USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 12
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INDIAN PAYMENT DAY IN OLD TIMES.
There is a vast difference in the Indian payment day of the present and that of "olden time," long before Saginaw had attained its present importance and standing. The writer of this had occasion to visit Saginaw City many years ago, at which time he had an opportunity of attending an Indian payment. About twelve hundred Indians, of "all sorts and sizes," from the toddling pappoose to the swarthy niche-nah-va, were assembled together in the morning, upon the beautiful lawn which gently sloped toward the river in front of the council house. It would be almost impos- sible to give the reader an idea of the hub-bub and confusion of tongues that prevailed upon the occasion. Aside from the 1,200 Indians were a variety of other characters, including the clattering Frenchman, the blarneying Irishman, and the blubbering Dutch- man, all mingling their discordant jargon with that of the vocif- erous Yankee. Groups of Indian boys, some exercising with the bow and arrow, others jumping, running, wrestling, and making the welkin ring with their noisy merriment, were collected in the
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vicinity of their respective tents. The river, too, was covered with canoes, and here the "dusky maid" in a more quiet and becoming manner was enjoying the occasion; and it was really surprising to see the dexterity and fearlessness with which she managed the "light canoe." A list of all the names of the heads of Indian families, chiefs, etc., was taken by the Indian superintendent, each Indian being entitled to a certain amount. The money to be paid was placed upon a table in the council room, in piles of $10 and $20 each, in American half-dollar pieces. Around the table sat the Indian superintendent, interpreter, clerks, etc. Com- mencing at the top of the list, a crier called off the names, the parties presented themselves, were paid off, and immediately made roomn for others. It was amusing to observe the great number of friends that would gather around the Indian after he received liis money from the paymaster. Here a trader suddenly recollects some debt of long standing against Mr. Indian; there a seedy indi- vidual with sad eyes and nasal promontory coleur de pinque, most seductively offering him a drink of river water slightly tinctured with poor whisky, while one or two dear friends are advising him to look out for sharpers, at the same time intimating that the superintendent has been paying off in bogus coin. In the evening, while the drinking Indians were rioting and carousing in the town, the evangelized natives were encamped upon the opposite side of the river, and the surrounding forest fairly resounded with their loud singing, preaching and praying. Instrumental music, from the fiddle to the Indian tattoo, might also have been heard arising above the "horrid din. "
The scene that presents itself at the Indian payment now-a-days is altogether a different one, at least at Saginaw City. We are happy to see measures adopted to prevent the sale of intoxicating drinks to the poor Indian on such occasions. Would to God it might be prohibited upon all occasions.
SENTENCE AND EXECUTION.
The Chippewas and Ottawas inhabiting this section of Michigan were friendly to each other, and during the hunting seasons fre- quently encamped near each other. In the fall of 1853 a party of one tribe built their cabins on the banks of the river, and a party of the other tribe, about 80 in number, encamped close by. It is unnecessary to speak of their life in these camps; suffice it to say that the days were spent in hunting and the nights in drinking "fire water" and carousing. In one of the revels at the camp a Saginaw Indian, maddened by liquor, killed his squaw, and to conceal the deed threw her body upon the fire.
Recovering from the stupor of the revel, he saw that the signs of his guilt were still before him, and fearing the wrath of his tribe, he fled toward the other encampment.
His absence was noticed, the charred remains of the poor squaw were found, and the cry for blood was raised. The avengers were
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soon upon his track, and they pursued him to the encampment of their neighbors; he was found, apprehended, and in solemn coun- cil doomed to the death which in the stern old Indian code is reserved for those only who shed the blood of their kin. It was a slow, torturing, cruel death. A hatchet was put in the victim's hand, he was led to a large log that was hollow, and mnade to assist in fixing it for his coffin. This was done by cutting into it some distance on the top in two places about the length of a man apart, then slabbing off, and digging the hollow still larger so as to admit his body. This done, he was taken back and tied fast to a tree Then they smoked and drank of the "fire water," and when even- ing came they kindled large fires around him. And now com- menced the orgies; they drank to intoxication, they danced and sang in their wild Indian manner, chanting the dirge of the recreant brave. The arrow was fitted to the ready bowstring, and ever and anon with its shrill twang it sent a missile into the quiv- ering flesh of the homicide, and to heighten his misery they cut off his ears and nose.
Alternately drinking, dancing, beating their rude drums and shooting arrows into the victim, the night passed.
The next day was spent in sleeping and eating, the victim mean- while still bound to the tree. What his reflections were we of course cannot tell, but he bore his punishment as a warrior should.
When night closed around it brought his executioners to their work again. The scene of the first night was re-enacted, and so it was the next night, and the next and the next, and so on for a week. Seven long and weary days did he stand there, tortured with the most cruel torture, before his proud head dropped upon his breast, and his spirit left his clayey tenement for the hunting grounds of the Great Spirit. And when it did they took the body, wrapped it in a new clean blanket, and placed it in the log coffin he had helped to hollow. They put his hunting knife by his side that he might have something to defend himself on the way; his whisky bottle, that he might cheer his spirits with a draughit now and then, and his tobacco pipe that he might smoke. Then they put on the cover, drove down stakes each side of the log, and filled up between them with logs and brush. The murdered squaw was avenged. The camp was broken up, and the old stillness and quiet once more reigned over the forest spot where was consum- mated this signal act of retributive justice.
THE WHITE CAPTIVES ..
About the year 1820 David Henderson was sent by Gen. Cass into the valley to work for the Indians. Having been there a short time he left for Detroit on business, his family remaining at Saginaw until hisreturn. During Henderson's absence Kish-kau-ko took his family captives and made known his intention to kill them. Jacob Smith, of Flint, hearing of the capture and threat, mounted his horse, and came with all possible speed to Saginaw. Hastening
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to the old chief, he demanded to know of him what were his de- signs regarding the wife and children of Henderson. "I am going to kill them," answered the chief. "What!" said Smith, "will you kill those little children, who have never done you or any other one any harm?" nervously the chief replied, "Take them away quick." "But," said Smith, " it is of no use for me to take the woman and her children through the woods. I shall meet some other Indians, and they will take them away from me and kill them. You must give me some men to go with me to Detroit." The chief gave him six men who went through with the party to Detroit, where the Indians were taken prisoners and confined in the fort; but through the influence of Smith they were released, supplied bountifully with rations, and sent in charge of a file of men beyond the reach of danger from the white settlers near the fort, then greatly exasperated on account of recent Indian outrages.
OK-E-MAW-KE-KE-TO AND THE FACTOR.
Eleazer Jewett, while in charge of the Fur Company's post at the Forks, was threatened by the Indians with death if he would continue doing business at the post for the company. He treated the menace lightly, never dreaming that the chiefs and warriors of the tribe, against whom he never raised a hand would venture to carry out the threat. Their earnestness took practical shape, low- ever. One day the Factor saw about 120 Indians approaching thie log house, marching in Indian file along the trail, which led thither, through the snow. The warriors were adorned in that peculiarly grotesque style that bespeaks war. The inhabitant of the post, undaunted, went to the door, offered presents of tobacco to the chief, which were spurned, and being well enough conversant with Indian custom to realize the danger of his position, he fell back for shelter, closed the door, bolted it, and flew to one of the embrasures to give battle. Here he was aided by a half-breed assistant, who had a number of rifles ready. Before he fired a shot 100 tomahawks were buried in the door, which he had just closed against the invaders. Now the decisive moment arrived; lie fired over the heads of the savages; again sent some buck-slot into the bodies of a few of them, and continued to proceed thus until the chief ordered his force to retire. This old warrior was named O-ke-maw-ke-ke-to. He was always known to esteem and applaud true bravery, and on this occasion he saw enough to convince him that the new master of the trading-post was no coward; that his consciousness of innocence was his greatest power, and relying upon his right to stay there, he was prepared to give battle to aÎl comers.
Next day O-ke-maw-ke-ke-to visited the post alone. Mr. Jewett gave him a dish of bouilli, which was, evidently, much apprecia- ted. His visit was repeated, and a similar reception accorded to him. On the third day he camne, took a dish of the favorite soup,
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and afterward addressed Mr. Jewett for the first time. "Friend," said he, " I did what was wrong in seeking your life, but now it is all over and you and I are friends forever." For long years after this event O-ke-maw-ke-ke-to made full amends for all the troubles he caused this early settler at the beginning of his career among the Indians. The Indian's friendship was so sincere that he transacted all the business for the trader among his band more economically, perhaps, than himself could do it. After his return from Washington in 1837, the old chief whiled away days in Mr. Jewett's society, telling him of all he had seen, and the great fathers he had met.
WAH-BE-MAN-I-TO.
The Williams family arrived at Saginaw in 1828. Reauine was agent for the American Fur Company at that point. He and Messrs. Campau had personal difficulties of long standing, which had become an inveterate feud, creating unprofitable divisions with the Indians, amounting with them to fierce partisan hatred. The current was turned against Reaume, and his personal safety becoming endangered, his store was kept closed too much of the time for him to continue a profitable agent for the company at that post. Judge Abbott, the company's superintendent at Detroit, selected Messrs. Willliams as the successors of Reaume, who came on as before detailed, and became the owners of his interests at Saginaw City, and also the Little Fork of the Tittabawassee (Mid- land City), where he had another post. Dequindre, an active young Frenchman, had been his sub-agent, until a vicious Indian named Wah-be-man-i-to, or White Devil, forcibly took possession of the post, driving out the sub-agent, who fled for his life, for several days roaming about, lost in the woods, and untimately coming into Saginaw City with his feet frozen. The Campaus had a rival post at the same place, and by the abandonment of the other the valuable trade of the Tittabawassee was left wholly in their hands. The winter after Mr. E. S. Williams had established himself at Saginaw City, he was deputed to take stores to that point and re-open the trading-house. He chose for his assistants Jacob Graveradt and the two younger Roys. Prudent friends endeavored to persuade him not to embark in an enterprise so evidently fraught with danger, but the company's interests required the venture, and he soon with his assistants presented himself at
the post. A short time only elapsed. before Wah-be-man-i-to resumed his attitude of hostility. He was on his way with his outfit to the trapping ground, somewhat in liquor. He stopped at the door of the trading post, and with an insolent and defiant bearing, which a half-drunken Indian only can assume, demanded liquor. "Misli- slia-way " (Mr. Williams' name, meaning Big Elk), "give me whisky." It was refused. He placed his hand upon the handle of his tomahawk, and repeated the demand more fiercely than at first, and was met by another refusal as defiant as the last demand.
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He sprang for Mr. Williams with his tomahawk upraised and aimed a blow at him which, ifit had not been dexteriously avoided would doubtless have proved fatal. With a well seasoned hickory club Mr. Williams defended himself, knocking his assailant down and being about to repeat the blow, the discomfited hero begged for mercy. After getting upon his feet and recovering from the stunning effects of the blow, he walked out of thet rading-house and sat down in front of it, in apparently deep thought. He soon after called to Mr. Williams and expressed great mortification at the out- rage he had attempted; and to confirm his sincerity, promised that his next furs he would bring to his new "friend " Williams. He kept his promise faithfully, and became the fast friend of the man at whom only an hour previously he had aimed a deadly blow.
The Messrs. Williams soon after bought out the trading post of Antoine Campau, who had, as before stated succeeded to his brother Louis, which quieted the dangerous spirit of rivalry that had already culminated in some serious affrays between the Indians and others who had become parties to the feud.
Among other agents who had residences, at different times, at Saginaw, were Sherman Stevens, the father of the distingushed actress, Miss Sara Stevens, who has achieved in the drama no ordinary position. To considerable solid acquirement he united a view of romance and sentiment which made him at that time a genial companion and a rare social acquisition to the limited society of Saginaw. He was master of the Chippewa dialect and spoke the language fluently.
Archie Lyons was another trustworthy agent of Messrs. Will- iams, whose history is identified with the Saginaw Valley prior to the treaty. He was a fine penman, well educated and a musi- cian of no little skill. He was located at the Little Forks of the Tittabawassee (Midland City), and in coming down from that point, on the ice, upon skates, for the purpose of playing the violin for a dancing party at Saginaw City, he was drowned.
The Messrs. Williams had another agent, Mejeau, an Indian of quarter blood, an accurate clerk, although he could neither read nor write. Thousands of dollars passed through his hands yearly. His mode of keeping accounts was the same as that usually adopted among the agents. A straight mark symbolized one dollar; one O a muskrat or a quarter of a dollar; two O's a half dollar. Instead of the name of the Indian his totem was drawn upon the book and prefixed to his accounts. O-ge-inaw-ke-ke-to's totem was a long fish, a spotted pickerel, which he inade with some skill; another's was a beaver, another's a bear, etc.
Judge G. D. Williams died at his homestead at Saginaw City, on the 11th day of December A. D. 1858, beloved and mourned. His brother, Mr. E. S. Williams, is still living, at Windsor, opposite Detroit, with his constitution unimpaired by his early border life, and a strength of muscle still intact, that would make any Wah-be-man-i-to tremble in an encounter.
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KISH-KAW-KO AND THE SOLDIERS.
The troops while stationed at Saginaw City, or where it now stands, suffered many privations and inconveniences, besides the petty annoyances and insults to which they were continually subjected by the Indians, who looked upon them as trespassers, not daring, however, to make any advances toward hostility; for they knew full well that the troops were prepared to meet anything of that nature with "promptness and dispatch." Still, the "red- skins" lost no opportunity in reminding them that they (the troops) were not at home, but upon grounds claimned by others than them- selves. There was one chief in particular, whose wigwam was nearly under cover of the fort, who was exceedingly annoying at least to the soldiers, but more particularly to the sentry; for every night, as he, on his accustomed round, would give the hour with the usual "all's well," this rascally chief would mockingly reiter- ate the watchword together with a taunting shout and whoop, mak- ing the very welkin ring and startling the inmates of the fort, who not infrequently imagined, upon being so unceremoniously awak- ened, that an attack was at hand. The scamp had repeated this a number of times, and our men determined to punish him a little, and at the same time enjoy some sport at his expense. Accord- ingly, they loaded an old swivel to the muzzle, with grape and can- ister, and mounted it upon the pickets, pointing it in the direction of the old copper-colored gentleman's wigwam,-in such a position, however, that the shot would merely rattle over his head, with no other effect than that of frightening him into silence, if nothing else. Night came at last and "all around was still; not even a leaf stirred," and the heavy tramp of the sentinel as he paced with measured tread his accustomed round, and the distant howl of the hungry wolf alone were heard. The men were lying quietly be- hind the gun, though by no means asleep, while a match was ready to apply at the signal, which, by the way, the old chief himself was unwittingly to give. Hour after hour glided silently by, and 12 o'clock came, the hour usually selected by Copper Face for his echo. "Twelve o'clock, all 's well," sang out the sentry. " All well," echoed the Indian, "Ke-whoop-ke-kee-who-whoop," making the same time a grand flourish after the war style of his fore- fathers-"ye-ye-ye-yeep-ke-who --. " At this instant a bright gleam of fire shot from the walls of the fort, accompanied by a re- port so loud, so deafening, that the very stars shut their eyes, the moon hid behind a cloud, and the ground and buildings shook with the concussion, while the grape and canister rattled fearfully over the wigwam and helter-skelter through the branches of the trees overhanging it. The old chief thought his time had in- deed come, and called lustily for all the gods in his unlettered vo- cabulary and medicine men of the nation to save him. After this salutary rebuke, no niche in the tribe was more courteous or defer- ential to the troops than this same Indian. Perhaps he thought it
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advisable to keep on good terms with beings who repaid insult with thunder, lightning and iron hail.
THE INDIAN MURDERER.
In April, 1825, Kish-kaw-ko killed an Indian in Detroit, in the presence of Uncle Harvey Williams, on Water street near the cen- ter of the present depot of the D. & M. R. R. The dead Indian was taken to Harvey Williams' blacksmith shop, an inquest was held by Coronor Benjamin Woodworth, while Kish-kaw-ko and his son were conveyed to the fort. The jury found the Indian guilty; but the criminal drank the hemlock in his prison and died before a trial could be had. His son, who was no party to the deed, escaped.
OKEMOS, OR OKIMA.
For an account of this celebrated Indian see page 56. During the treaty negotiation at Saginaw he was one of the most pro- nounced supporters of the motion to accept it.
NEH-WAY-GO.
In the history of the Chippewa Indians there cannot, perhaps, be found a character so magnificently stoic, or so rashly courageous as he whose name heads this notice. He was as gentle as a lamb when stroked, but the moment he encountered opposition, he be- came at once a fierce savage and remained one until those who op- posed his speech or interests fell. W. R. McCormick, in referring to this Indian warrior, says:
"For the particulars of the following tragic story I am indebted to Hon. E. S. Williams. It occurred while he was trading with the Indians at Saginaw, some time before De Tocqueville's visit and about two years before I came to the Saginaw Valley. The event was witnessed by Messrs. Williams, Judge Jewett, Col. Stanard and others, and strangely illustrates the peculiarities of frontier life and of the Indian character.
"Neh-way-go was a young Saginaw brave, living, in his earlier life, at Green Point, which is at the mouth of the Tittabawassee river, and in his later years upon the shores of the Saginaw Bay. He is described as a model of native strength and grace. While living at the former place he killed a son of Red Bird who lived on the Tittabawassee river. The relatives demanded satisfaction, and by Indian laws his life was the forfeit. He presented himself at the chief mourner's wigwam, where the warriors of the family of the deceased had assembled, and informed them that he had come for them to strike at his heart. He bared his bosom and took his position for the selected number to pass by him and in- flict the knife wound. They passed and inflicted, as they hoped, the mortal thrusts.
That done, and Indian usage being satisfied,
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he was making the best speed he could with his streaming wounds to his own wigwam, when he was struck in the back by a cowardly In- dian, inflicting a severe stab, but, as it is appears, like the other blows, not fatal. He was yet enabled to reach his own wigwam, some distance off, where his young wife was waiting, not expect- ing ever to see him alive again. She received him and bound up his wounds. He was restored after fearful suffering.
" After this event he removed to Kawkawlin, where he remained until his wounds were nearly healed. When he came up to Sagi- naw in a canoe with his wife, to do some trading at the Indian trad- ing post of the American Fur Company, which was then operated by G. D. and E. S. Williams, he was not yet able to get out of his canoe and go to the trading post, which was but a few rods from the river, without the aid of his paddle to lean upon. B. O. Williams, who was there at the time, describes him as a walking skeleton.
"Some Indians were there at the time. They sent word to O-sow-wah-bon's band at Green Point, some two miles distant, that Neh-way-go had arrived at the American Fur Company's trading post. The Messrs. Williams were well aware that if they met there would be a dreadful tragedy. They therefore placed per- sons to watch whether any Indians came from that direction. It was not long before O-sow-wah-bon and two Indians were seen ap- proaching, while Neh-way-go was still by his canoe, standing on the bank of the river leaning on his paddle. He was told by the Messrs. Williams to get into the canoe with his family and go down the river. This he refused to do, saying he was no coward, but like a brave man patiently awaited the attack. E. S. Williams went and met O-sow-wah-bon and told him he must go into the store, as he wanted to see him. After he was inside, the door was closed and he was told that they knew his business, and that he must now give up his knives. He reluctantly drew his knife from his sheath and handed it to B. O. Williams. They asked him if he had any more, and if so, to give them up or they would search him. He finally pulled out another which he had concealed down his back. They then asked him if he had any more; he said "No," when E. S. Williams said he would have to search him, which he refused to submit to. Mr. Williams clinched him, and with the assistance of B. O. Williams, now of Owosso, and some others, after a severe struggle, as O-sow-wah-bon was a very powerful man, they threw him on the floor. While B. O. Williams and some others were holding him, E. S. Willians commenced the search, and inside the legging they found a large knife, a very formidable weapon and as sharp as a razor. When Mr. Williams drew it from his legging he caught it by the blade and refused to give it up; the result was, before they could wrench it from his grasp, it had nearly severed his hand in two. They then lethim up and dressed his wound. While this proceeding was going on, B. O. Williams and another person slipped out of the back door and found Neh- way-go still standing on the shore leaning on his paddle, awaiting the attack, while his wife was sitting in the canoe crying. They
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