History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 10

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

of trading and colonizing. But useful as was the aid of Frontenac to La Salle, friendship with the governor brought one drawback with it. It made Frontenac's enemies, La Salle's enemies. These enemies of the governor were by no means few nor powerless. In the first place he had offended the traders of Canada, by embarking in trade on his own account and establishing posts for this purpose on the western lakes. He had been unfortunate enough, also, to incur the displeasure of the Jesuits by some opposition to their plans. The Jesuits were both numerous and power- ful and their opposition to the scheme of La Salle, induced in part by their dislike of the governor, was destined to cost La Salle very dear. The Jesuits had long had attention di- rected to the valley of the great river. Here they had planned to evangelize the Indians and to found a province like that of Paraguay in South America where they should be su- preme. La Salle's dream of colonization and settlement ran counter to this plan of the Jesuits and they were accordingly opposed to him and all that he attempted to do.

In spite of all opposition, however, La Salle persisted in his work. In 1673 he received from Frontenac the grant of a new seignory in the west. This was called Fort Frontenac and was situated near the present site of Kingston. This grant carried with it a prac- tical monopoly of the fur trade in that part of Canada. In 1674 and again in 1677 he visited France. Here his enthusiasm, his knowledge of the country of America, and above all persistence and determination won approval for his schemes. He received from the King of France a patent of authority, giv- ing him the right to explore the country at his own expense, to build and equip forts, and to exercise a monopoly of the trade in buffalo

skins for a period of five years. Armed with this concession, La Salle made the greatest exertion to raise enough funds to equip his expeditions. In this he was successful, and returned to Canada after having organized his expedition. He arrived in Quebec in August, 1678, and secured men and supplies for his projected expedition to the Mississippi. One man who accompanied him, and who was dest- ined to be closely associated with all his en- terprises, was Tonti. He also secured the friendship and help of Father Hennepin.

On landing at Quebec, La Salle immediately set to making arrangements for the expedition and sent Father Hennepin and Tonti with men and supplies, as an advance guard. Starting on November 18th, from Fort Front- enac, they landed at Lewiston and continued up the Niagara river to the Falls. IIere they concluded to wait, and arrange for the further course of the expedition. They were joined by La Salle in January, 1679. La Salle had come to Lewiston, in the vessel which he de- signed to use for the purpose of the expediton, but this vessel was wrecked in the attempt. The early part of 1679 was spent by the party in building a boat for use on the upper lakes. This boat was launched in the spring, above the Falls of Niagara. The party suffered very greatly from the hostility of the Iroquois In- dians. In fact it was almost impossible to prevent the destruction of the vessel which they were building.

La Salle left the party in the spring, and re- turned to Fort Frontenac to secure further supplies and funds. He found that all of his property had been attached by his ereditors, at the instigation of his enemies, for the pay- ment of his debts. Nevertheless, La Salle re- turned to Lake Erie to continue the expedi- tion, and on Angust the seventh, embarked on the new vessel which he had named the "Grif-

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

fon." They sailed through Lake Huron and ever, La Salle finally overcame their opposi- down Lake Michigan to Green Bay. Here tion with the threat that if they did not con- sent to accompany and help him in his schemes, he would "go to the Osages who were. men and not women." This offer inter- ested the Illinois and gained their consent, for they were bitterly hostile to the Osages. La Salle collected a cargo of valuable furs, with which he loaded the "Griffon," and then sent the vessel back to Niagara, instructing the pilot to dispose of the furs, procure addi- tional supplies, and then return.

La Salle, with the remainder of the expedi- tion, left Green Bay in canoes, and made their way to the mouth of the St. Joseph. Here they proceeded to build a boat and awaited the return of the "Griffon." Not having heard any news of this vessel by the beginning of December. La Salle was filled with appre- hension concerning her fate. The cargo of furs was necessary for a part of the expense of his journey. Notwithstanding this. he determined to continue, and on the 3rd of December the canoes made their way up the St. Joseph, and were carried over the five mile portage which separates the headwaters of the St. Joseph from those of the Illinois. They found the country of the Illinois practically deserted ; and, while there was abundant sign of deer and buffalo, they nearly starved owing to their failure to find food. Finally they found an Indian village at the great rock on the Illinois river, known as Starved Rock. Here La Salle held a conneil with represent- atives of many of the tribes of the Illinois country. He outlined to them his plans, one of which was an alliance with the Indians for the purpose of trade.

The Indians discouraged his attempt, tell- ing him that it would be impossible to reach the mouth of the Mississippi, owing to the hostility of the tribes on its lower course, and warning him of the dangers of such an under- taking. This opposition of the Indians, as La Salle afterward found, was caused by a rumor which his enemies had started, that he was the secret agent of the Iroquois. How-

Having secured supplies from these In- dians, La Salle started down the river, reach- ing the place which he named Fort Creve Coeur in January, 1680. Here he was de- serted by a number of his men and received the message which told of the loss of the "Griffon" with all its cargo. He then began the construction of a vessel in which to navi- gate the Mississippi. He found it necessary to return to Canada for certain supplies for the building of this vessel, and on March 1st set out alone for Canada. His return journey was one of the most terrible ever made; but he reached Fort Frontenac in safety. and, having made provision for the necessary sup- plies, started on the return trip in August. He had left the expedition at Fort Creve Coeur under the command of Tonti, but when he reached that point he found the camp en- tirely deserted. There were abundant signs that the Indians had made an attack upon the camp. and destroyed it. Only a part of the vessel which had been built was left, and since it was impossible to proceed, La Salle returned to the St. Joseph. Here he held a great council with the Miamis and the Shaw- nees, and with them he formed a league for the furtherance of his purpose in regard to the Illinois Indians. He returned to Canada, meeting on the way with Tonti, who, after most remarkable dangers and struggles, had succeeded in escaping from the Indians and returning by way of the upper lakes.

This experience, which would have shaken the resolution of a less resolute man, but con-

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

firmed La Salle in his intention to explore the great river. In October, 1681, he returned to Lake Michigan, entered the Chicago river and reached the Mississippi, February 6, 1682. This time he did not attempt the construction of a large vessel, but made his way down the river in canoes. He reached the mouth of the river, October 6th and took possession of the entire country in the name of the king of France.

Having returned from this voyage of dis- covery, La Salle set out upon the execution of the remainder of his great seheme. This in- cluded the project of fur trade among the Illinois Indians. IIe had become convinced that this was possible only after organizing tlie Indians, and offering them protection against the raids of the Iroquois. He had selected as the site for his trading post, the great rock known as Starved Rock. Here he planted a colony, and the Indians having fallen in with his scheme, he won their friendship and estab- lished a flourishing trade in that territory. Leaving his little colony, he made his way back to Canada to secure still further sup- plies, but here he found things changed. His friend, Frontenac had been superseded as gov- ernor of Canada, and the new governor was under the influence of La Salle's enemies. Hle did all he could to hinder and discourage La Salle who found it necessary once more to go to France. Here, in spite of the misrepresent- ations of the governor, he once more won the confidence of the king and his ministers and received still more valuable patents and grants in the new territory.

He organized a new expedition. It was planned to sail to the Gulf of Mexico, locate the mouth of the river, and then proceed up its course to some suitable place where a colony would be founded. In this way he

intended to take and hold all the valley of the Mississippi.

The officer in command of the ships was both incompetent, and hostile to La Salle. IIe failed to find the mouth of the river, and after cruising back and forth for a time, he insisted on landing the expedition on the coast of the gulf some four hundred miles west of the mouth of the river. The ships then sailed away to France leaving La Salle and the members of the expedition helpless in an unknown and entirely unpromising re- gion. La Salle made the best of the situation. A colony was formed, houses and shelters ereeted and the beginnings of a settlement formed. It was La Salle's intention to search for and find the river from this place. After numerous attempts he became convinced that he was so far from the river and so ignorant of its position and direction that he could not any longer hope to be successful in his seareh. The colony in the meantime was in a deplor- able condition. Food supplies were limited ; the region in which they were was barren and inhospitable. Many members of the expedi- tions were dissatisfied and hostile to their leader.

At last La Salle formed a desperate resolu- tion. He despaired of finding the river. He saw that the colony could not long survive. No help could be expected from France direct. He determined to go overland to Canada and there secure ships and provisions for saving his men. On foot, then, accompanied by a few members of the expedition to set out a walk a thousand miles through an unknown country, to cross rivers and lakes, to meet the Indians and to confront all the dangers of the wilderness. Nothing shows better the uncon- querable determination of the man than this last projected journey. He had gone but a little way until he was shot and killed by one

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

of those accompanying him. This man had cherished a secret grudge against La Salle and had found an opportunity for satisfying his hatred.

So there died, in the prime of his life and in the midst of the execution of great plans, the greatest of the French explorers. IIad he lived to carry out his plans and had the French government caught something of his

idea and his enthusiasm, it is quite probable that the history of the Mississippi valley would have been quite different. It was long, how- ever, before the government of France came to have much appreciation of the great terri- tory of Louisiana. She regarded it with little care or concern; left it without attention, or granted it with careless indifference to vari- ous applicants.

CHAPTER IV

INDIAN HISTORY

IMPORTANCE OF INDIANS IN OUR HISTORY-INDIAN TRADE-INDIANS IN SOUTHIEAST MISSOURI WHEN DESOTO CAME-THE CAPAHAS-THE SIOUAN FAMILY AND ITS BRANCHES - THE OSAGES-THEIR HOMES-THEIR FARMS-OSAGE HOUSES - FURNITURE AND CLOTHING - POLYGAMY-WEAPONS-PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF THE OSAGES - PAINTING OF THE BODY - THEIR GOVERNMENT-WARS WITH OTHER INDIANS-DEFEATED BY SACS AND FOXES-THEIR REMOVAL FROM THE STATE-DELAWARES AND SHAWNEES-THEIR HISTORY OUTSIDE MIS- OURI-WHY THE SPANIARDS BROUGHT THEM TO MISSOURI-CHARACTER-THEIR VILLAGES --- TECUMSEH'S SISTER - CHILLETECAUX - WITCHCRAFT DELUSION-THE MASHCOUX TRIBE- TREATIES WITH THE INDIANS-INDIAN EDUCATION.

Constant reference has been made in earlier chapters to the Indians, as the aboriginal in- habitants of America were incorrectly named by Columbus, and other early explorers, be- cause they believed America to be the In- dies. These Indians are interesting as be- ing the earliest inhabitants of the country and also because they played a considerable part in its history after the white man came here. They were always to be taken into consideration. Whether friendly or hostile. whether disposed to help or hinder those who came, they were always to be reckoned with. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, for us who live in the security of the present, even to imagine the time when the savage warwhoop of the Indians was a sound of terror, often heard and always to be dreaded. We cannot reconstruct, except imperfectly, the condi- tions of life, here, when trade with the In- dians was one of the prime motives for the coming of white people to this part of the world.

And yet, difficult as it is to realize these things, both of these conditions once existed There was a time in Southeast Missouri when every home was in some ways a fortress, when the inhabitants listened for the war- whoop, and when life and property were not safe from the savage attacks of the red men. It is true that the depredations committed here were not so extensive as those suffered by the people of the eastern part of this country, but they were sufficient in number to form a bloody chapter in our history.

There was time, also, when trade with the Indians was very profitable. The western country was once the home of many fur- bearing animals. Perhaps nowhere else in the world did there ever exist such a great number of animals valuable for their fur or for their flesh as in the western part of North America. Until the coming of the white people the Indians had done little to destroy these animals. It is true they lived

Vol. I-3

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

largely by hunting, but they hunted only to supply the immediate needs for food, and so vast was the animal life of the country that its natural increase more than compensated for all the Indians killed for food and skins. But when the Indians found it possible to trade furs to the whites for those things which they desired, they became the agents for the destruction of the game of the coun- try. It was relentlessly pursued and vast quantities of furs were every year bartered away to the traders. The fur trade was ex- ceedingly profitable to the white men engaged in it, for it was possible to buy with a hatchet, a string of beads, some calico, or other inexpensive articles, valuable furs. To secure this trade and hold it became a prize, contended for, not alone by individuals and companies, but by nations themselves. A part of the colonial policy of France, of Eng- land, and of Spain was directed by a desire to secure or hold the trade in furs.

In order to accomplish these objects set- tlements were made, expeditions and wars carried on. Some of the early settlements in the state were made as trading points. This is true of Cape Girardeau. Here Louis Lori- mier early established himself to carry on trade with the Indians. New Madrid was originally a trading post of the La Sieurs.

It is clear that much of the early history of this part of the state was determined and given course by the presence of the Indians. It is the purpose of this chapter to give an account of the various tribes that lived here, their character, habits, manner of life, rela- tion to the settlers, and the final disposition made of them.

When DeSoto came to Southeast Missouri . he found living within its borders at least three tribes of Indians. Those whose princi-

pal place of dwelling was in the neighbor- hood of New Madrid he called Casquins. These we believe to have been identical with the Kaskaskias later found on the other side of the river in what is now the state of Illi- nois. If this is correct the Casquins were a part of the great Algonquin group of Indians who were formerly to be found scattered over a considerable part of the eastern portion of the United States. Their removal from New Madrid county to Illinois is not a matter of surprise, for such removals were not at all uncommon among the Indians. In fact it was a custom with most of them to change their place from time to time. This was due, in part, to their roving disposition and con- stant love of change; in part, to the neces- sity of finding new hunting grounds where proper supplies of food might be had; and, in part, to the constant and bitter warfare waged between Indians of different tribes.

It was probably some such war which caused the Casquins to abandon their seat in Southeast Missouri and migrate to the other side of the great river. In fact we know that between them as Algonquins and the Siouan family (represented by the Osages, the Kan- sas, the Missouris and others) there was bit- ter hatred and constant warfare. It was the interference of DeSoto in the quarrel of the Casquins that bought him into contact with the Capahas.

These Capahas were doubtless living in the neighborhood of Cape Girardeau. They be- longed, it seems, to the great Siouan family. It was a tradition among the Siouan Indians west of the river that their original seat was in the valley of the Ohio; that owing to trouble with other Indians they migrated down the Ohio to its mouth. Here they divided part of them turning to the south and others to the north. Those who

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

went to the South were called Quapas, Ca- pahas, Pacahas, and other similar names; all meaning "downstream Indians" and having reference to their going down the river from the time of their separation. Those who turned to the north were called Omahas, meaning "upstream Indians." These Omahas made their way to the Missouri river, where some of them settled and long remained. These were called Missouris. Others of them passed up this river toward the west. Some of them settled on that branch of the Missouri after- ward called for them the Osage. These were the famous Osage Indians whose doings fill such a large part of the aboriginal history of Missouri. Still others of these Indians pressed their way further west to become known as the Kansas and Omahas.

If this legendary account as preserved by the Indians themselves is correct, there ex- isted a close relation between all the Indians named. That this relation did exist is shown by the similarity of their language. They spoke, it is true, different dialects, but these were not so dissimilar as to preclude all com- munication. Indeed it was possible for one speaking either of these various dialects to learn the others in a very short space of time.

The third tribe of Indians found by DeSoto were these Osages, who at this time lived in the great bend of the Missouri, but whose hunting ground extended east to the Missis- sippi and south to the Arkansas.

When the French came, the Casquins had migrated to a new seat on the Illinois river, if indeed the Kaskaskias of Illinois were identical with the Casquins described by De- Soto. The Capahas had moved down the Mississippi to the Arkansas where they con- tinned to reside. Others think, however, that their principal seat was on the St. Francois

and that one of their villages, called Tori- man, was in Dunklin county. This is the con- clusion of Houck who has given the matter very careful study. (Houck's "Ilistory of Missouri," Vol. I, p. 173).

Of all these early aboriginal inhabitants of Southeast Missouri none are more interesting than the Osages. A part as we have seen of that great Sionan family which at an early date migrated from their original home in the valley of the Ohio to its mouth where they divided; the Osages, at the time of the French, were living on the Missouri and the Osage. From here their hunting parties went out to cover that great stretch of terri- tory extending east to the Mississippi and south to the Arkansas. They continued to reside on the Osage until, with the Missouris, the tribe which for a time lived near the mouth of the Missouri but which afterward moved up the stream and nnited with the Osages, they came into conflict with Sacs and Foxes. A deadly strife ensued between these Indians, and later, between the Osages and the Cherokees when the latter were moved to this side of the river by the govern- ment. The Osages resented the coming of the Cherokees to their hunting grounds and tried to drive them out. They gradually degenerated, however, and finally disap- peared from the Missouri country.

During the time of their prosperity they had been induced by the Indian traders to found some settlements on the Arkansas, and, when the pressure of other tribes and the whites became too strong for them, the rem- nant made their way to the south. Some of their descendants reside yet in Oklahoma.

These Indians lived principally by hunt- ing, but they also cultivated little patches of soil. Usually each band of them had two or more places of residence. Near one of them

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

they had some cleared land. Here, usually in April, they planted maize and squashes, or pumpkins and beans. When this planting was made, they then set out on a hunting ex- pedition which lasted for two or three months. Returning usually in August they harvested their crops which, during their absence, had been uncultivated. The corn was usually shelled and stored in pots or hol- low trunks of trees, the squashes and pump- kins were dried, the latter being cut into long strips and hung in the upper part of their houses. Beans were also kept by being shelled and stored. The crop harvested and stored for winter, the Indians were accust- omed to depart again for another hunting ex- pedition. The meat procured on these expe- ditions, such as was not immediately used, was dried or jerked, or else was partly cooked and covered with grease from the fat of some animal, usually the bear or deer. The skins which they secured were prepared for trading at the nearest post, for beads, hatchets, calico, powder, guns, or whiskey. This hunt lasted until about January when the Indians returned to their villages to re- main during the colder wealther of winter, living principally upon the stores of food laid up during the summer. With the return of spring they engaged in still another hunt, coming back to the practice of their rude agriculture.

The houses of the Osages were rude cabins, not unlike a tent in shape and appearance but constructed of poles and matting. Two forks each about twenty feet high were stuck into the ground, a ridge pole laid across these, smaller forks put up on each side, and a framework of poles arranged to these, furnishing a support for the mats. These mats were often woven of rushes or reeds, sometimes skins or bark took the place

of the matting, or even sod was sometimes used. Of course not all the houses were alike. Some of them were conical in shape. All were, without exception, rude in appearance, and greatly lacking in comfort. None pos- sessed a chimney, the fire being kindled on the earth floor in the center of the house, or upon a hearth of stones, and the smoke was allowed to escape through a hole in the cen- ter of the roof.

The furniture was exceedingly limited, con- sisting principally of beds. These were made of skins or mats placed upon a shelf built along the walls. The beds served as seats in the day time, though the Indians, frequently, or most often, sat on the ground or on mats placed as a sort of carpet. Their household implements were those common to most American Indians and consisted of pottery vessels, stone knives, stones for grinding or pounding corn, and similar utensils, most if not all of them the product of the skill and industry of the Indian women. The men felt it to be beneath their dignity as war- riors and hunters to engage in manual labor of any kind and deputed practically all of it, including the building and care of the house, the construction of the necessary im- plements and the cultivation of the fields, to the women.

These women were not uncomely in youth, but their life of toil and hardship brought upon them a premature old age. One custom concerning the women of the Osages is noted by many travellers among them and that is the way in which the married woman was distinguished from the unmarried. The In- dian maiden was accustomed to bestow great attention upon the arrangement and adorn- ment of her hair. It was arranged in two braids and ornamented with strings of wam- pum and such other beautiful objects as

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I, Part 10

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844