USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Wapakoneta > History of Auglaize County, Ohio : with the Indian history of Wapakoneta, and the first settlement of the county > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
He signed the treaty of 1795, and visited Ft. McArthur in 1813, where he was shot by some miscreant, who could not be discovered. The ball struck the cheek, but glanced to the neck, making a very serious wound, by which he was disabled for some weeks. He also visited Washington and Philadel- phia, and was the bearer of the celebrated letter of Thomas Jefferson, written to the Shawnees in 1802. In 1831 a propo- sition was made by the Government to purchase the land of the Shawnees about Wapakoneta. The Indians accordingly held a council, and prepared a petition to Congress, setting forth their grievances and asking additional compensation. A committee was appointed, consisting of Black-Hoof, John Perry, Wayweleapy, and Spybuck, to present the petition to the Government. Francis Duchouquet and Joseph Parks were to act as interpreters. The deputation set forth on this mission about December, 1831. These negotiations resulted in the surrender of the Ohio lands held by the Shawnee nation. An anecdote is told of the celebrated chief, touching this sale of land.
He was asked if he agreed to the sale, when he replied: " No."
" Why then did you sell ?"
"Why," he replied, "because the United States Government 5
50
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
wanted to buy and possess our lands, and remove us out of the way. I consented because I could not help myself, for I never knew them to undertake anything without accomplishing it. I knew that I might as well give up first as last, for they were determined to have our lands."
By long experience the aged chief knew the whites too well, and when he saw the futility of further resistance he resigned himself to the philosophy of reconciliation with his environ- ment by yielding gracefully to the inevitable. At a council, held at Upper Sandusky in 1818, on the occasion of the death of Tarhe, or the "Crane," the Shawnees, Wyandots, Dela- wares, Senecas, Ottawas, and Mohawks were present. The business related to the lands of the various nations repre- sented.
Each accused the other of being the first to sell their land to the government. The Shawnees were particularly alluded to as the last to come into the country and the first to sell to the whites. The personalities and vituperation of the intem- perate but able Red Jacket became odious, and the Shawnees only waited an opportunity to be heard. They whose tradi- tion taught them that the Great Spirit first created them from his own brain, and thus gave them all the wisdom, as all other tribes and colors were created from the inferior parts of the body, could not sit idly by and have their great name and fame traduced. The opportunity having occurred, the repre- sentative of the proud nation appeared in Black-Hoof, who, tracing the history of the various tribes, treaties, and alliances, retorted against the Wyandots and Senecas with bitter sar- casm and pointed severity. The discussion was thus opened by the two greatest orators, after which all the other orators of note spoke for their respective tribes. Bitter personalities and taunting national reproaches were freely indulged, and the council broke up in confusion. At its close, when the wampum belt, the emblem of amity, was passed, some of the chiefs would not permit it to touch their hands. No greater indignity could be offered, and unusual anxiety and despond- eney prevailed until the next day. During the night all ac- knowledged the blunder of the occasion, but looked about wondering who would be equal to the embarrassment under which they labored .; . The council convened with a full attend- ance; silence prevailed until it was oppressive even to savages. At length the suspense was dissipated by Black-Hoof, he of commanding influence, of unsurpassed ability, and of cele- brated oratory. He rose, possessing the key to the situation ; he had lost nothing in the contest of yesterday ; he had every- thing to win in this council of to-day. With the wampum in
51
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
his hand, he rehearsed the proceedings of the preceding day, and declared " they acted like children and not like men; that they had driven him to the defence of his nation; he was driven to meet them with their own weapons; but regretted the occa- sion which called forth his speech, and so regretted the speech itself. He had not feared to meet them in their own field, and that being unsatisfactory, he now proposed a new field which he believed they all would enter. He therefore appeared to recall those foolish words, and by consent of all his people who were present, he did regret and recall them." At the close his wampum was accepted by all, and the other chiefs hastily followed his example until all had presented and ac- cepted the emblem of peace. The difficulty was settled, the council concluded in harmony, and the whole affair was for- gotten
He is closely identified with our history, as his village, " Black-Hoof Town," his old home, is the present site of St. Johns. Of his character it may be said that, like many other great Indians, he possessed a high sense of honor, and during his whole career evinced the noble characteristics of a lofty and humane mind. He loathed polygamy, and abhorred the practice of burning prisoners. Against these he brought the force of his teaching and practice. He was of a cheerful dis- position, mild in manners, and vivacions in conversation. He was said to have been rather small, not exceeding five feet eight inches in height. True to his public acts, after treaties of peace to which he was a party, he could not be induced to violate fidelity or compromise honor, and although urged to join against the whites by other tribes, he remained true to terms of peace at his own village, where he died in 1831, at the advanced age of 110 years.
Being an old chief he was buried with the Ancient Indian ceremonies. On this occasion the whole tribe, realizing the loss sustained in the death of their honored chief, wore an appearance of solemnity and sadness. At his lodge, the body of the chief was wrapped in a new Indian blanket, surrounded by a large quantity of calico, belts, and ribbons. The corpse was upon a new slab, and his gun, tomahawk, knife, and pipe at his side. The Indians wore a very desolated appearance with their garments loose about them, their hair hanging as loosely as their garments, and many of their faces painted in ancient style. The men were all seated and smoking near the corpse. They looked upon him in tearful silence for several hours, and resembled a large family of children mourning the loss of an only parent. In front of the cabin was a large quantity of meat, the spoils of a two days' hunt by young men
52
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
selected for that purpose. Twenty deer, besides turkeys and other game were killed, as no tame meat was permitted to he eaten. This food was simply stacked in the yard, and guarded by small boys. The very presence of dogs was forbidden. When about to proceed to the grave, a few of the choice young men, arranged the clothing about the body, placed four large straps beneath it, and bore it to the place of its long rest.
No children were permitted to be taken in the procession, in order to prevent all noise, as the ceremonies were to be as noiseless as the grave they approached. The order of march was taken up, with the family of the dead chief at the head, followed by his successor and the other chiefs, and then the whole company in succession.
On reaching the grave they formed about it in a group. The grave was about three and one-half feet deep, with a split puncheon at the bottom and sides. The corpse was lowered, the clothing last worn placed upon his body, and his old moc- casins cut in pieces and placed with the clothing. This done, another slab was laid over all. At this moment John Perry, head chief, took some seeds, and, beginning at the head, walked around the grave, sprinkling them as he moved. He then went directly to the house, followed by all present, except three men, who remained to close the grave. On leaving the grave they proceeded in single file, none looking back. They then commenced conversation, and, after smoking once around the company, they opened the feast. It was now late, and the remainder of the day was devoted to feasting and dancing according to the primitive Indian custom.
WAY-WEL-EA-PY
was the principal speaker of the Shawnees, and delivered the opinions of his tribe at all treaties and in public assemblies. He was an eloquent orator, grave, gay, or humerous, as occa- sion required. At times his manner is said to have been quite fascinating, his countenance so full of varied expressions, and his voice so musical, that surveyors and other strangers pass- ing through the country listened to him with delight, although the words fell upon their ears in an unknown language.
During the negotiations for the sale of their reserve he addressed his people and Gardner several times, extracts of which will be found elsewhere in this volume.
Col. Johnston says he often met this chief at his trading post in Wapakoneta: that he was a fine looking Indian, and was always ready to cultivate the friendship of the pioneers. He went west with his tribe, where he lived many years.
53
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
JOHN PERRY ; OR LOLLAWAY,
head chief of the Shawnees, often traded at the store of Col. Johnston, and was known by all the early settlers. He could converse fluently in English, and was a man of good habits and influence with his tribe. He signed the treaty of 1831 at Wapakoneta, and when he learned that the tribe had been de- ceived, he went to Washington, with others of his tribe, to see if the President would change the treaty. A bill was presented to Congress, but it was many years before any action was taken in the matter. He went west with the tribe.
LITTLE TURTLE.
Michikinagwa, or Little Turtle, was the son of a Miami chief and Mohican woman. As the Indian custom gives to offspring the condition of the mother, he had to earn whatever rank he might attain. His extraordinary talents secured him rank at an early age, and his first services were those of a warrior. , His history is closely interwoven with that of the expeditions of Gen. Harmar, who was defeated by the braves of the Turtle, and that of St. Clair in his expedition against the Miami Val- leys in December, 1791. The Turtle was chief commander of the Wyandots, Shawnees, Delawares, and Senecas in that me- morable engagement in which St. Clair was compelled to re- treat upon Ft. Jefferson in carnage and disaster. This slaugh- ter is said to have but one parallel, which is the defeat of Braddock. The subsequent victory of Gen. Scott served only to exasperate the Turtle and his followers. Again he was brought to face Gen. Wayne ("the Black Snake") when he marched against Presque Isle in 1792. During the night pre- eeding this battle some of the chiefs favored attacking Wayne that night, but it was at length determined to wait until the next day, and then attack Presque Isle. This proposition was favored by Blue Jacket, but opposed by the Turtle. The lat- ter even felt the hopelessness of the cause, and was inclined to peace. He urged: "We have beaten the enemy twice under separate commanders, and cannot expect the same continued good fortune. The Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps. The day and night are alike to him, and during all his marches upon our villages, notwithstanding the watch- fulness of our young men, we have been utterly unable to sur- prise him. Think well of this; there is something whispers to me, it will be prudent to listen to offers of peace." Charged with cowardice by other chiefs, he took his position in battle, but the success of Wayne only confirmed the wisdom of his position. After the conclusion of peace he settled about twenty
5*
54
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
miles from Ft. Wayne on Eel River, where the government erected him a comfortable house. He visited Washington and Philadelphia on several occasions. Although he would not attend the conncils of 1802 and 1803, yet he was chosen one of four referees by the chief's of the other tribes, the duty of these four being "to finally settle and adjust a treaty" with the agents of the United States. The Turtle was the head of this commission. He had many opposers all along among the chiefs, which would, perhaps, explain his sometimes vacillating conduct, as he had to sacrifice his own judgment at times to palliate an opposing majority, and thus sustain his position. He even opposed Tecumseh and the Prophet in all their de- signs, which probably accounted in a measure for their tardi- ness of preparation. Of his character it may be said he looked with horror upon intemperance and human sacrifice. Brave as the bravest, he could not look upon the torture of any, and so gave his great influence against the crime. Whether his motives were of a pure or sinister character, it is certain he condemned the intemperance of his people, and took active measures against the wrong. While in the east he was a keen observer of the manners of civilized life and the working of our institutions, making inquiries pertaining to everything which came under his observation. During his visit to Phila- delphia in 1797 he met and became personally acquainted with Kosciusco, in whose story of the great crime against Poland he was interested to deep cmotion. On his return he visited Capt. Harrison (Governor), and made further inquiries con- cerning the great European murder of human rights. When the Capt. gave him a description of the last defeat of Kosciusko, he rose and pacing the floor, exclaimed in agitation : "Let that woman (the Empress of Russia) take care; this may yet be a dangerous man" (Kosciusko). During this visit he also became acquainted with the renowned French philosopher, C. F. Volney, who took great interest in the savage, as the author was then preparing his " Travels in America." The Turtle had just communicated with Gov. Harrison touching the ap- proaching war.of 1812, and announced his sympathy for the American cause, when he died at Ft. Wayne, July 14, 1812, and was buried by the commander with the honors of war.
TECUMSEH.
A SHOOTING STAR. .
The weight of authority fixes the birth of this mighty war- rior at the Indian town Piqua, on Mad River, in 1768. His father's name was Puckesninwau, of the Kiscopoke band, and
55
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
his mother's name Methoataske, of the Turtle tribe, of the Shawnee nation. The parents with others of the tribe came from the south to the Ohio valley, under the leadership of the great chief Blackhoof, about the middle of the eighteenth cen- tury, and first stopped on the Scioto, but finally removed to the Mad River Valley.
Puckeshinwau was killed in the battle of Kahawha, in 1774, and Methoastaske returned to the south, and lived to an ad- vanced age among the Cherokee Indians. Tecumseh is said to have been carefully educated by his brother Cheeseekan, which education was presumably in the arts of hunting and fighting. True, it is related he was taught a love for truth, and contempt for falsehood. There is little doubt he was taught a love for those cardinal virtues, courage in battle and fortitude in hardship. In all these his instructor seems to have been eminently qualified, according to the savage idea, for his pupil ever after- gave evidence of the development of these Indian virtues in a very marked degree. He boasted of his truth and fidelity, which as individual he sustained through- out his checkered career.
The events of the period in which he was ushered into life and action undoubtedly did much to mould his character. All enter an arena under conditions which shape and mould their plastic conduct. He was young during the period of the Revo- lutionary War, and its influence was felt by the savages, even in the remote Ohio. The fierce and bloody border war, too, had its vitiating effects, for the whites here even vied with the savages in the commission of fiendish barbarities. Rocked in this cradle of carnage, to the lullaby of the war-whoop, he developed a love for war and a hate for Americans. In 1786 he was a participant in the defence of the Machachac villages against Gen. Logan. The conduct of the whites on this occa- sion was calculated to teach anything but justice or humanity, and if Tecnmseh in this, his first battle, did flee from the field, we would call it the result of horror at the cruelty of the whites, rather than cowardice on the part of the warrior. In his next engagement, against some flat boats which were descending the Ohio River, he signalized his bravery in his rash lead ac- cording to the Indian idea; but to us he exhibited more genuine courage when he looked with abhorrence on the burning of the single prisoner of the fight, and denounced the fiendish prac- tice in such unmeasured and forcible terms that the horrid rite was abandoned by his immediate followers. The great vic- tories are ever on the side of moral courage, rather than in the field of physical desperation. In 1787, in true harmony with the Shawnee character, be and his brother with a small party
56
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
of Kiscopokes started westward on an adventurous expedition. They halted for a while on the Mississinewa, but afterwards moved to the Mississippi, and encamped at the mouth of Apple Creek. At the expiration of about nine months they proceeded south to the Ohio, and engaged in a buffalo hunt, in which Tecumseh was thrown from his horse, sustaining such injuries that the party was delayed several weeks opposite Ft. Massac. From here they went south and engaged with the Cherokees in their war with the whites. Here Cheeseekau lost his life, and his younger brother and pupil, Tecumseh, assumed the command during the two following years spent in the south. After a wild career of adventure, in company with eight war- riors, he started for the north, crossed the Ohio near the mouth of the Scioto, visited the Machachac villages, and came to the Auglaize in 1790, after an absence from Ohio of about three years. At the time of St. Clair's defeat Tecumseh was acting as a scout, and so did not take part in the battle.
In 1792 he was met in a skirmish by a small party under Simon Kenton, and again the following year he was defeated by a party under the same famous scout.
In the battle of Presque Isle, Tecumseh led a party of Shaw- nees, where he was opposed by Capt. Harrison, who afterward became his chief antagonist. In 1795 he appears on Deer Creek, simply as a hunter. During the year he undertook the formation of a band of which he was to be chief. The follow- ing year they moved to the great Miami, where they remained until 1798, when they joined the Delawares upon White River. Here he continued several years, until some difficulties arose calling forth the council of Urbana in 1799. Here Tecumseh appeared as an orator, whose style was said by the interpreter , to be so lofty and his words so eloquent, that his speech was interpreted with great difficulty. At the time of an excitement consequent upon the commission of some border murders, he frankly disavowed and denounced such conduct, and eloquently spoke of the peaceful relations of the whites and Indians. About this time the Prophet Brother arose, who acted in con- cert with Tecumseh, although his personal means were of a more questionable character. His early and later life is en- shrouded in mystery perhaps as deep as that by which he prac- tised upon the credulity of his converts.
In 1805 the Tawa Shawnees, at the head of the Auglaize, sent a deputation of visitors to Tecumseh and other chiefs to invite them to the Tawa villages. The invitation was accepted, but on the way Tecumseh and Laulewusikaw met at Green- ville, where they concluded to remain. The latter had gath- ered hints enough from the missionaries to be crafty and cun-
57
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
ning. He did not mutter from dark ledges, nor tell fortunes in the sand. He could not be a sorcerer nor impostor, because he was a preacher and a prophet. In November, 1805, he addressed an assembly at Wapakoneta. setting forth his new mission, and declaring some tenets he had received from the Great Spirit. He it was who had visited the clouds and entered the dwelling place of the devil, where he saw all who had died drunkards with flames issuing from their mouths. Conse- quently, he denounced drunkenness and many other evils, and closed by assuring them that the Great Spirit had given him power to confound his enemies, to cure diseases, and prevent death. These claims were calculated to impress the supersti- tions minds of the Indians. President Jefferson wrote of the Prophet :-
"He is more rogue than fool, if to be a rogue is not the greatest of all follies. His followers increased until the British thought him worth corrupting and found him cor- ruptible.". He burned his victims for witchcraft when no more plausible pretext could be invented; was cruel and heartless, even fiendish in his ambitious designs, and did not scruple to employ diabolical methods when they promised success.
The first check he received was on the occasion of the exe- cution of the sentence of death for witchcraft passed upon the wife and nephew of Teteboxti. The nephew died at the hands of relentless fanaticism and heartless ambition, but when the time for the burning of the woman arrived, her brother, a young man of twenty, humane and brave enough to be noble, started up and led the condemned sister from the house, ex- claiming, "The Devil (the prophet) has come amongst us, and we are killing each other." It penetrated the uncouth exterior of the savages and touched the hearts of the assembly till their . response was sympathetic. It is enough for our general pur- pose to say of the Prophet that he used all the seductive arts of which he was master in the interest of his brother's cause, and in his devotion to that cause did not scruple to adopt means nor hesitate to practise arts on which the higher nature of that brother must have looked with abhorrence and con- tempt. He made himself powerful as an ally, being able to command and willing to endure. We turn then to the nobler character, and behold in Tecumseh a picture of more refreshing tint and a life of higher symmetry.
We speak of the individual virtues of Tecumseh as stand- ing in contrast to the sordid character of the Prophet, but we remember all the sordid measures of the vicious character were employed by the agent, and with the knowledge of Tecumseh. When he had not the desire to act, he stood be-
58
HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO.
hind the curtain and gave his sympathy to those actors who played for his glory. Ambition at times seized and controlled the man like the evil spirits of olden legend. Where his man- hood benumbed his tongue, he spoke through the Prophet as a medium, and where his heart paralyzed his hand he com- manded agents who were devoid of hearts.
While his inmost nature must have revolted at the fiendish- ness of his brother, that brother was his agent, and ambition saw no misery and knew no right. Ambition like a fiend seized victim after victim among the chiefs and destroyed them by the Prophet for witchcraft. True, Tecumseh was behind the curtain, but the Council of 1807 discovered him behind his mask of falsehood and his methods behind the curtain of pretence. Deaf Chief asked of the Governor why he was not called to confront Tecumseh, as he was desirous of asserting the truth to his brethren. When this became known to Te- cumseh, he sent an order to have the aged chief killed on his return. A friend of the latter warned him, but the intrepid chief returned to his family, put on the war paint and dress, seized his rifle and other weapons, and went over to the camp of Tecumseh. Mr. Baron, the Governor's interpreter, was pre- sent. As soon as the chief advanced, he upbraided Tecumseh for having given the order to assassinate him as cowardly and unworthy of a warrior. But rising, the personation of right and exponent of honor, he exclaimed, "but here I am now; come and kill me." Tecumseh quailed before the man he would assassinate, but dared not meet on equal terms. " Then," exclaimed the enraged warrior, "you and your men can kill the white people's hogs and call them bears, but you dare not face a warrior." Tecumseh was still silent when the chief heaped upon him every insult which might provoke a duel, told him that he was the slave of the red-coats, and at length ap- plied that term of reproach which an Indian never forgets nor forgives. Disgusted with what he called the cowardice of Te- cumseh, the chief raised the war-whoop of defiance, and left the place. That the cowardly order of Tecumseh was execu- ted is evidenced by our authority, who states : "The Deaf Chief was no more seen at Vincennes." Ambition has chilled the nature and calloused the heart of brighter lights than Teenm- seh ; it has surrounded once noble, generous natures by icy atmospheres of repulsion and stifled the nobler promptings and holier emotions of naturally more sensitive organizations than that of the savage. It destroys the temple of manhood, and erects upon its ruins impostors, murderers, and assassins. Of Tecumseh it first made a pretender, and his life, thus be- coming a falsehood and discord, could not approach nearer
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.