History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 11

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 11

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Tall Chief belonged to the "Beaver" clan, and he is said by Dr. Mills to have been chief of Kanaghsaws village at the age of thirty, at the time it was destroyed by Sullivan in 1779. He was probably born about 1750 and went to Mount Morris in 1780 or thereabouts. He resided there and at Squakie Hill, as stated, until 1827, when he removed to the Tonawanda reservation. lle died there in the fall of 1831, having retained to the last a great affection for the Genesee country, which he occasionally revisited. He left three sons and three daughters. lle was buried in the old Indian Mission burial grounds of the Buffalo Creek reservation, not far from the graves of Red Jacket and Mary Jemison. His remains were disinterred and brought to Mount Morris and placed in the cemetery there May 27, 1884, through the instrumentality of Dr. Mills and the generous co- operation of the Cemetery Association. It is an interesting circum- stance that two of the relatives of Tall Chief, who were present in Mount Morris, at the ceremonies of reinterment, Mrs. Mary Logan (mother of A. Sim Logan) and Alexander Tall Chief, recollected well their residence at Squakie Hlill and remembered attending the school taught by Jerediah Horsford sometime prior to 1827.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Straight-back, so named because of his erect walk and stately man- ner, was a son of Tall Chief, and seems to have acquired no little of the respect held by the whites for his father; it is said that he was a very fleet runner and was never beaten in a race by white or red man. William Tall Chief,1 and Sundown were also sons of Tall Chief. All were born at Squakie Hill. In personal appearance William was quite striking, of "splendid physique," says one who knew him. He was a man of integrity, but more noted as a hunter than a councillor. In 1846 he went to Kansas with a party of Senecas, to settle upon the. lands there set apart for the New York Indians. On their way thither, several of the band contracted ship fever on board a Missouri river steamboat, and nearly fifty fell victims to the disease. Dissatisfied with the country, William set out to return, but died on the way, of consumption, and was buried at Beaver, Ohio. No stone marks his resting place. Colonel Doty saw his widow, who was a granddaughter of the White woman, and her grown up children, in the fall of 1865. They were possessed of striking personal appearance and seemed greatly interested in hearing about the former home of their relatives on the Genesee, recollecting much that had been told them of early days hereabouts. The beauty of Conesus lake, and the fertility of the Mount Morris flats, were facts that seemed to dwell most freshly in their memories.

Big Tree, Ga-on-dah-go-waah'2 was a useful friend of the American cause in the Revolution, and a leading adviser in all treaties and coun- cils of the Senecas. He was of the "Hawk" clan and a pure Seneca. He resided many years at Big Tree village, 3 which took his name. In person he was grave and dignified. In the summer of 1778, Washing- ton sent Big Tree to the towns of his tribe along the Genesee, in the hope that his personal influence and eloquence might win the Senecas to the cause of the colonies. He found the villages of Kanadaseaga+

1. His Indian name was Ho-is-da-geh-thet, meaning, "he carries the medal," a name given him on account of the pride he took in wearing a medal.

2. Sometimes called Great Tree. The name signifies "large tree, lying down." It is also written Karontowanen.

3. On the farm of the late Eason P. Slocum, in Leicester, now owned by Hon. James W. Wadsworth.

4. The Indian village situated near Geneva.

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and little Beardstown crowded with warriors from remote tribes. The Senecas at first seemed inclined to hearken to bis wishes, but learning by a spy that the Americans were about to invade their country, all flew to arms, and Big Tree put himself at their head, "determined," as he is reported to have said, although his errand and well known loyalty to the settlers would seem to discredit the incident, "to chas- tise an enemy that would presume to encroach upon his people's terri- tory." His mission proving unsuccessful, he returned to the conti- nental army. At a meeting of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs held in Albany in March, 1787. Big Tree and tour other Indian chiefs represented that nation, and, in the same year, his name was affixed to the famous John Livingston lease, a document forming a part of a grand scheme to secure all the Indian lands in the state. The consti- tution of 1777 forbade the sale of Indian lands, but by securing a lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, as was the purpose of the con- trivers, the inhibition was to be avoided. The lessees, known by their title of The New York Genesee Company of Adventurers, numbered eighty persons, among whom were several members of the legislature, county officers and leading citizens. Their plan, though long matur- ing, was doomed to total failure, and the project holds no enviable place in history. 1 Little Beard and Hot Bread were also signers of the lease, as indeed were many others of the Iroquois leaders The legislature must needs pass upon the lease. But here its design was readily penetrated and its summary rejection followed. John Living- ston himself, and two other partners in the company, held seats in the Assembly, and one had a seat in the Senate.2 In 1788 Big Tree was invited by Governor Clinton to attend a council at Fort Stanwix, and in the following year he, together with Brant, Little Beard and Hot Bread, addressed a letter to the Governor, forcibly presenting their

I. It is quite likely the movers in this scheme had something in view beyond the possession of the land. In November, 1793, James Wadsworth and Oliver Phelps each received a circular let- ter, signed by John Livingston and Dr. Caleb Benton, as officers of a convention purporting to have been held at Geneva, proposing a plan of organizing the counties of Otsego, Tioga, Herki- mer and Ontario, then comprising the whole of central and western New York, into an independ- ent State. But this daring attempt at revolution was met in the true spirit of patriotism. A meeting was held at Canandaigua to denounce it. As it found little or no favor it was aban- doned. (See Turner's, Phelps's & Gotham's Purchase and Hough's Indian Treaties, for a full account.]

2. The Legislature afterward granted the company a tract ten miles square in Clinton county, in lien of their great expectations, The lease bore date Nov. 30, 1757.

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grievances. In December. 1790, a large deputation, consisting, among others, of Big Tree, Cornplanter and Half Town, visited Washington, at Philadelphia, and presented him with an address which has been preserved as a fine specimen of Indian eloquence.1 In 1791, the legis- lature of Pennsylvania granted to Big Tree a patent to an island in the Allegheny river for a home but his death occurred before he took for- mal possession of it. He lamented the disaster to St. Clair's army in the Miama expedition, and, especially, the brutal treatment received by General Richard Butler, who was scalped and tomahawked while he lay wounded and bleeding. The Senecas hereabouts never forgave the deed, and Big Tree was heard to say that "he would have two Miama scalps in revenge for this cowardly act." While in Philadelphia, in 1792, with a large delegation of chiefs and warriors of the Six nations. he fell sick at his lodgings and died April 19th, after a few hours' ill- ness, of surfeit, a victim, says Turner, to the excessive hospitality extended to the delegation, and was buried at Philadelphia the follow- ing Sunday, April 22d, with something like public honors. HIS daughter was the mother of Captain Pollard.

A son of Big Tree was quite noted as a runner and wrestler. Col- onel William Jones often wrestled with him, and being somewhat younger and less muscular, generally found himself undermost at the end of the scuffle. At one of the early day gatherings, the Indian as usual, challenged him. This time Jones managed to throw the native, who was greatly offended, and jumping up, drew from his helt a little tomahawk which he usually carried. This he raised and aim- ed at his antagonist. The bystanders were excited. but Jones, who remained cool, taunted him with cowardice for threatening to strike an unarmed man who had always till now been unlucky in these bonts. The Indian saw he was wrong, and, dropping his weapon, stepped for- ward to Jones and grasped him by the hand. The two continued attached friends and neither ever renewed the challenge.

Black chief, Tha-on-dah-diis,2 resided at Squakie Hill where he died. His swarthy complexion procured him his English name. Hc

1. It opens thus: "Father, the voice of the Seneca natiou speaks to you, the great councillor in whose heart the wise men of all the thirteen fires (or states) have placed their wisdom. It may be very small in your eyes and we therefore entreat you to hearken with attention, for we are able to speak of things which to us are very great."

2. Meaning, "Long tree or log."

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signalized himself in war as well as in peace, and enjoyed, in a large degree, the confidence and respect of his people. He had four sons of giant size, one of whom was called Jim Washington. Black Chief was recollected by the younger portion of early settlers as sedate and taci- turn. "All my ideas of savage barbarity, " says one, "were expressed in a single look of his." He had an only daughter, whose generous nature and unusual grace of person made her a great favorite. After her father's death the tribe paid her peculiar honor. The Squakie Hill Indians held to a superstition, that during her lifetime the Iroquois would regain their ancient place among the nations; hence, no kind- ness toward her was omitted. Her path was often literally strewn with flowers, and the finest venison and rarest fruits found their way to her hut. A pestilence passed over the villages and many died, but so long as she remained unharmed, the natives could bear their person- al afflictions with resignation. The plague at length died away, and general health returned. But now she sickened, and although the wisest medicine men, even the Prophet himself, exerted their best powers, she died. The light that had been so beautiful in their eyes went ont. Grief for many days filled the villages, and all that affec- tion could suggest was done to indicate their sorrow. Her remains were carried to a platform in a fine grove and placed in a sitting pos- ture. The rose and myrtle were scattered about the funeral couch. and corn in the ear, mint and costly furs, were hung around the life- less form or decorated her place of burial. Fires were lighted at night and watchers relieved each other at all hours. When it was no longer possible to keep her from interment, she was buried with every mark of regret. The quick fancy of the Indians seems to have invested this girl with more than mortal purity and sweetness.

Jack Berry or Major Berry, as he was usually called, lived at Squakie Hill and Little Beardstown until he removed to the Buffalo reservation ; his home in 1781 was at Little Beardstown. His father was a white trader residing near Avon, and the Major was in the habit of referring to his white relatives as father, uncle or cousin, as the case might be. He spoke the English language fluently, and often acted as interpreter for Red Jacket, on one occasion accompanying that chieftain to Washington in this capacity. He had a peculiar way of prefacing and clinching every sentence of the great orator's speeches, thus, "Jacket says, " then interpreting his words he would end

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

with, "that's what Jacket says." He was somewhat consequential and proud of his importance among the Indians, but proved on many occa- sions, a useful friend of the whites. It is said he dropped a hint to Horatio Jones, just before the latter ran the gauntlet as a prisoner at Portage Falls, which saved him many a blow from the savages' clubs. In person he was rather short and stout. His house at Squakie Hill had a chimney and floor, conveniences possessed by but one other ; and the wife of Thomas Jemison, the senior, bought the house of Berry when he went to Buffalo. He was somewhat given to his cups, but under all circumstances preserved his self-respect. He died in the winter of 1838-9.

Captain Pollard, Ga-oun-do-wah-nah,1 a Seneca sachem of the first class, and the noblest of the tribe after Cornplanter's death, lived at Big Tree village. His mother was a Seneca squaw, the daughter of Big Tree, and his father an English trader at Niagara2, whose name he took, and identified it with Indian affairs and their domestic mat- ters of this region. The celebrated Catharine Montour (Queen Cath- arine) became his stepmother and bore his father three sons, all of whom were renowned in the border warfare of those troublous times. He had great weight in councils; his judgment was sound, and his oratorical powers scarcely interior to those of Red Jacket. "About the year 1820 Tommy Jemmy, armed with the unwritten decree of the Seneca council, put to death a squaw accused of witchcraft. He was arrested and imprisoned in Buffalo. The next morning a band of angry warriors.gathered in the streets of that city."3 "Among them." says Mr. Bryant in his biography of Orlando Allen, "was Red Jacket, who addressed them with fiery invective, and lashing the Indians into fury by his artful eloquence. A massacre seemed imminent, but just then the tall form of Captain Pollard was seen moving through the multitude. Commanding silence by a gesture, he urged the assembled warriors, in a temperate and eloquent speech, to disperse to their homes, and remain quiescent until an appeal to the white man's law and sense of justice should prove ineffectual. His voice was obeyed.

I. Meaning, "Big Tree." Also written Ka-oun-do-wa-na.

2. His Indian name was Shu-go-di-yot-huh. He was a settler in Niagara in 1767, and a mer- chant there in 1755.

3. From the article of W. H. Samson, Esq. in Post Express.

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The subsequent trial and acquittal of Tommy Jemmy were a triumph to Red Jacket, and a vindication of the assailed sovereignty of the Seneca Nation." "lle was one of the most honest, pure-minded, worthy men lever knew, white or red." says Hon. Orlando Allen. lloratio Jones said, "Morally speaking, Pollard was as good a man as any white minister that ever lived." Some seventy years ago Thomas Jemison was in Washington with a party of natives. Pollard and Captain Jones were both there. The latter one night at the hotel said to Pollard, "I - outran you, I think, some years ago." "Oh, yes." responded the chief. good naturedly. "but I have often wanted to try it over again, and you were never quite ready." Captain Jones laughed and said no more. Ile was a man of commanding presence. of dignified and benevolent aspect, showing but little traces of his In- dian lineage. He was one of the earliest fruits of missionary labors at Buffalo Creek, and became a most devoted and exemplary Chris- tian, and took an active part in the prayer meetings in the chapel on the Buffalo Creek reservation and, unlike Red Jacket, was an earnest advocate of civilization; he was extremely solicitous of being buried according to Christian rites, and arranged with Mr. Allen for such articles as were necessary for decent Christian burial. In youth he was an ambitious warrior, and made himself conspicuous in the many forays against the border settlements by the British and Indians dur- ing the Revolutionary war; he was one of the fiercest warriors in the Wyoming massacre, but in after life always spoke with abhorrence and deep contrition of the events of his warrior days. He was for- mally selected by the Indians as their leader, or war captain, at the commencement of the war of 1812, and was an able and valiant ally of our forces during the entire struggle. In the summer of 1834, when Black Hawk and the War Prophet and other Sac and Fox Indians were returning from their tour through the States and about to be re- leased by the government, they stopped a day or two in Buffalo. Ar- rangements were made for their meeting the Indians on the reservation at the Seneca council house. Young and old gathered to witness the interview. Captain Pollard, who was familiar with the Black Hawk war, made the speech; "One of the most appropriate and telling ones I ever heard," says Orlando Allen, "not a Senator in Congress would have done it better." Both Black Hawk and the Prophet replied, and owned that they had had enough of fighting the United States, Ile

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died April 10, 1841, and was buried on the Buffalo Creek reservation, whence his remains were removed in 1884 to rest beside those of Red Jacket in Forest Lawn cemetery at Buffalo. 1

Hot Bread, O-ah-gwa-dai'-ya,2 was one of the leading wise men at Canawaugus. He was quite gifted as a speaker and stood well with his brother chieftains and tribesmen. In person he was rather short, and his complexion more than usually dark. Hot Bread signed the letter of the 30th of July, 1789 to Governor Clinton, a document likely enough prompted by persons interested in the Livingston lease. and marked by more of spirit than courtesy. The letter claimed that the State had not observed treaty stipulations; that the money due the Indians had not been fairly divided, and they objected to having the State surveyor mark out the lands, even threatening the State authorities, though somewhat obscurely. Hot Bread was indolent, and his appetite voracious. Red Jacket once said of him, "Hot Bread, waugh! big man here," pointing to the stomach, "but very small here," bringing the palm of his hand with emphasis across the forehead. He died at Canawaugus, it is believed, of small pox. Many others of the natives died the same year of that disease. The number included Corn Tassel. Indeed, but few of the Indians recor- ered. About the year 1815 a disturbance took place between the In- diáns and whites at Caledonia Springs. Hot Bread figured promi- nently in this. Some offence was taken, and the Indians rallied in their war paint and made an attack upon the settlers. The fracas was quelled at last without serious results. Hot Bread was one of the leaders of the anti-Christian party among the Senecas, and his name apears in the memorial addressed to the Governor of New York. in respect to the "Black coats, " as the Indians usually designated clergy - men. This unique paper closes thus: "We ask our brothers not to force a strange religion upon us. We ask to be let alone, and, like the white people, to worship the Great Spirit as we think it best. We shall then be happy in filling the little space in life which is left us, and shall go down to our fathers in peace."

Half Town, Ga-ji-ot, 3 lived at Big Tree. His name appears to the

1. I am much indebted to the accounts of W. C. Bryant and W. H. Samson, Esqs., for this sketch of Pollard, Editor.)

2. Meaning, "Hot Bread," [See Niles' Reg. Vol. XXVIII, 15,25.] Also written Oughguadahihea.

3. Meaning "Stopper in a hole," and applies equally to a cork in a bottle, and to a rock in the mouth of a bear's den, shutting him in. Half Town sometimes signed his name AAchtout.

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Livingston lease, and to the noted address to President Washington. I He possessed a strong mind and was a wise councillor. His demeanor was grave. In complexion he was very dark; in stature rather below the medium height. Though the Senecas fought against the colonies in the Revolutionary war, the remnant of their warriors took the American side in 1812. Two years before hostilities opened, Red Jacket informed our government that Tecumseh and other native leaders in the territories were trying to draw the Senecas into a great western combination then forming against the whites. The Senecas promptly volunteered their services, but their aid was declined by our authorities from motives of policy. The action of the British officers in taking possession of Grand Island in the Niagara river, a ter- ritory of pecuilar interest to the Senecas, was too much for the pride of the race; and Red Jacket, Farmer's Brother, Half Town and other chiefs called a council, to which the American agent was in- vited. Red Jacket here presented the reasons why his nation insisted on taking up arms on the side of the States. These were so cogent that the President concluded to accept their offer, and General Porter volunteered to lead them. The Indians bore themselves with signal bravery and humanity throughout the war. A body of them took part in the action near Fort George, in August, 1812, in which the enemy were routed and a number of British Indians were taken pris- oners. Captain Half Town, Red Jacket, Farmer's Brother and other chiefs, all took active parts and were in a number of sharply contested engagements. As a manager of moneys belonging to his nation, Half Town was at one time advised to place certain funds in a bank, at interest. He did not readily comprehend how money could grow, as it was not placed in the earth like corn, but locked up in an iron chest. Once made aware of the operation, however, he became keenly alive to its advantages. He was at Fort Harmer in 1789, where, with twenty-three other chiefs, he executed a treaty with the commissioners, General St. Clair, Oliver Wolcott and Arthur Lee. Big Tree was also numbered among the signers, Pennsylvania, in 1791, granted eight hundred dollars to Cornplanter, Half Town and Big Tree, in trust for the Senecas. An Indian war was then feared; settlers were intruding upon their lands, and otherwise exciting their enmity, and every movement of the natives was regarded with sus-

I. Particularly referred to in the sketch of the chief Big Tree.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

picion. Half Town was the "white man's friend," and kept the neighboring garrisons of Venango and vicinity informed of every movement of the hostile bands, which, for a long time, hovered about ; and, but for the vigilance of himself and. other friendly chiefs, much evil would have resulted to the whites. Coraplanter and Half Town kept a hundred warriors under arms, and their runners were out con- stantly, watching the movements of war parties until the danger was .over. Colonel William Jones, who was personally acquainted with Half Town, thought he died at the Big Tree village. 1

Sharp Shins, Haah-tha-o,> was a small Indian with diminutive legs, thin features and a squeaking voice, but possessed of a gentle- manly demeanor, and, though sometimes violent in temper, was gen- erally reckoned among the leading men of his people. In early life he was a noted runner for a long race. In 1815 Colonel Wadsworth, of Durham, made a visit to his relatives, the Wadsworth brothers, at Geneseo. Colonel Wadsworth was greatly respected by the Indians. with whom he had transacted much public business, and, in his honor, James Wadsworth invited several chiefs to dinner at his house. Cap- tain Horatio Jones came as interpreter. The Indians were dressed with care and conducted themselves with great propriety. They smoked in a friendly way, and talked freely of their past history and of the future of their race. Sharp Shins took a leading part in the conversation, and Colonel Lyman, who was there, recollected that his views were notably sensible and made a decided impression upon all present. Turner says, that on one occasion Sharp Shins attempted to amuse himself by throwing tomahawks at Horatio Jones. It soon became earnest. Jones threw them back with such effect as to harm the Indian seriously and render his recovery quite doubtful. He, however, got well, and was afterwards careful how he provoked the Yankee warrior. Thomas Jemison describes, with much humor, the experience of Sharp Shins in breaking a pair of unruly steers, espec- ially his earnest advice to them in a set Indian speech.

Tommy Infant, Ha-no-gaih-khoh, lived at Canawaugus. In person he was above the ordinary size, being six feet and one inch high, though rather fine looking, and appeared like an overgrown youth. Hence his name. He was good natured, and many anecdotes are re-

1. Dr. Mills believed that he died at Venango, Pa., whither he had removed.

2. Meaning "he climbs." a- e. g. a ladder or tree

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

lated of his awkward size. Being in Avon late one evening, he took the liberty to enter a vacant house, through a door accidentally left open, and lay down for the night. The owner happened to come along and saw the prostrate Indian, and, in much surprise, asked: "Who's here" "Oh, it's no Dutchman," said the six-footer native in his ludicrous way, "It's me, little baby, Tommy Infant." A mer- chant in York owed him for some peltry. Tommy called two or three times, but the trader was in no hurry to pay him. After sitting two or three hours one day, without making any demand or saying a word, Tommy, as he got up to go, turned around and said to the merhant, "I sue somebody, maybe, don't know." He sued the merchant. The Infant died December 9, 1805, and was buried at Buffalo.

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History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 11

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422