USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 13
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Dasist,
Shouse
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
told him to get into his canoe and be off, which he refused to do, repeating he was no coward. They then took him by main force, put him into the canoe with his wife and shoved it from the shore, and ordered his wife to paddle him home and not to come back again. He returned to his home on the Kawkawlin, where he soon after fully recovered from his wounds.
"Finding the coward afterward upon his hunting ground, who had inflicted upon him the wound in the back, he visited him summarily with Indian vengeance-death. Soon afterward the Indians were assembled in large numbers at Saginaw at an Indian payment, when an altercation ensued between Black Beaver, an Indian of considerable note, and the brave Neh-way-go. The former reproached him with the outrage he had committed upon the Indian who had struck him in the back. Neh-way-go defended the act as just and brave; the reproof was repeated, and upon the instant he slew Black Beaver. This was at the upper end, where the city of East Saginaw stands, near where the upper bridge crosses the river in the vicinity of the old Curtis-Emerson mill. Black Beaver and his band were here encamped. On the west side of the river, on the open plain near where the residence of E. J. Ring now stands, Neh-way-go and his band were encamped.
"After the bloody deed Neh-way-go crossed over to the west side of the river amongst his own people. A warrant was at once issued by Colonel Stanard for his arrest, acting as Justice. Neh- way-go fled back to the east side of the river, and accompanied by a friend, secreted himself in the woods upon what is now the site of the city of East Saginaw. He preferred to trust himself on the same side of the river with the tribe whose leading warrior he had stricken down than to endure the mortification of arrest and pun- ishment of the white inan's laws. He sent word to two of his white friends, Antoine Campau and Ephraim S. Williams, desiring them to cross the river and come to the woods in which he was secreted, when by giving a signal he would come to them. They did so and he soon made his appearance. He informed them that he had sent for them for advice; that the white man's punishment (imprisonment) was only fit for cowards; death by the hands of his own race was glorious in comparison, if any relative of Black Beaver should choose to make it a cause for vengeance. They advised him to cross back to his own camp, present himself to his people, and let the affair take the course warranted by Indian usage. The arrest by the officer was waived and he presented himself at his own camp openly.
"The hour for the burial of Black Beaver arrived. An immense number of Indians, from two to three thousand, were present, as it was Indian payment at Saginaw at the time, as mourners and spectators. The place of burial was just below the old Campau house on the brow of the hill, west of where A. W. Wright's planing mill now stands and near where Neh-way-go and his band were encamped. The body had been placed in the coffin.
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
The relatives with their faces streaked with black had gathered about it. The few white settlers then in the valley were all there as spectators. The fearful outrage so near their own doors had absorbed and engrossed the attention of all.
"While the solemn Indian rite was in progress over the remains of their favorite warrior, Neh-way-go was seen approach- ing from his camping ground. He was dressed in full and carefi.l costume, tomahawk and knife in his girdle and a small canteen of whisky at his side, his whole appearance imposing and gallant. He made his way with a lofty and majestic step to the center of the mourning group. Walking with measured step to the side of the coffin, he placed upon it his tomahawk and knife. He filled his calumet with kinakanick, composedly and with dignity. After smoking from it himself first, he passed it to the chief mourner, who declined it. He passed it to the next, and the next, with the same result. He passed his canteen of whisky with the same formality, and with the same result. They declined to partake.
"He then undid the collar of his hunting shirt, and bared his bosom, seating himself with calm dignity upon the foot of the coffin. He turned his face full upon the chief mourners, and thus addressed them: 'You refuse my pipe of peace. You refuse to drink with me. Strike not in the back. Strike not and miss. The man that does dies when I meet him on our hunting ground.' Not a hand was raised. Upon the dark and stoical faces of that cloud of enemies by whom he was surrounded, no feeling found expression except that of awe; no muscle moved. He arose from his seat on the foot of the coffin, and towering to his full, fine
height, exclaimed: 'Cowards! Cowards! Cowards!' As com- posedly as he had taken them out, he restored, unmolested, the tomahawk and knife to his girdle, and with his canteen at his side, walked away from the strange scene as lordly as he came. He had awed his enemies, and was evidently master of the situation. Removing soon after to the bay shore away from the scene of his early feuds and fearful exploits, lie fell ultimately upon the hunt- ing ground in a personal encounter with a relative of one of his victims."
O-SAW-WAH-PON.
This chief of the Saginaws was born in the Indian camp which once occupied the site of Saginaw City. His birth took place in 1798. It is said that his mother's name was the almost unpro- nounceable Ke-ne-wah-nah-ah-no-quay, and that the name which she bestowed upon the infant savage, was Kay-pay-yon-quod. While bearing this extraordinary title he was generally ill, and, believing that its change would lead to good results, he cast it aside in regular Indian form and adopted that of his father, O-saw- wah-pon. He was very much attached to General Cass, and, on his account, principally, used his great oratorical powers in defense of the American. It is even said that he urged Tecumseh
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
to desist from his purpose of opposing the Government. He died in Isabella county early in 1859, and was buried with all the cere- mony attendant on the Indian funeral.
MACOSE.
Macose was an English half-breed. Notwithstanding his savage associations, he retained that habit, peculiar to his parent on the one side, of sounding the H where it should not be heard, and of dropping it where it should be heard. On this account his lan- guage was amusing to the American pioneers, even as it resulted unprofitably to himself. The people whom he met told him he was an Englishman; he became convinced of the fact, and as soon as he did, he determined to take unto himself the dusky Indian girl, the daughter of the great chief Ogemawkeketo. The half- breed and his full-blood better half procee ded to England, where the poor girl died after the fashion of the sympathetic Pocahontas. What the end of the great Macose was is uncertain. If it were no better than his life among the wilderness of the Peninsula, it must be poor indeed.
MIZ-CO-BE-NA-SA,
or Red Bird, was the hereditary chief of the Indians of the Chip- pewas. Owing to his quiet disposition and his age, he permitted the duties of his position to devolve on Okemawkeketo, even as the latter invested the grotesque Tonadogamaw with similar powers subsequently. Old Miz-co was a lazy Indian for many years previous to his death, the heroic achievements of his earlier years were forgotten, and he sank to a most degraded position among the people who once called him "chief."
SINNENCE, THE WAR CHIEF.
This warrior lived at the Indian Mills on the Chippewa river in · Isabella county. He was very popular among the Chippewas, and was always received with honors by the Indians of the Ottawa and Pottawatomie tribes. The village now known as Sinnence was named after him.
TO-NA-DOG-A-NAW
was the head chief of the Chippewa nation. This honor belonged to him on account of his great powers of debate, acute understand- ing and great prowess in the hunt. He was ugly in every sense. He wore only a hunting shirt from April to September, and this hung loosely from a hunch-back, which won for him the name "Richard III."
O KE-MAW-KE-KE-TO.
Oke-maw-ke-ke-to was not chief by hereditary title; but aware of the high order of liis accomplishments, his brother Indians con-
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
ferred on him the title and privileges which belonged to Miz-co-be- na-sa, who was content to lead as chieftain of a band. It is said that both the hereditary and de-facto rulers were savages of most noble parts, requiting justice with a lasting friendship for its dis- penser, and punishing treachery with instant death.
MA-SAY-NOS,
the hermit Indian, was another of the strange beings inhabiting the country in pioneer times. Like the hart-broken gentleman referred to in the marriage record, his girl "went back on him," and he ever afterward led a life of retirement, seldom speaking to the Indians or the traders. There are very few Indians of that class now-a-days.
NAW-QWA-CHIC-A-MING.
Naw-qwa-chic-a-ming was made one of the chiefs of his tribe on the death of his father, since which time he was constituted head chief of the Chippewas. He was well and favorably known to all the early white settlers in the Saginaw Valley. His honesty and friendship have been proven in numberless instances. Naw-qwa- chic-a-ming, Okemaw-ke-ke-to, Shaw-e-be-no-se, Wosso, To-na-dog- a-naw and Mozhe-ga-shing, with Henry Connor, Gardner D. Williams, Capt. J. F. Marsac, Charles H. Rodd and Benj. O. Williams visited Washington in 1830 for the purpose of carrying out the sale referred to in the treaty of that year. The subject of this sketch departed this life for the "happy hunting grounds" Oct. 26, 1874, at a remarkably advanced age.
SHAW-WE-NOS-SE-GA.
This Indian was known to the white settlers from his boyhood. At a very early age he took a place among the warriors of his . tribe as a great hunter, and in after years, when the new settlers offered a bounty for wolf scalps, Shaw-we-nos-se-ga was among the principal holders of bounty certificates. As late as 1857 he pro- duced 12 wolf certificates before the supervisors' board, when one of the local law-makers wrote the following poetical tribute:
Shaw-we-nos-se-ga! is not thy name Feared by the beasts that scour the plains ? Is not their fearful howling mute When on the fleet, wild deer's pursuit ? Shaw-we-nos-se-ga, hath not thy care Searched out the depth of the wild-woods lair, And in the deep and wild recess Dealt out the fearful blow of death ? Shaw-we-nos-se-ga, hath not thy hand Laid low full twelve of the fearful clan And scattered wide the wild woods through, The remnant of the fearful crew ? Shaw-we-nos-se-ga has reverence past
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
From the fearful howl on the forest blast ! Canst thou no longer in friendship roam With the howling wolf around thy home ? Shaw-we-nos-se-ga, in reverence wide, Thy father oft the wolf espied, But thou hast thrown the veil aside That long was reverenced by thy tribe ! Shaw-we-nos-se-ga, dost thou not fear
The spirits of thy fathers near ? Do they not whisper to thy soul To stay thy hand from death's control ?
Shaw-we-nos-se-ga, the wild wolf dread Where to the wild woods haunts hath fled, The white man wish you pleasure there,
Within a clime serenely fair;
Where soft winds murmur in sweet repose, Like twilight hour at evening's close ;
When springtime's warm and genial breath Over the southern landscape rests.
BRIEFER MENTION.
Muck-a-ko-kooh, a hunchback, known to the early settlers as Richard III, failed to kill his father. He was one of the most savage of his race, yet at times so peaceable that he would actu- ally follow agricultural pursuits. He died in 1869.
Sog-e-che-way-o-sway, of Pe-waw-ne-go-ing (now the township of Taymouth), the predecessor of Elijah H. Pitcher, died in 1865. He was present at the ratification of a treaty in 1864, within the store of P. C. Andre.
Otawas, chief of the Tawas band, had two sons, one of whom married a lady who, afterward became school-teacher.
Muck-u-ta-me-shay-way, or Black Elk, was said to have been the finest Indian of the tribe, though Beau Temps, a Cass river Indian, is said to have been the truest specimen of Indian man- hood.
Notawa was one of the oldest chiefs of Cass river. He died about 1850.
Ken-e-wap, one of the greatest elk hunters on the Cass, died 23 years ago.
Chib-auk lived on the Crow Reserve, five miles below Saginaw City, on the east side of the river, for whom a reservation of 640 acres, including a small island in the river, was made in 1832, under article of treaty. He sold to .G. D. & E. S. Williams, . and removed to Canada, where he died.
Pay-mah-se-gey, chief of the Pine river band, died in 1856. He was considered a good man.
Saw-waw-mic was a celebrated hunter of the Chippewas, for- merly from Sibi-way-ink; lived six miles east of East Saginaw. He was known to run down a bear or deer and fight to the death. When he was to draw his annuity he would look at the money scornfully and fling it in the river.
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
A SUMMER VISIT TO THE INDIAN CAMP.
A visitor to the Indian camp at Green Point gave the following description of his journey thither, as well as of what he saw there : "During the sojourn of the Indians at Green Point it was cer- tainly worth one's while to pay them a visit. I remember one fine afternoon, some ten years since, of accompanying an old Indian trader there, while it was in full possession of the Indians (1847). Seated in a light canoe and each armed with a paddle, we started from Saginaw City for the ostensible purpose of bartering with the Indians for furs, etc. For my part I was perfectly delighted with the idea, as I never had an opportunity before of seeing the In- dians 'at home,' at least during the summer season, and was also glad to exchange the monotony of a clerk's life for a paddle o'er the bright waters of the beautiful Saginaw. The river was sufficiently agitated to cause our tiny boat to rock dreamily, and as we sped from the shore the rich waves leaped and sported against our canoe's prow and sides, like sportive kittens, ever and anon greet- ing our faces with a ' damp paw,' that was by no means unpleasant. On, on we sped, now under the shadow of the green woods, now by the fringed, rich border of the prairie. We could readily dis- cern in the distance the white tents of the Indians fluttering in the wind, and hear the wild, joyous shouts of the dusky juveniles as they pursued their uncouth sports and games. As we approached their camp what a busy and exhilarating scene presented itself to our view! I clapped my hands in the exuberance of my spirits, for never before liad I witnessed a scene so full of real, unaffected natural happiness as there greeted my senses. My companion did not seem to partake of my enthusiasm, for he had often witnessed similar scenes. Little Indian boys and girls, resembling so many Cupids (in one sense) could be seen; some wrestling, some shoot- ing with tiny bows and arrows, some paddling their tiny canoes, while others were bathing and splashing in the river, like so many amphibia, each striving to excel the others in the manner and demonstration of its enjoyment. Superannuated Indians and squaws sat by the tent doors, looking on with a quiet, demure pleasure, or arranging some toy or trinket for some little toddler, while the more efficient were engaged in various occupations or no occupation at all. Oh, how I longed for an artist's skill, that I might sketch the wild and picturesque scene! Here, thought I, is human nature in its free, untrammeled state. Care, to these chil- dren of nature, seems to be a stranger; no thought of the morrow engrosses their minds, but the world with vicissitudes and vexa- tions, passes along apparently unnoticed by them. Buoyancy of spirit is a striking feature in the Indian character.
"As we drew our canoe out upon the beach, the Indians came out to meet us, with a hearty shake of the hand, and a cordial bon jour. The shady urchins for a while suspended their games and stood with gap- ing mouths and suspicious looks, gazing at the Keche-mo-ko-mon, then with a yelp and a bound returned to their sports, more vociferously
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
than ever, their wild cries and shouts merrily ringing over the prairie, and echoing in the green wood beyond. Situated upon the greenest and most beautiful portion of the camp ground, were a number of very white and neat looking tents, which I observed were closed and entirely isolated from the dingy, smoky tents of the encampment. My companion, who seemed a sort of privileged character, appeared perfectly at home, while I, considering myself among strangers, clung to him, and followed him wherever he went, not venturing to ' throw myself upon my own responsibility.' I was therefore pleased when I saw him start toward the white tents, for I was curious to know what they contained. Drawing aside the canvas, he entered without ceremony, I of course, follow- ing after. Seated upon beautiful mats of colored rushes which served as carpets and divans, were some three or four good-looking squaws, very neatly and even richly attired in the fanciful style of the native, busily engaged in embroidering and ornamenting moc- casins, broad-cloth leggings and blankets with variegated beads and porcupine quills. Everything around evinced the utmost order, neatness and taste. No bustling nichee or dirty urchin was allowed the freedom of these apparently consecrated tents, but all was quiet and calm within, or if any conversation was carried on, it was in that soft, musical tone so peculiar to them. So, so, thought I, here we have a sort of aristocracy, a set of 'exclusives,' and a speci- men of high life among the natives; yet it was just that kind of 'high life' in many respects, after which their white sisters might take pattern. No idle gossiping or scandal was indulged in; they quietly plied their needles and kept their counsels to themselves. If they had occasion to visit their neighbor's tent it was done quietly and pleasantly, after which business was resumed."
This description is based upon fact. Though the camping ground is now far away from the Saginaw, the Chippewa women of the Churchill river region observe the same custom to-day.
THE EMIGRANTS.
The days having arrived when the aborigines had to leave the shores of the Saginaw, in accordance with the terms of the treaty which they accepted, both men and women were overcome with sorrow, and having picked up the varied treasures, seemed to wish that they could carry with them the very earth upon which they trod. It was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness those children of the forest slowly retiring from the home of their childhood, that contained not only their ancestors' graves, but also many endear- ing scenes, to which their memory would ever recur as sunny spots along their pathway through the wilderness. They felt they were bidding farewell to the land of their infancy; to the hunting grounds of their youth, as well as the stern and bloody fields of their riper manhood, where they had contended, on which they had received wounds, and where many of their friends and relatives had fallen covered with gore and glory. All these were to be
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
left behind to be torn by the plowshare of the white settler. As they cast mournful glances back toward these loved scenes, that were rapidly fading in the distance, tears fell from the cheek of the downcast warrior, old men trembled, matrons wept, the swarthy maiden's cheek turned pale, and sighs and half suppressed sobs es- caped from the motley groups as they passed along, some on foot, some on horseback, some in wagons, sad as a funeral procession. Several of the aged warriors were seen to cast glances toward the sky, as if they were imploring aid from the spirits of their departed heroes, who were looking down upon them from the clouds, or from the Great Spirit, who would ultimately redress the wrongs of the red man, whose broken bow had fallen from his hand, and whose sad heart was bleeding within him. Ever and anon one of the party would start into the brush and break back to the old encamp- ment, declaring he would die rather than be banished from his country. Thus hundreds returned to the villages of their youth, and years elapsed before many of them could be induced to join their tribe in Isabella. Only in 1866 the Indian village and mis- sion, two miles above the mouth of the Kaw-kaw-lin, was vacated, and the Indians and missionaries, acting on the old advice of Horace Greeley, went West, to possess themselves of the new fields granted them by their white Father at Washington. In 1868 a Chippewa village, containing 15 lodges, existed on the banks of Cheboygan creek. To-day there are many dwellings in the county, and even those who left long years ago, now would come back in silence to speak to the survivors of the Kichokowans they first saw in the valley, and take a look at all the wonderful changes that are being inaugurated where once stood their simple wigwams.
CHAPTER II. THE TREATIES WITH THE SAGINAWS.
THE TREATY OF DETROIT.
The only treaty negotiated in the Territory of Michigan prior to 1819 was that of Detroit in 1807, which gave the United States a possessory title to the southeastern portion of the State of Michi- gan as at present constituted. Detroit and the territory adjacent to it became the property of the general Government by right of conquest, strengthened by an article of the treaty of Greenville, made in 1795. The treaty of 1807 merely bound the aborigines to surrender their hunting grounds south of lattitude 43º 10' North, and therefore did not comprise the northeastern river re- gion, or deal with that section of the Indian people known as the Saginaws. To this point the attention of the United States Gov- ernment was drawn in 1818, and a year later Gov. Lewis Cass was commissioned to enter the council of that section of the Indian in- habitants and present the articles of treaty for their acceptance, ceding to the United States all the land north of a line drawn through the second tier of the northern townships of Oakland, through the northern tier of the townships of Livingstone, thence north to the head of Thunder Bay river, and northeast to Lake Huron, leaving the six-mile tract along the rivers Detroit and St. Clair unnamed.
THE THIRST DANCE BEFORE THE TREATY.
A few days before the arrival of Gen. Cass on the great camp- ing ground of the tribe, the Indians of the Chippewa nation re- solved upon performing the ceremonies peculiar to their great feasts. The chief proclaimed a day for holding the white-dog feast, fixing the commencement of the exercises for Sept. 3, 1819. Bands of Indians had encamped there for several weeks preparing for the festival, .. which was of a .propitiatory as well as penetential character, the peculiarity of the ceremonial being that the dancers should not eat, drink, or sleep until the proceedings were con- cluded, -a period ranging from two to four days.
In order to fully carry fout the program, it was necessary to erect a temple. For this purpose 40 or 50 warriors with their squaws set out on horseback in search of a center pole. This cav- alcade was preceded by the medicine man dressed in an old Brit- ish uniform, surmounted with a gaudy head-dress. He carried the " tum-tum," a tin pan and a small cane. The former he beat with
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
the latter, while the chief who traveled close behind him, uttered wild words of incantation and threats, so that the evil spirit would not enter on their pathway. A tree suitable to the purpose was soon found and was approached with whoops, yells, cries of joy and firing of musketry. In a short time it was cut down, and the warriors ranging themselves along its trunk, attached their lariats and drew it into the camp ground amid shouts of joy. The medi- cine man selected a few warriors to raise the sacred pole; the men so selected performed the duty, while the remainder of the congre- gated Indians prayed to their god to keep off the evil spirit and bless the undertaking. The tent was then pitched. Inside were four stalls erected, with walls three feet high, two for the male and two for the female dancers, generally young people who had in a moment of imminent danger vowed to perform this service of praise to the Great Spirit if he would only save them.
The medicine man announced everything ready, when the dancers, numbering 40 maids and braves, entered their respective stalls. The latter wore feathers in their scalplocks and otherwise displayed a style of costume not yet adopted by the children of civilization. They had nothing on but a coat of paint. Some of them were frescoed gorgeously and tastefully, while others, prob- ably the married men and philosophers, put on their favorite colors hideously and carelessly as if they cared not whether the girls smiled on or spurned them. The squaws. however, had completed their varied toilets with much care. They moved about among the braves with perfect indifference and gave no sign that the airiness of the warriors' dress offended them in the least. The orchestra, composed of half a dozen chiefs with the usual tum-tum apparatus, took its place shortly before midnight on Sept. 3, and to their mu- sic, the grunting of the medicine man, singers and head men, with a wild song by the dancers, the ceremonies commenced. Each dancer wasprovided with a whistle, made from the wing bone of a goose, ornamented with feathers and colors. As they jumped about they sounded shrill notes on these " musical " instruments, which, blended with the whoops, grunts, yells and monotonous tum-tum of the drums, fell upon the civilized ear with startling effect. Hour after hour the dance was kept up, the only intermis- sion being at the will of the drummers, who were relieved at inter- vals. At times the surging and noises subsided, when one of the wise men recited tales of heroism for the edification of the young dancers.
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