USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 10
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"It appears to me that if the Great Spirit, as you say, charged your forefathers to preserve their lands entire for their posterity, they have paid very little regard to the sacred injunction, for I see they have parted with those lands to your fathers. the French, and the English are now, or have been, in possession of them all; therefore, I think the charge urged against the Ottawas, Chippewas and other Indians. comes with bad grace indeed, from the very people who, per- haps, set them the example. The English and French both wore hats; and yet your forefathers sold them, at various times, portions of your lands. However, as I have already observed, you shall now receive from the United States fur- ther valuable compensation for the lands you have ceded to them by former treaties.
"Younger brothers! I will now inform you who it was who gave us these lands in the first instance; it was your fathers, the British, who did not discover that care for your interests which you ought to have experienced. This is the treaty of peace, made between the United States of America and Great Britain twelve years ago, at the end of a long and bloody war, when the French and Americans proved too powerful for the British ; on these terms they obtained peace." Here part of the treaty of 1783 was read.
"Here you perceive that all the country south of the Great Lakes has been given up to America; but the United States never intended to take that advantage of you, which the Brit- ish placed in their hands. They wish you to enjoy your just rights, without interruption, and to promote your happiness. The British stipulated to surrender to us all the posts on this side of the boundary agreed on. I told you some time ago treaties should ever be sacredly fulfilled by those who make them : but the British on their part did not find it convenient to relinquish those posts as soon as they should have. done, but a precise period is now fixed for their delivery. I have now in my hand a copy of a treaty, made eight months since. between them and us, of which I will read you a little. (First and second articles of Mr. Jay's treaty read.)
"By this solemn agreement they promise to retire from
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Michilimackinac, Fort St. Clair, Detroit, Niagara and all other places on this side of the Lakes in ten moons from this per- iod, and leave the same to the full and quiet possession of the States.
"Brothers! All nations present, now listen to me!
"Having now explained those matters to you and informed you of all things I judged necessary for your information, we have nothing to do but to bury the hatchet, and draw a veil over past misfortunes. As you have buried our dead. with the concern of brothers, so I now collect the bones of your slain warriors, put them into a deep pit which I have dug, and cover them carefully over with this large belt. there to remain undisturbed. I also dry the tears from your eyes, and wipe the blood from your bodies, with this soft, white linen. No bloody traces will ever lead to the graves of your departed heroes : with this I wipe all such away. 1 deliver it to your uncle, the Wyandot, who will send it around amongst you. (A large belt with a white string attached.)
"I now take the hatchet out of your hands, and with a strong arm throw it into the center of the great ocean, where no mortal can ever find it : and I now deliver to you the wide and straight path to the Fifteen Fires, to be used by you and your posterity, forever. So long as you continue to follow this road, so long will you continue to be happy people. You see it is straight and wide, and they will be blind indeed, who deviate from it. I place it also in your uncle's hands for you. (A large road belt.)
"I will, the day after tomorrow, show you the cessions which you have made to the United States, and point out to you the lines which may for the future divide your lands from theirs ; and, as you will have tomorrow to rest, I will order you a double allowance of drink, because we have buried the hatchet and performed every necessary ceremony to render propitious our renovated friendship.
Discussion and explanation continued until the 3d of August, various noted chiefs acting as sopkesmen for their respective tribes. On that day the general read for the third time the articles of the proposed new treaty, which was then signed by some ninety chiefs and tribal representatives on the part of the Indians, by General Wayne, several officers. his aides-de-camp, interpreters, and guides on behalf of the United States. A large number of belts and strings of wampum were passed by the various tribes during (8)
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the deliberations: mention being made of road belts, mixed belts, a blue helt, a belt with nine white squares, a large belt with men and a house designated upon it, a war belt, numerous white and blue and white belts and strings of wampum. Some of these belts probably contained a thousand or more beads of wampum, and, as each bright flinty bead is said to have represented a day's labor for these primitive people, we readily conclude that they meant more than a great sum of money might mean to the whites, and were, indeed, a striking pledge of good will. The Indians re- mained a few days at Fort Greenville; speeches were deliv- ered and the calumet of peace was fially passed to those who had not yet smoked it. Thus was consummated a treaty of far-reaching importance, concerning the effectiveness of which King, the historian, testifies: "Never after that treaty, to their honor be it remembered, did the Indian nations vio- late the limits which it established. It was a grand tribute to General Wayne that no chief or warrior who gave him the hand at Greenville ever after lifted the hatchet against the United States. There were malcontents on the Wabash and Lake Michigan who took sides with Tecumseh and the Prophet in the War of 1812, perhaps for good cause, but the tribes and their chiefs sat still."
The tribes were represented as follows at the treaty: Dela- wares, 381 ; Pottawatomies, 240; Wyandots, 180; Shawanese, 143: Miamis and Eel Rivers, 73; Chippewas, 46; Ottawas, 45 : Weas and Piankeshaws, 12; Kickapoos and Kaskaskias, 10; in all, 1,130.
The following chiefs and representatives signed the docu- ment for the tribes :
Wyandots.
Tar-he (or Crane). William Sur (?) Tey-yagh-taw.
Ha-re-en-yow (or Half King's Son). Te-haaw-te-rens.
Aw-me-yee-ray. Laye-tah. .
Sha-tey-ya-ron-yah (Leather Lips). Daugh-shut-tay-ah.
Sha-aw-run-the.
Aw gosh- away.
Hee no. fha-meet
Me-ne-doh-gee-gogh Pe_war_ The me_подh
15
La málice.
Wey- mi-guas
Machi_we. tak
Tho- wa na- wa.
Gol_man antické
Che-go-nick ska ( an ottawa from Sandway) }
Sc- bau.
SLIGHTLY REDUCED FACSIMILES OF SOME OF THE INDIAN SIGNA- TURES TO THE TREATY OF GREENVILLE (Courtesy Ohio Arch. & Hist. Society)
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Delawares.
Moses. Bu-kon-ge-he-las. Pee-kee-lund.
Welle-baw-kee-lund.
Pee-kee-tele-mund (or Thomas Adams).
Kish-ke-pe-kund (or Captain Buffalo).
Ame-na-he-han (or Captain Crow).
Que-shawk-sey (or George Washington).
Wey-win-quis (or Billy Siscomb).
Teta-boksh-ke (or Grand Glaize King).
Le-man-tan-quis (or Black King).
IVa-bat-thee.
Magh-pi-way (or Red Feather).
Kik-tha-we-nund (or Anderson).
Haw-kin-pum-is-ka (from Sandusky).
Pey-a-mawk-sey (from Sandusky).
Six Nations.
Reyn-two-co (living at Sandusky).
Shawanese.
Mis-qua-coo-na-caw (or Red Pole).
Cut-the-we-ka-saw (or Black Hoof).
Kay-se-wa-e-se-kah.
Wey-tha-pa-mat-tha.
Nia-nym-se-ka.
Way-the-ah (or Long Shanks).
WVey-a-pier-sen-waw (or Blue Jacket).
Ne-que taugh-aw. Hah-goo-see-kaw (or Captain Reed).
Miamis.
Na-goh-quan-gogh (or Le Gris). -
Me-she-kun-nogh-quoh (or Little Turtle).
-
Pee-jee-wa (or Richardville).
Coch-ke-pogh-fogh.
Wa-pa-man-gwa (or White Loon).
She-me-kun-ne-sa (or Soldier) of the Eel river tribe.
Weas (for Themselves and the Piankeshaws.) A-ma-cun-sa (or Little Beaver).
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A-coo-la-tha (or Little Fox). Francis.
Kickapoos and Kaskaskias.
Kee-aw-hah.
Ne-nugh-ka (or - Reynard).
Pai-kee-ka-nogh.
Pottawatomies (From the St. Joseph River).
Thu-pe-ne-bu.
Naw-ac (for himself and brother Et-si-me-the).
Ne-nan-se-ka.
Kee-sass (or Sun).
Ka-ba-ma-saw (for himself and brother Chi-sau-gan).
Sug-ga-nunk.
Wap-me-me (White Pigeon).
Wa-che-ness (for himself and brother Pe-dar-go-shak).
Wal-shi-caw-naw.
La-Chasse.
Me-she-ge-the-nogh (for himself and brother Wa-wal-sek). Hin-go-swash.
A-ne-wa-saw.
Naw-budgh. Mis-se-no-go-maw.
Wa-we-eg-she. Thaw-me (or Level Plane).
Gee-que (for himself and brother She-win-se).
Pottawatomies (From Huron).
O-ki-a. Chamung.
Se-ga-ge-wan.
Na-naw-me (for himself and brother A-gin).
Mar-chand.
WVe-na-me-ac.
Ottawas.
Au-goosh-away. Kee-no-sha-meek. La-Malice. Ma-chi-we-tah. Tho-wa-na-wa. Se-caw. Che-go-nick-ska (from Sandusky).
J.De Butts. first a. D. C. & Sedly to M. G. Maybe, W/m Hedharrison aid De Camp tom.g. Hayne Lewis aid de Camp to H. G. Hayne? James OHara Quarter Mastergen? John Mills Har of Infantry
byl Gen ? Caleb Swan & M.J.u.S. Ger tenter Leur whalley usg El. sin ha for terne Grant Lassell
Hlaseller
Fnafhington
e
By the President Timothy Pickering
SLIGHTLY REDUCED FACSIMILES OF THE AMERICAN SIGNATURES TO THE TREATY OF GREENVILLE (Courtesy Ohio Arch. & Hist. Society)
Louis
Davide Jone Chaplain U.S. Bœufat R. Echambre Il ofren Hatres Continu f. navarre
Vim Wells Jacques Lafulle
M. Morano
Christopher Miller Cabot Willsam Abraham + William Isaac + Zane
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Chippewas.
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish (or Bad Bird).
Nah-sho-ga-she (from Lake Superior).
Ka-tha-wa-sung.
Ma-sass.
Ne-me-kass (or Little Thunder).
Pe-shaw-kay (or Young One).
Nan-guey. Mee-ne-doh-gee-sogh. Pee-wan-she-me-nogh. Wey-me-gwas. Gol-ma-a-tick.
Among the chief speakers were Blue Jacket. the Shaw- anese ; Massas, the Chippewa; Tarhe, or Crane, the Wyandot, and Augoosh-away, the Ottawa. Besides the signatures of George Washington and Anthony Wayne, the names of Wil- liam H. Harrison, aide-de-camp, and several officers, inter- preters and scouts appear on the treaty. Among the latter were William Wells, Christopher Miller and Isaac Zane. The treaty was neatly engrossed in the legible penmanship of the day on two pieces of parchment about twenty-six inches square, one of which was inscribed on both sides.
An excellent photographic copy, exact size of the original, is today framed and exhibited on the walls of the public mu- seum in the basement of the Carnegie Library, Greenville, Ohio.
The preamble states the purpose of the treaty "to put an end to a destructive war, to settle all controversies and to restore harmony and friendly intercourse between the United States and Indian tribes."
The nine articles provide for the cessation of hostilities, exchange of prisoners, definite description of boundaries, the delivery of $20,000 worth of goods at once to the Indians and the promise of $9,500 worth of goods yearly forever there- after.
The respective rights and privileges of the Indians and Americans within the lands and reservations ceded and the penalties for violation are also explicitly set forth. The boun- dary line established began at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, ran up that stream to the portage crossing to the Tus- carawas across this portage (which was a part of the ancient boundary between the Six Nations and the lands of the North-
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west tribes), down that stream to Fort Laurens (near Bolivar, Ohio), thence westerly to near Loramies (Fort Loramie, Ohio), (on a branch of the Miami at the beginning of the port- age to the St. Mary's), thence to Fort Recovery and thence southwesterly to a point on the Ohio opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river, embracing about two-thirds of the pres- ent state of Ohio, and a triangular piece of southeastern In- diana. Besides this large and valuable tract, numerous small but invaluable tracts, mostly from two to twelve miles square, were included, among them being the present sites of Defi- ance, Ohio, Fort Wayne, Ind., Toledo, Ohio, Fremont, Ohio, Detroit, Mich., St. Mary's, Ohio, Sandusky, Ohio, Mackinac, Chicago, Il1., Peoria, Ill., Vincennes, Ind., and 150,000 acres above the falls of the Ohio, opposite Louisville, Ky .. to Gen- eral George R. Clark and his soldiers. The privileges of trad- ing between these posts was also granted to the Americans, and this proved to be an entering wedge, which was finally to help split up the tribal confederacy and counteract its power.
It is now impossible to estimate the value of these conces- sions. At the centennial celebration at Greenville, August 3, 1895, Governor William McKinley said, "The day thrills with historic interest. It is filled with stirring memories and recalls the struggles of the past for peace and the majesty of constitutional government. It is most fitting to celebrate this anniversary. It marks an epoch in our civilization. One hundred years ago Indian hostilities were suppressed and the compact of peace concluded between the government and the Indians, which made the northwest the undisputed territory of the United States, and what was once a dense wilderness. inhabited by barbarous tribes, is now the home of a happy and progressive people and the center of as high an order of civilization as is to be found anywhere in the world."
The pledge of security given by this treaty encouraged im- migration. A hardy population soon settled in the fertile val- leys, and gained a foothold which has never been relinquished, and today millions of people live and enjoy the blessings of civilized life where, but a short time since, a few untutored savages dwelt. A forcible change in stewardship had taken place by which the one talent man was supplanted by the ten talent man, thus forwarding the cause of humanity and civ- ilization.
The importance of this peace is not measured simply by the amount of land ceded but comprehends also its effect in
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opening up the Ohio valley for settlement. In fact, viewed in one light, it may be considered the end of the Revolution- ary war. It is also true that this was not the last treaty with the northwestern Indian tribes, but measured by results it stands pre-eminent. The fact that Ohio was applying for admission to the Union in seven years from this treaty is forcible testimony to its significance.
On August 3, 1906, the Greenville Historical Society un- veiled a beautiful bronze tablet with this inscription : "Placed to commemorate the Treaty of Greenville, signed August 3, 1795, by General Anthony Wayne, representing the United States government, and the chiefs and agents of the allied Indian tribes of the territory northwest of the Ohio river."
This inscription is enclosed in a circle surrounded by em- blems of savage war and peace. The tablet is attached to a large diorite boulder standing nearly five feet high, near the spot where the treaty was signed.
The hero of Fallen Timbers lies buried in Pennsylvania. After leaving Greenville he returned to that State fatigued in mind and body, and was later appointed sole commissioner to treat with the Indians of the northwest, and to take posses- sion of all the British forts in that territory. In the autumn of 1796, after receiving the surrender of Detroit, he embarked on Lake Erie for home, but was seized with a severe attack of the gout and died at Erie, Pa. Here his remains were in- terred, but in 1809 his bones were transferred to the family burying ground in the village of Radnor, Pa. Over this grave the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati erected a small marble monument, which was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, July 4, 1809.
Thus ended the forty years of war which had scourged the frontiers with blood and fire, and reduced the power and pres- tige of the brave and war-like tribes of the old northwest, opening the flood-gates through which the sons of western Europe were to pour into and subdue the mighty unbroken forests with ax and plow. Henceforth the remnants of the once powerful tribes must seek shelter in the remoter west, retreating before the ever advancing whites. As descendants of the hardy pioneers who occupied their lands, we ought not lightly to forget their heroic traits and the bitter regret with which they reluctantly left one of the richest and most beau- tiful tracts of land that the sun ever shone upon. Neither should we disregard the inestimable services of Clark,
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Harmar, St. Clair, Wayne and the host of less prominent soldiers, who blazed the way for all that followed. Harmar was chagrined by his reverses and soon retired to private life, dying in obscurity; St. Clair was maligned in the east and passed the declining years of his life amidst turmoil and vituperation and died at an advanced age stinging from the poor appreciation of his countrymen; Wayne passed away in the prime of life performing the arduous labors appointed by his government. Let us raise suitable memorials to all these servants of the state, at the places of their most noted labors, that the fire of patriotism be not allowed to go out in the hearts of coming generations.
CHAPTER VII.
TECUMSEH AND THE PROPHET.
About ten years after Wayne's treaty an attempt was made to unite the scattered bands of Shawnee Indians then living at the old Tawa towns at the head of the Auglaize river, Tecumseh's party on the White Water and another party on the Mississinewa. Deputations were sent out from the Tawa towns inviting the other bands to join them and live together there. Both bands responded promptly to the invitation and met at Greenville. the "Big Ford," at which their trails con- verged. Through the influence of Tecumseh's twin brother, Lau-le-wa-si-kaw, it is said, the Indians were persuaded to remain at that place. Accordingly a large council house of hewn timbers and a village of huts were erected on the low bluff skirting the west side of the Mud Creek prairie some two miles below the site of the old Fort Greenville, on land now owned by James Bryson, A. D. Shell and Ida E. Cash- man, in section nine, range two east, Greenville township. About three miles to the southeast of this site arose the gravel knolls about Fort Jefferson, later called the "Hills of Judea." To the northeast, at a similar distance, could be seen the elevated plain on which the city of Greenville, Ohio, now stands. From this point trails radiated in various directions through the primitive forest and across the prairie. From the first the gifted, crafty and eloquent Tecumseh and his cun- ning, cruel and boastful but extremely graceful and eloquent brother Lau-le-wa-si-kaw (the "Loud Mouth") were the mov- ing spirits. One hundred and forty-three members of the Shawnee tribe had signed Wayne's treaty, but Tecumseh never became reconciled to their action and used his influence to counteract its effect among his people. The twin brothers had brooded long over the degradation and declining power of their people and the rapid advance of the white settlements. In one of his moods of despondency, it is said, the cruel. crafty, egotistical boaster "Loud Mouth" fell in a swoon and became quite rigid. Thinking him dead his tribesmen were preparing to remove him to his grave when he revived and
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said, "Be not fearful, I have been to the land of the blessed. Call the nation together that I may tell them what I have seen and heard. Two beautiful young men were sent by the Great Spirit who said : 'The Master of Life is angry with you all. He will destroy you unless you refrain from drinking, lying, stealing, and witchcraft and turn yourselves to Him." Richard McNemar, one of the Shaker missionaries, mentioned later in this article, gives this version of Laulewasikaw's pre- sumptive call to the prophetic office at this time. He had been a doctor, and a very wicked man, and while attending the sick among his people at Attawa, in the White river settlement, about 1805, was struck with a deep and awful sense of his sin and cried mightily to the Good Spirit to show him some means of escape. In his distress and confusion he fell into a vision in which he appeared to be traveling along a road and came at length to where it forked. The road to the right, he was advised, led to happiness while that to the left was the way to misery. By both of these paths, he said, the Great Spirit had led him and finally instructed him to build his fire at the "Big Ford" (Greenville, Ohio), and there preach to his people what he had seen and heard and instruct all who might come to him from the different tribes. It was a remarkable experience, real or assumed, psychological or religious, and from this time "Loud Mouth" assumed the name "Tens-kwa- ta-wa," meaning "The Open Door," and became known among his people as "The Prophet." His system of religion was a jumble of the superstitions and prejudices of his own people intermingled with many of the teachings of the Christian mis- sionaries with whom he had probably come into contact dur- ing his wanderings. In spite of his former disrepute, large numbers of his people came from their scattered settlements in Ohio and Indiana, and many from distant tribes of other Indians, to hear his eloquent, and apparently sincere, plead- ing for a return to the simple life of their forefathers. Ap- parently there was nothing very objectionable in his system of morals and religion and it seemed at first that he had the good of his people at heart. In this connection we quote from his reputed speech to General Harrison at Vincennes :
"Father, it is three years since I first began the system of religion which I now practice. The white people and some of the Indians were against me, but I had no other intention but to introduce among the Indians those good principles of religion which the white people profess. The Great Spirit
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told me to tell the Indians that he made them, and made the world, that He had placed them on it to do good, and not evil. I told the redskins that the way they were in was not good, and they should abandon it: that we ought to consider our- selves as one man, but we ought to live agreeable to our ser- eral customs, the red people after their mode and the white people after theirs; particularly that they should not drink whisky; that it was made for the white people, who knew how to use it, and that it was the cause of all the mischief the Indians suffer ; and that they must listen to Him, as it was He who made us. Determine to listen to nothing bad ; do not. take up the tomahawk, should it be offered by the British or by the Long Knives; do not meddle with anything that does not belong to you, but mind your own business and cultivate the ground, that your women and children may have enough to live upon."
Whatever may have been his original motive he seems to have departed somewhat from his good intentions and allowed his shrewd and talented brother to develop the politi- cai side of this semi-moral and religious revival, and mightily increase his prestige as chief. This Tecumseh did by urging his numerous visitors to lay aside former tribal animosities, unite in one great confederacy, on the order of that formed by Pontiac, and thus make a united stand against the further advance of the whites.
For some reason, probably in order to keep the secrets of their many conferences and connivances from their fellow tribesmen, the twin brothers soon left Prophetstown and es- tablished themselves on a knoll at the junction of Greenville and Mud Creeks, just opposite the old fort and fording place. now known as Tecumseh's Point.
The spread of witchcraft and the fear of "The Prophet" among the neighboring tribes had such a detrimental influ- ence that Governor Harrison sent a special message to the Delawares warning them against his false doctrines. Among other things he said, "Who is this pretended prophet who dares to speak in the name of the Great Creator? Examine him. Is he more wise and virtuous than you are yourselves, that he should be selected to convey to you the orders of God. Demand of him some proofs at least of his being the mes- senger of the Deity. If God has really employed him, He has doubtless employed him to perform miracles that he may be known and received as a prophet. If he is really a prophet,
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ask of him to cause the sun to stand still, the moon to alter its course, the rivers to cease to flow, or the dead to rise. from their graves. If he does these things, you may believe that he has been sent from God." This challenge came at an un- fortunate time. An eclipse of the sun was to occur in 1806, and the prophet seems to have heard of this fact from the whites. Taking advantage of the ignorance and superstition of his people he boldly announced that he would darken the sun on the appointed day, and when the event occurred he stood in the midst of his affrighted brethren and reminded them of his recent prophecy. This stroke convinced the In- dians of his supernatural power and greatly increased his prestige. In the spring of 1807, it is said, the Prophet had gathered some four hundred Indians about him, who were greatly stirred by religious fanaticism and liable to carry out the instructions of the twin brothers, whatever they might be.
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