313
Magill, J. W ..
510 -
Mallory, Frank E., Rev.
258
Martin, Clarence H ..
338
Martin, George W., Hon., (P)
553
Martin, John, Hon.
267
Maunsell, Charles R ..
377
McAfee, Josiah B., Rev., (P)
273
Mcclurkin, Hugh Park, D. D.
420
McFarland, James M ..
325
McFarland, Noah C., Hon., (P)
324
Mckeever, Archibald
568
Mclellan, C. T ..
505
McQuiston, Alexander.
251
Menninger, C. F., M. D.
521
Metcalf, Wilder Stevens, Col.
608
Miller, Bradford.
416.
Mills, Henry Hobert
285
Mills, John, (P)
603
Millspaugh, Frank Rosebrook. D. D.,
Rt. Rev.
468
Mitchell, Matthew R., M. D., Hon.
446
Moeser, Edward Henry
259
Mohler, Martin, Hon ..
354
Moore, Samuel (P)
485.
Moore, Samuel P., Mrs., (P) 484
Neese, Albert.
580 -
Neiswanger, William A.
328
Neiswender, Adam.
506
Nellis, Dewitt C., Hon.
584
Newman, Albert ..
480
Noble, George M., Capt.
305.
Norton, Willis.
250
Osborn, Thomas A., Hon.
574
Parker, Albert.
459 ,
Penwell, LeRoy Mclellan
477
Plass, Norman, D. D.
576
Poindexter, Early Whittin.
380 .
Popenoe, E. A., A. M ..
620
Powell, L. M., A. B., M. D.
567
Quinton, Alfred B., Hon.
270-
383
PAGE
15
INDEX.
PAGE
Ream, William M. 476
Reed, Joseph, Hon .. 623
Reid, Turner Albert 619
Roberts, Byron 378
Sardou, Freeman.
374
Sheldon, Charles M., Rev. 330
Sheldon, Silas E., M. D., Hon., (P). 443
Sherer, A. W.
577
Shimer, James C., (P) 495
Shull, Elias.
599
Sims, William, Maj 396
Skinner, Joseph H 519
Snyder, Cary
408
Snyder, William P.
389
Spencer, Charles F.
284
Stanton, John Frederick.
357
Stewart, Samuel G., A. M., M. D.
467
Stinson, Thomas N., Col.
557
Stormont, David Wasson, M. D. (P.). 243
Sutherin, John.
507
Swan, James, (P)
593
Sweet, T. B.
498
PAGE
Taylor, William L .. 433
Tomson, Almon L .. 500
Tomson, Thomas K., (P) 563
Trapp, William C., (P) 465
Valentine, Daniel Mulford, Hon., (P) 289
Van Vleck, Joseph. 312
Voigt, Brothers.
369
Walker, O. E. 347
Washburn, Avery, (P) 295
Washburn College, (P). 535
Wayne, Joseph, Rev., (P) 343
Webb, W. C., Hon ..
244
Wellhouse, Frederick, Hon. 307
Wikidal, Louis Philip. 590
Williams, Archibald F., Hon 436
Williamson, Charles R.
560
Wilson, A. P. Tone, Jr
466
Wilson, Joseph C.
296
Wilmarth, George O.
622
Wood, Charles L
558
Yager, Samuel J.
452
Illustrations
PAGE
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway General Offices . 106 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Hospital 106
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Shops
36
Baptist Church, First 226
Barnes, Ida C., M. D. 422 Betts, Hon. Joseph Benjamin Burton, 362
Bird, Hon. Winfield Austin Scott.
392
Bromich, Joseph
372
Calhoun Bluffs, Road Scene. 78
Catholic Churches-
Church of the Assumption.
202
St. Joseph's German 202
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Pas-
senger Station
53
Christ's Hospital
178
City Hall and Auditorium
170
Coburn, Foster Dwight.
256
Cofran, Roswell L.
582
College of the Sisters of Bethany.
78
Columbian Building
88
Congregational Church, First.
194
Copeland Hotel
186
Crane, David O.
402
Crane, David O., Residence of. 68
Crosby Roller Milling Company, Mills of
154
Curtis, Hon. Charles
278
Decker, Levi M.
352
Fagan, Hon. Walter E.
474
Fassler, Armin, Residence of.
186
Federal Building
24
First Frame Building in Topeka.
24
First Log Cabin Built in Topeka.
27
Flood of 1903, The-
General View of the Flood ...
218
Looking South on Kansas Avenue .. 210
Looking
Southeast
from Lukens'
Opera House
. 210
Looking
Southeast
from
Norris
Street
210 ~*
PAGE
16
INDEX.
PAGE
Melan Arch Bridge, after Water had Fallen 6 Feet 218
One Way of Bringing Over Refugees
From North Side
218
Foster, Perry T
454
Free Public Library
170
Frost, John E.
316
Frost, John E., Residence of.
234
·Gemmell, Robert Brown
514
Governor's Residence, The
68
Grace Cathedral
202
Grand Opera House
122
Green, John
412
Guthrie, Hon. John
322
Gyrator Mills
154
Horton, Hon. Albert Howell 300
Hotel Throop
186
Howe, Hon. Samuel T. 310
Huron, Hon. George A.
332
Ingleside Home
178
Inter-Ocean Mills
154
Johnson, Col. Alexander Soule.
448
Kansas Avenue, Looking South from
Fifth Avenue
132
Keck, Philip
524
Kimball, Capt. Frederick Marius. 382
King, James L.
18
Lewis, J. P., M. D. 612
Lucas, Albertus T.
572
McAfee, Rev. Josiah B.
272
McLellan, C. T.
504
Martin, Hon. George W. 552
Martin, Hon. John.
266
Masonic Block
122
Melan Arch Bridge, Looking South
36
Methodist Episcopal Church, First. 226
Mid-Continent Mills
154
Mills, John
602
Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel.
484
National Hotel
186
Ninth Street, Looking East. 12 Noble, Capt. George M., Residence of .. 234
Office Block
88
Pipe Organ in the City Auditorium.
170
Popenoe, Fred O., Residence of. .
78
Public Schools-
Grant
PAGE
High
II4
Lincoln
21
Manual Training
114
New Quincy
114
Presbyterian Church, First
191
Railroad Y. M. C. A Building.
178
Shawnee County Court House.
21
Shawnee County Jail
96
Sheldon, Hon. Silas E., M. D.
112
Shimer, James C.
194
State Capitol
12
State Hospital for the Insane- Building for Incurables 142
East End Main Building.
142
State Industrial
School
for
Boys,
Main Building
96
Stormont, David Wasson, M. D.
240
Stormont, Mrs. Jane C.
241
Stormont Hospital, The Jane C.
178
Street Views in 1876-
Corner of Kansas and Sixth Ave- nues Looking South. 48
East Side of Kansas Avenue, Look- ing South from Sixth Avenue. ... 58 East Side of Kansas Avenue, Look- ing North from Sixth Avenue .... 48
Kansas Avenue, Looking North from Seventh Street. .. 58 North Side of Sixth Avenue, Look- ing East from Kansas Avenue. .. 48
Swan James
592
Taylor, William L.
432
Tomson, Thomas K.
562
Topeka Club, The.
122
Topeka in 1876, Bird's Eye View of ..
43
Topeka, Panoramic View of. . Frontispiece
Topeka Woolen Mills.
160
Trapp, William C.
464
Valentine, Hon. Daniel Mulford.
288
Van Buren Street, Looking
South
from Court House.
132
Veale and Thompson Block.
160
Vinewood Park, Scene in.
78
Washburn, Avery
294
Washburn College-
Boswell Memorial
534
The Chapel
534
View of a portion of the College ....
Campus
534
Wayne, Rev. Joseph
342
AKing
history of Shawnee County
CHAPTER I.
The Shawnee Indians in Kansas-Various Treaties with the Tribe-Indian. Villages in the County-Kaw and Pottawatomie Reservations-The Kaw Half-Breeds and Their Descendants-Scenes and Incidents of the. Early Settlements.
The Shawnee Indians, whose name was appropriately given to one of the counties of Kansas, comprised one of the tribes with which William Penn · made his celebrated treaty in the year 1682. Penn described them at that time as being generally tall, straight, well-built, and of splendid proportions. They were graceful in their movements, walking erect and strong, and with a lofty chin. Their eyes were small and black, and their skins swarthy from exposure to sun and weather. In all respects they were typical Indians.
Before the treaty of 1682 it is believed that the Shawnees, whose lan- guage is almost identical with that of the Sac and Fox tribes, occupied the country southwest of the Missouri, from Green Bay and the Fox River, to the Mississippi, and hunted over the land between the Wisconsin and the upper branches of the Illinois. In April, 1701, a further treaty was formed, the Shawnees, one of the signatory tribes, being represented by Wa-pa-tha, king of the Shawnees. In 1706 a band of Shawnee Indians was encountered by traders at Conestoga, near the Susquehanna. At a council held in Phil- adelphia, June 14, 1715, one of the participants was Opes-sah, another Shaw- nee king.
The basin of the Cumberland River, in Kentucky, is marked by the earliest geographers as being the habitat of the Shawnees. A portion after- ward lived near Winchester, Virginia. From Kentucky their principal band removed to the head-waters of one of the great rivers of South Carolina. From South Carolina many of them removed to Pennsylvania and settled on
20
HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
the Susquehanna, where they were soon followed by others of the tribe. Of the Indian fighting men in Pennsylvania in 1732 more than half were Shaw- nees from the South, and they were said to be the most restless of all the Indians. The small Virginia band was traced in 1745 from Winchester to the Allegheny, near Fort Duquesne, where Pittsburg now stands. In 1755 the same band, with other tribes, joined the French forces in the war between France and England, and later a number of the Indian warriors were impris- oned in North Carolina.
A council fire was held at Huron, on the Detroit River, in December, 1786, at which an address to the Congress of the United States was adopted, signed by the Five Nations, and the Hurons, Shawnees, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pot- tawatomies, Twitchwees, Cherokees, and Wabash Indians. The subject of the address related to methods for establishing a lasting reconciliation with the 13 States.
BEGINNING OF THE SHAWNEE NATION.
The first treaty of record between the United States and the Shawnees, in which the latter acted as a separate nation, was held January 31, 1786, at the mouth of the Great Miami, on the northwest bank of the Ohio. This treaty gave the Shawnees certain lands in the territory then occupied by them "to live and hunt on," but the grant was contested by the Wyandottes, who claimed priority. Trouble followed, not only between the government and the Shawnees, but between the Shawnees and the Wyandottes, resulting in the removal of many of the Shawnees to New Orleans in 1792, from whence they were sent into the Creek Nation of what was then known as New Spain. These Indians declared that they had been deceived, driven from their homes, and otherwise imposed upon, and that they would be at war with America as long as any of them should live.
This was preliminary to a somewhat general uprising of the Indians in 1793, in which a number of the Northern tribes participated, the Indians claiming that the Americans had mistreated them and disregarded the trea- ties of their own nation. For this demonstration the Shawnees had gathered from various sources their greatest warriors,-Black Wolf, Blue Jacket and Ke-hia-pe-la-thy (Toma-Hawk). On the 13th of August, 1794, Gen. Anthony Wayne sent a letter to the hostile tribes asking for a peace conference and promising protection to all. The Indians rejected the offer and gave battle to the Americans, sustaining a bad defeat and losing much of their property.
About this time a Spanish Nobleman. Baron De Carondelet, donated to the Shawnees and Delawares a tract of land, 25 miles square, between the river St. Comb and Cape Girardeau, bounded on the east by the Mississippi
21
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
River, and on the west by the Whitewater River. The Delawares abandoned the tract in 1815, leaving the entire right to the Shawnees. They remained here in peace as long as the territory remained under Spanish rule. In the year 1825, the lands of the Carondelet grant were exchanged with Gov- ernor Clark for a larger tract on the Kansas River, the Indians accepting $14,000 for their improvements. The treaty provided that this tract of 50 miles square should belong to the Shawnees of Missouri, and to those of the same tribe in Ohio, who might wish to emigrate to that country.
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