USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 22
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 22
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The St. Regis Indians observe none of the festivals or ceremonies of their ancestors, and no public demonstrations are made, except those im- posed by the canons of the catholic church. The principal rites of that sect are here observed, and none with more pomp and parade than corpus christi, which is depended upon easter, and falls generally in the first half of June. Preparations for this often occupy weeks; the streets are lined with green boughs and garlands of flowers, a military company from among their number, joins in the processions, and the ceremony usually attracts hundreds of curious spectators from the neighboring towns.
St. Regis day is not observed, but by a regulation of the bishops of Quebec, made several years since, the anniversary of patron saints of churches, is observed on the first Sunday of November. This day is ob- served with ceremonies in all the catholic churches in Canada.
The only national pastime which these Indians appear to possess, is that of ball-playing, in which they engage with much zeal, and for which they evince a strong passion.
The instrument which is used for this purpose, is formed of a rod about four feet in length, bent as in the following figure, and having drawn
across its curvature a net of deerskin thongs. The manner in which the game is conducted is as follows:
About a dozen Indians divided between two parties, and having no clothing but a girdle around the middle, and each with a bat like that
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above represented, repair to some spacious plain, in the middle of which is laid a ball. The game consists in seizing the ball on the net and tos- sing it from one to another till it arrives at the side of the field. Each party has its goal, to which it endeavors to toss the ball, and the rivalry which it excites, leads them to the most active efforts. The ball is seldom allowed to touch the ground, and it rebounds from side to side, alternately favoring one and the other party. As a natural consequence, it often re- sults in personal injuries, from blows aimed at the ball, but received by the ball players.
A company of these has lately held public exhibitions in our large towns and villages.
The exact number of the St. Regis tribe at the time of the athor's visit in June 1852, was 1120, of whom 632 souls belonged to the British, and 488 to the American party. Of this number there is said to be not one individual of pure Indian blood, being all more or less mixed with the French and other white races.
The war created a division which has since continued, and the British party still adhere to the election of their twelve chiefs, who hold their office for life.
Their affairs with government are transacted though an agent or clerk who resides in Cornwall, on the opposite shore of the St. Lawrence.
The American party elect three trustees annually, for the transaction of business, on the first 'Tuesday of May, in pursuance of statute.
The British party of the St. Regis tribe, at present, receive $1,000 as interest for a tract of land sold to that government. It will hereafter be somewhat greater. Besides, they receive rents for lands in Dundee, amounting to $1,000 annually, and blankets and clothing at certain rates, depending upon the age of the individual.
From five to nine, a child receives the value of $1-50. From nine to fourteen, about $2.50, and after that period, the worth of $4 or $5; besides, 1 pound of powder, and 4 pounds of shot and balls, for hunting. A woman receives the value of $4 in blankets and cloth.
Several of the British islands in the St. Lawrence, above and opposite St. Regis, belong to these Indians, and they cultivate or rent all that are valuable.
No section of the country possesses greater fertility or value for agri- cultural purposes, than most of these islands in the St. Lawrence.
The American party receive their annuity, amounting now to $2,131.67 equally divided between men, women and children, to the amount of $4 per head. Besides this, they receive rent for a tract of land near Hogans- burgh, on the Indian reservation, amounting to about $700.
The money now paid by the state, is disbursed by an agent who is ap-
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pointed by the comptroller, and holds his office at the will of the appoint- ing power. He receives at present a salary of $70. The money is paid to heads of families in specie, in proportion to the number of members in each. It is equally divided among all.
A methodist mission has for some time existed at St. Regis, and they have a chapel in the village of Hogansburgh, on the line of the reserva- tion, and as near the Indian village as a title for land on which to build a church could be procured. In the year 1847-8, the Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, of the Black River Conference, who was laboring in an adjoining charge, was led among them, and after preaching to them a few times succeeded in exciting that interest which resulted in the formation of a small and flourishing society, to which on the following conference the Rev. J. P. Jennings, was appointed missionary.
Through the indefatigable exertions of this gentleman, assisted by others who participated in his interest for the mission, and especially by Bishop Janes, who has the charge of the Indian mission for the time being, the present elegant chapel was erected at an expense of over $1,500, furnished with a fine toned bell, and having a convenient parson- age, pasture, and garden, the whole costing from $2,000, to $2,500. At the end of the second year of his labors, Mr. Jennings was succeeded by the Rev. R. E. King, the present incumbent.
The author is indebted to a work entitled Episcopal Methodism as it Was and Is, by the Rev. P. D. Gorrie, for most of the above data in relation to the methodist mission at St. Regis.
INDIAN NAMES OF PLACES.
It is scarcely two centuries since the territory now the United States, was an unbroken wild, traversed only by the rude natives, who pursued the bear, and the moose, and set his simple snares for such wild game as served to feed or clothe him. The advent of the European, was his misfortune ; and step by step he has retreated before the march of civili- zation, leaving nothing, but here and there, his names of rivers and lakes, and even these, in too many instances, have been with a most singular injustice, and bad taste, exchanged for those of foreign origin, or of no signification of themselves.
The sonorous, and peculiarly appropriate namnes of the aborigines, have often been made the subject of commendation by foreigners, and should in most instances take the preference of those of modern origin.
In some cases this would be difficult, but in a new and growing country like ours, in which new sources of industry are daily being de- veloped, and new places springing up, might we not with peculiar propriety adopt the euphonious and often elegant names of the Indians
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instead of the common place appellation of "-'s Mills," or " ___ 's Corners;" words which convey no association, but those of the most common and indifferent character, and which usually lose all their application after the first generation.
Let any one compare the splendid names of Saratoga, Niagara, and Ontario, with Sackett's Harbor, German Flats, or Lake George, and he will see the contrast between them, and can not fail to approve the taste that would restore the aboriginal names of places, where it may be found practicable.
In making his inquiries into the history of the mission at St. Regis, in June, 1852, the author took special pains to obtain, not only the Indian names of places in the northern part of the state, and immediately with- in the territory embraced in the work, but also of whatever other locali- ties he miglit chance to be able, not doubting but that the subject would be regarded as one of general interest.
At the Indian village of Caughnawaga, near the Saut St. Louis, the author met an intelligent half breed, Mr. A. Geo. De Lorimier, alias Oronhiatekha, who is well acquainted with the Mohawk and other Indian languages, from whom he also derived some assistance, especially relating to distant and well known localities. The names derived from this source, will be designated by a + prefixed to the word.
Acknowledgements are especially due to the Rev. F. Marcoux, of St. Regis, for essential assistance in this and other inquiries. Those names received from this source will be thus marked, t.
RIVER AND STREAMS.
Black River .- ( # Ni-ka-hi-on-ha-ko-wa ) "big river." Mr. Squier, in a work entitled The Aboriginal Monuments of New York, has given the name of this river as Ka-mar-go. His authority is not cited.
In a map accompanying L. H. Morgan's work entitled The League of the Iroquois, the name given is Ka-hu-a-go, which is a Seneca word.
Chateaugay .- This by some is supposed to be an Indian name, but it is Freuch, meaning, gay castle. The St. Regis call it ;O-sar-he-hon, "a place so close or difficult that the more one tries to extricate himself the worse he is off." This probably relates to the narrow gorge in the river near the village.
Chippewa Creek .- In Hammond, (#Tsi-o-he-ri-sen). This name also applies to Indian Hut Island.
Deer River-(Oie-ka-ront-ne) "trout river." The name also applies to the village of Helena, at its mouth.
French Creek .- (A-ten-ha-ra-kweh-ta-re) "the place where the fence or wall fell down." The same name applies to the adjoining island.
Gananoqui .- Not Iroquois, supposed to be Huron, and said to mean " wild potatoes," Apios tuberosa, (}Kah-non-no-kwen) "a meadow rising out of the water."
Grass River .- (+Ni-kent-si-a-ke,) " full of large fishes," or, " where the fishes live." In former times this name was peculiarly applicable. Before
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dams and saw mills were erected, salmon and other fish not now caught were taken in the greatest abundance, as far up as Russell. Its English name was suggested by the grass meadows near its mouth. On an old map in the clerk's office it is marked, Ey-en-saw-ye. The letter y, does not occur in the Iroquois language.
Indian River .- On Morgan's map, (O-je-quack). The St. Regis name it by the same appellation, as Black Lake, which see.
Oswegetchie, and the village of Ogdensburgh. (# Swe-kat-si), supposed to be a corrupted Huron' word meaning " black water." This river in early times was sometimes called Black river.
Ohio .- (O-hi-on-hi-o,) " handsome river." The French designation of La Belle Riviere, was a translation of the original name.
Raquette River .- A French word meaning a " snow shoe." It is said to have been first so called, by a Frenchman named Parisein, long be- fore settlements were begun in this quarter, and that the name was sug- gested by the shape of a marsh, near its mouth. The Iroquois name į Ni-ha-na-wa-te, or "rapid river," is peculiarly applicable. It is said that Colonel Louis, the Indian chief, told Benjamin Raymond, when surveying, that its Indian name meant " noisy river," for which reason it has been usually written Racket.
As rapids are always noisy, this name would have an application, but we shall retain in the map the original orthography. The St. François name, as obtained by Prof. Emmons, was Mas-le-a-gui. On Morgan's map, above quoted, it is called Ta-na-wä-deh, supposed to be a Seneca word.
St. Lawrence River .- ( Cat-a-ro-qui,) said to be French or Huron. Signification unknown. On Morgan's map, Ga-na-wa-ge.
St. Regis River and Village .- (#Ak-wis-sas-ne,) " where the partridge drums."
Salmon river .- (Kent-si-a-ko-wa-ne,) " big fish river."
Schoharie .- (tIo-hsko-ha-re,) "a natural bridge," as that formed by timber floating down stream, and lodging firmly, so as to form a bridge.
+Tioinata .- A small river, tributary to the St. Lawrence, above Brockville. Signifies, " beyond the point."
LAKES.
Black Lake .- (ĮO-tsi-kwa-ke,) "where the ash tree grows with large knobs for making clubs."
Champlain .- (+Ro-tsi-ich-ni,) " the coward spirit." The Iroquois are said to have originally possessed an obscure mythological notion, of three supreme beings, or spirits, the " good spirit," the " bad spirit," and the " coward spirit." The latter inhabited an island in lake Champlain, where it died, and from this it derived the name above given.
How far this fable prevailed, or what was its origin, could not be ascertained from the person of whom it was received.
Grass Lake .- Rossie, (ĮO sa-ken-ta-ke,) " grass lake."
Ontario .- (+O-non-ta-ri-io,) " handsome lake."
Tupper's Lake .- (#Tsit-kan i-a-ta-res-ko-wa,) " the biggest lake." A small lake below Tupper's lake is called #Tsi-kan-i-on-wa-res-ko-wa, " long pond." The name of Tupper's lake, in the dialect of the St. François Indians, as obtained by Professor Emmons, while making the geological survey of the second district, is Pas-kum-ga-meh, " a lake going out from the river," alluding to the peculiar feature, which it pre- sents, of the lake, lying not in the course of, but by the side of, Raquette river, with which it communicates.
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Yellow Lake .- In Rossie, (Kat-sen-e-kwa-r,) "a lake covered with yellow lilies."
ISLANDS.
Barnhart's Island .- (tNi-ion-en-hi-a-se-ko-wa-ne,) " big stone."
Baxter's Island .- Upper Long Saut Isle, (}'I'si-io-wen-o-kwa-ka-ra-te,) " high island."
Cornwall Island .- {}Ka-wen-o-ko-wa-nen-ne,) " big island."
Isle au Gallop, and the rapid beside it, (#Tsi-ia-ko-ten-nit-ser-ron-ti-e- tha.) " where the canoe must be pushed up stream with poles."
Isle au Rapid Plat .- Opposite Waddington, (#Tie-hon-wi-ne-tha,) " where a canoe is towed with a rope."
Lower Long Saut Isle .- (#Ka-ron-kwi.)
Sheik's Island .- (¿O-was-ne,) " feather island."
St. Regis island .- Same name with river and village.
NAMES OF PLACES.
Brasher Falls .- ({Ti-o-hi-on-ho-ken,) " where the river divides."
Brasher Iron Works .- (#Tsit-ka-res-ton-ni,) " where they make iron." Canada .- (+Ka-na-ta,) "village."
Cayuga .- (+Koi-ok-wen,) " from the water to the shore," as the land- ing of prisoners.
+Cataroqui .- Ancient name of Kingston, "a bank of clay rising out of the waters."
Hochelaga .- Former name of Montreal, or its vicinity, (+O-ser-a-ke,) " Beaver dam."
Helena .- The same name as Deer river.
Hogansburgh .- (#Te-kas-wen-ka-ro-rens,) " where they saw boards." Kentucky .- (+Ken-ta-ke,) "among the meadows."
Malone .- (¿Te-kan-o-ta-ron-we,) " a village crossing a river."
Massena Village .- Same name as Grass river.
Massena Springs .- (įKan-a-swa-stak-e-ras,) "where the mud smells bad."
Moira .- (tSa-ko-ron-ta-keh-tas,) " where small trees are carried on the shoulder."
Montreal .- (#Ti-o-ti-a-ke,) " deep water by the side of shallow."
New York .- ({Ka-no-no,) signification not known.
Norfolk Village ..- (}Kan-a-tas-e-ke,) " new village."
Lower Falls in Norfolk on Raquette river, (Tsit-ri-os-ten-ron-we,) "natural dam."
The Oxbow, produced by the bend of the Oswegatchie river, (+O-non- to-hen,) "a hill with the same river on each side."
Potsdam .- (+Te-wa-ten-e-ta-ren-ies,) "a place where the gravel settles under the feet in dragging up a canoe."
Quebec .- (¿Te-kia-tan-ta-ri-kon,) " twin or double mountains."
Raymondville .- (#Tsi-ia-ko-on-tie-ta,) " where they leave the canoe."
Saratoga .- (+Sa-ra-ta-ke.) " a place where the track of the heel may be seen," in allusion to a locality said to be in the neighborhood, where depressions like footsteps may be seen on the rock."
Schenectady .- (+Ska-na-ta-ti,) " on the other side of the pines."
Ticonderoga .- (+Tia-on-ta-ro-ken,) " a fork or point between two lakes."
Toronto .- (+Tho-ron-to-hen,) " timber on the water."
Waddington .- (Ka-na-ta-ra-ken,) "wet village."
We will conclude our account of St. Regis, by a biographical notice of some of the more prominent of those who have flourished there,
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TIRENS, an Oswegatchie Indian, known as Peter the orator, was a man of great natural talent as a speaker. He was drowned about war time in crossing the St. Lawrence. He was an American Indian, and his descendants still live at St. Regis. On numerous occasions in coun- cil, he produced a great effect from his eloquence.
A half breed Indian, who usually was known as PETER THE BIG SPEAK, was a son of Lesor Tarbell, one of the lads who had been stolen away from Groton by the Indians, and who subsequently became one of the first settlers who preceded the founding of St. Regis.
He was a man of much address and ability as a speaker, and was selected as the mouth piece of the tribe on the more important occasions that presented themselves in their councils.
AT-I-ATON-HA-RON-KWEN,* better known as Louis Cook or Col. Louis, was unquestionably the greatest man that has ever flourished at St. Regis, among the native population. His influence with his tribe was very great, and they always relied upon his council, and entrusted him with the performance of their more important business, not only with the other tribes, but also with the two governments.
In all the treaties we have seen, and in all the reports of councils that are preserved, we uniformly find him mentioned, as one of the deputies of the tribe. He had the misfortune of being illiterate. Had he pos- sessed the advantages of education, combined with his great native strength of mind, and soundest judgment, he would have shone with distinguished reputation in his day.
The following narrative of his life we have derived from his daughter, Mary Ka-wen-ni-ta-ke, at St. Regis, through the kindness of the Rev. F. Marcoux, as interpreter, and from a biographical notice written by the Rev. Eleazer Williams, which was obligingly loaned for the purpose. The author has also availed himself of whatever else came in his way, among the public archives at Albany.
Louis Cook was born about 1740, at Saratoga; his father being a colored man, in the service of one of the government officials at Mont- real, and his mother, a St. François. In his features he strongly indi- cated his African parentage.
In an attack made upon Saratoga, towards the close of 1755, the pa- rents of young Louis, were among the captives.
It is said that a French officer seized the boy, and would claim him as his property, but his mother incessantly cried out "uh-ni-ho-wa!," that is, " he is my child." No, no, said the officer, he is a negro, and he is mine. The afflicted mother made an appeal to the Iroquoischief warriors, for the
* This word signifies " one who pulls down the people."
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restoration of her child, who immediately demanded of the officer, to have him delivered up to them as one of their own people, and he reluctantly gave up his prize. The mother out of gratitude to her Indian friends, would accompany them home on their return, and she repaired to Caughnawaga with them, where she spent the remainder of her life, and where she died. The Jesuit father of the mission persuaded young Louis to live with him as an attendant, and here he acquired the French language, which he spoke with ease.
His youth was not distinguished by any peculiarities differing from those of his age and condition, further, than that he indicated an enquir- ing mind, and took an interest in what was going on in the councils of the tribe, which was unusual for those of his age.
From these councils, he often said in his old age, he learned his first lessons of wisdom. His religious principles very naturally inclined with his early associations, and he became and continued through life a cath- olic, but there was nothing of intolerance or illiberality in his deportment towards others.
In the war between the French and English, which began in 1755, and ended by the complete success of the latter in 1760, Louis took up arms for the French, in common with his tribe, and was sent to watch the movements of the English on Lake George. Early in the spring of 1756, being in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, he was one of a scouting party sent out against the English, and encountered a party of the latter, under Major Rogers, and a skirmish ensued, in which he was wounded. The wound which he received, was long a source of annoyance, but his. conduct had gained him a character for courage as a warrior, which he ever afterwards maintained. He was with the French troops at the de- feat of Braddock, on the Ohio, and was also present at the taking of Oswego. At a later period, he was with the forces against Abercrombie at Ticonderoga, where he first received the command of a small party of Iroquois, for which service he was chosen, on account of his general reputation for consistency, and courage, and his command of the French as well as Indian languages.
In the attempt to retake Quebec which the French made, he was pre- sent, but after the conquest of Canada, his war spirit entirely ceased, and he returned to private life, and the gaining of a livelihood by the chase, respected by the Indians and the whites so far as he was known. His predilection, like those of the greater part of his race, were still with their former allies, the French, and although the opportunity for its ex- hibition did not recur, it prevented him from engaging zealously in the affairs of the English.
The troubles which preceded, and led to the American revolution, at-
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tracted his curiosity, as he heard the matters discussed among the whites, and he is said to have made once or twice a journey to Albany, to get information on the subject. From General Schuyler, and others, he de- rived an account of the difficulty, and news that he carried with him to Caughnawaga, is believed to have interested the chiefs of that tribe in behalf of the American cause.
When the storm which had so long darkened the political horizon at length broke, and the crisis had arrived when every one must choose a part, this independent minded Indian adopted a course, which, under the circumstances, must be considered remarkable, and resolved to iden- tify his interests with those of the revolted colonies.
It is difficult to assign a probable reason for this course, as his resi- dence was remote from the theatre of civil commotion, and his people could scarcely complain of the grievances which arose from the stamp act, or the trammels upon commerce and industry, of which the colonies loudly and justly complained.
It may perhaps be ascribed to a dislike for his old enemy the English, and a willingness to side with any party that would attempt their defeat. Whatever may have been the motive, the result was certain, that he enlisted with ardor in the cause of the revolution; served the interests of the colonies with zeal and ability in his sphere, and rendered essential service to his adopted cause, by the weight and influence which his abili- ties secured him among his race. He felt and declared that the cause was just, and would succeed; he had witnessed the military character of the provincials in the late war, and knew them to be brave, and he felt that the objects for which they contended were worthy of the trials and the sufferings which it would cost to achieve them.
After General Washington had assumed the command of the Ameri- can army before Boston, Louis Cook resolved to pay him a visit.
In a letter to the president of congress, dated at the camp in Cam- bridge, August 4, 1775, General Washington says:
" On the first instant, a chief of the Caughnawaga tribe, who lives about six miles from Montreal, came in here, accompanied by a Colonel Bayley, of Coos. His accounts of the temper and disposition of the Indians, are very favorable. He says, they have been strongly solicited, by Governor Carlton, to engage against us, but his nation is totally averse : that threats as well as entreaties have been used, without effect ; that the Canadians are well disposed to the English colonies, and if any expedition is meditated against Canada, the Indians in that quarter will give all their assistance. I have endeavored to cherish that favorable disposition, and have recommended him to cultivate them in return. What I have said, I have enforced with a present, which I understood would be agreeable to him; and he is represented as being a man of weight and consequence in his own tribe. I flatter myself, his visit will
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have a good effect. His account of General Carlton's force and situation of St. Johns, correspond with what we have had from that quarter.
(Washington's Life and Writings, by Sparks, vol iii, p. 53.)
The nature of the present which our Indian chief received at this time, is not known.
In after life, he was wont to exhibit to his friends a silver pipe, having neatly carved upon the bowl, the initials, G. W., as the dearly prized gift of a man he adored almost as his maker; and it admits of the conjec- ture, that this may have been the token which he received at the hands of Washington, on this occasion.
This visit of Louis afforded the general court of Massachusetts, then in session, an opportunity to learn something in relation to the existing condition of the Indians of Canada, and of the internal affairs of that province. There must have been an air of sincerity and intelligence in the Indian chief, to have secured this notice.
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