History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 24

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24

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).

The first check he received was on the occasion of the execution 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, exclaiming, "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 sympa- thetic. It is enough for our general purpose 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 contempt. 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 Tecum- seh a picture of more refreshing tint and a life of higher symmetry.

We speak of the individual virtues of Tecumseh as standing in con- trast 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 behind 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 ollen legend. Where his manhood benumbed his tongue, he spoke through the Prophet as a medium, and where his heart paralyzed his hand he commanded agents who were devoid of hearts.

While his inmost nature must have revolted at the fiendishness 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

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

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 Tecumseh, 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 amd dress, seized his riffe and other weapons, and went over to the camp of Tecumseh. Mr. Baron, the Governor's interpreter, was present. 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 applied that term of reproach which an Indian never forgets nor forgives. Disgusted with what he called the cowardice of Tecumseh, the chief raised the war-whoop of defiance, and left the place. That the cowardly order of Tecumseh was executed 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 Tecumseh ; it has surrounded once noble, generous natures by icy atmospheres of repulsion and stitled the nobler promptings and holier emotions of naturally more sensitive organizations than that of the savage. It destroys the temple of manhood, and ereets upon its ruins impostors, murderers, and assassins. Of Tecumseh it first made a pretender, and his life, thus becoming a falsehood and dis- cord, could not approach nearer harmony than the role of a masked assassin. True, the arm was too humane to strike the ignoble blow, but diabolical agents abound who know no humanity and know no heart. Pitiless at first, they are remorseless at last.

At the time of the peace negotiations, Tecumseh was one of a deputa- tion who returned to the seat of government with the commissioners. On this visit to the Governor he attempted to prove the nullity of all treaties, as he claimed the lands could not be sold by any tribe, as they were the inheritance of the whole red race.

In 1807 we find him in council at Springfield, where his ambition stul. tified his prudence and manifested a course of rash defiance rather than his usual pacific role as peacemaker. He at length revealed his plans, turned the Prophet's fame and power to his purpose, and that purpose was the confederation of all the Indians for the repulsion of the whites and their ultimate repression beyond the Alleghenies. Pontiac was his model, and so it required no genius to plan the scheme, for the model had planned it years before. It did require genius of a peculiar character to execute the borrowed design. The originality of Tecumseh is manifest in his adoption of the means placed in his hands by his unscrupulous brother. If the brother was a fanatic, he was heartless; if Tecumseh was a despot, he was noble. Glory was his ruling passion, and this passion sometimes governed his nobler instincts and higher impulses. He had witnessed the union of the " Seventeen Fires," and sought the union of the more numerous tribes.

In 1800 he attempted to secure the co-operation of the Wyandots and Senecas, but was opposed by the Crane, who "feared Tecumseh was working for no good purpose at Tippecanoe, and preferred to wait a few years, and if they found their red brethren then contented and happy, they would probably join them." In 1810 the conviction pre- vailed that the plans of Tecumseh were hostile to the United States. The imprudence of the Prophet exposed the scheme, for he had boasted he " would follow the footsteps of the great Pontiac." An overt act, the refusal to accept an annuity sent from Vincennes, gave not only a hostile but defiant air to his purpose. Tecumseh was then with the Shawnees at Wapakoncta seeking their assistance, but met here in Black-Hoof that opposition and repudiation he had previously encountered in the Crane among the Wyandots and Senecas. Failing in a few instances of this character, his work was delayed, and the Prophet interposed to remove some of the opposition engendered by destroying Leather Lips and others for witchcraft, when he could not impose upon them by supersti-

tion. At this juncture he appeared to consider the case of that desperate character which demands desperate methods. The second overt act way the seizure of annuities in transit for other tribes. Again Tecumseh was absent, having gone south after telling General Harrison he would be absent about a year. This was evidently not his intention ; at all events he had accomplished his mission and returned in much less time; but he returned to witness the ruins of his whole ideal government. to see the frustration of his life plan, and become a victim of that disaj- pointment which stings to desperation.

He had warned his brother against exposure, and told him to avoid trouble at all hazards. The Prophet failed because his insolence over- came his judgment, and General Harrison moved against the Tippecanoe confederacy. On October 7, he fully saw and appreciated the designs of the Prophet, moved upon his village, met him, defeated him, and the confederacy was lost. Tecumseh returned in a few days to behold the ruins of his cause, and the disgrace of the Prophet. So deep was his mortification, that he reproached his brother, and even threatened to kill him. Deeply humiliated as he was, he was yet denounced as a mur- derer, and sank into obscurity. Tecumseh now spent some time in minor changes, until at last he was refused ammunition by the govern- ment agents, when he went to Malden and joined the British.

Subsequently he participated in all the sieges and battles of the west. ern forts, until his death at the battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. The bloodthirstiness of his warriors was only checked by his presence. The British officers either could not or would not curb their ferocity ; hence the distressing and horrid massacres of the Raisin and Fort Meigs were committed in the absence of Tecumseh. In the latter instance, Gen- eral Proctor is said to have permitted the Indians to select their victims and massacre them in whatever manner they saw fit; he is even repre- sented to have witnessed this operation during the period of two hours, which, if it be true, would make the very earth blush with shame, and the cold forts rain tears of pity. If true, it is to the shame, not of a nation or day alone, but of the race and age, and if false, it is to the credit of the nation and race. At all events Tecumseh rode up as fast as his horse could carry him to a spot where two Indians were killing a pris oner. He sprang from his horse, caught one Indian by the throat and. the other by the breast, and threw them to the ground; then, drawing his knife and hatchet, and running between the Indians and prisoners, brandished his weapons wildly and dared the attack on another prisoner. Maddened by the barbarity which he loathed, he sought General Proc- tor, and demanded why this massacre was allowed.

"Sir," replied the General, "your Indians cannot be commanded."

" Begone!" answered the chief with a sarcastic sneer, "you are unfit to command ; go, you are not a man." Let the rebuke be the reproach of a savage; it is worthy of recognition to-day, for in the humanity of manhood is the philosophy of life. Let the gem be found among the debris, it is just as lustrous as if found in the ocean depth ; let a truth rise out of the depth, it is just as beautiful as if it had descended from the azure heights on a sunbeam ; let the lesson be taught by savage er civilized agent, it loses none of its intrinsic worth. The whites did not monopolize the higher traits of character. After his reproach upon General Proctor his attention was directed to a group of Indians with something in their midst. Pointing to this group, Colonel Elliott said,

"Yonder are four of your nation who have been taken prisoners, you may do with them as you think proper." The chief walked up to ine company and found four Shawnee Indians, Big Jim, Soldier, and the Perry Brothers. Addressing them he said, " Friends, Colonel Elliott has placed you under my charge ; I will send you back to your nation with a talk to our people." This he did, discharging them on parole, which stands in contrast against the part of Proctor, as the sunbeam with the night cloud.

His life as an individual, throughout exhibits deeds of fidelity. prompted by his noble nature when not influenced by his sordid ambi. tion. As an individual he was brave and generous, but led warriors el hyena-like propensities. To keep these in check sometimes demanded an iron hand.

As intimated, he continued in the service of the British until the batth of the Thames, in 1813, when he fell, shot by a revolver in the hands of a cavalry man, by many believed to be Colonel Johnson, who commanded

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

the cavalry. This is the account of Shaubena and others who claimed that Colonel J. shot him with a pistol at the moment the chief aimed his tomahawk at the Colonel. The battle was a desperate hand to hand encounter after the dash upon the Indians by the cavalry. This body was almost cut to pieces, but dismounting, although their Colonel was wounded, they saved the field. In a conflict of this kind it would be next to impossible to distinguish who shot this or that particular individual. At his fall the Indians became demoralized and fled to the swamps.

He was buried by the Indians after the return of the Americans, and there on the border of a marsh adjoining the battle ground, the willow and wild rose decorate the grave where rest the remains of the " Indian Bonaparte."

LOGAN, OR CAPTAIN LOGAN.

Logan, whose Indian name was Speniea Lawbe, i.e., the High Horn, was taken prisoner when a youth, by Gen. Logan in his expedition against the Mack-a-chack towns of Logan County in 1786. This youth was named Logan by the whites in Kentucky, to which name the title of captain was afterward prefixed. His appearance was commanding, as he was about six feet high, weighed two hundred pounds, and possessed the lofty bearing of the true savage. His intimacy with the whites ripened into friendship, and became of great service to the Americans, for whom he fought with constancy until he offered up his life in their cause in 1812. After the fall of Detroit, the commander at Ft. Wayne, Col. Johnson, became solicitous about the safety of the women and children under his charge, and desired their removal to some safer point in Ohio. He, therefore, called for volunteers to escort them to Ft. Piqua. Cap- tain Logan responded at once, and so was given charge of a few other mounted volunteers who acted as escort. So solicitous was he on this mission, that it is said he never slept during the trip from Ft. Wayne to Piqua. Again, in September, while the troops lay at Piqua awaiting flints, agent Johnson, at the instance of Gen. Harrison, secured the ser- viees of Logan as a spy. In this capacity he proceeded undiscovered, entered Fort Wayne, and returned safely with the intelligence of the .siege of the fort and the death of Stephen Johnston, the agent's brother, who was shot while attempting to escape with the news of the siege. This information was of great importance to Gen. Harrison, who at once pushed the army forward to the relief of the besieged garrison. In No- vember, 1812, he was placed in charge of a small party of scouts by Gen. Harrison, with instructions to reconnoitre in the direction of the Maumee Rapids. When near this point they met a superior force of the enemy, and were compelled to retreat. Logan, in company with his favorite companions, Captain Johnny and Bright Horn, escaped to the left wing of the army under command of Gen. Winchester, who was informed of their adventure. A subordinate officer without provocation charged Logan with infidelity to the Americans and sympathy for the enemy. Stung with indignation, the chief called a friend to witness that he would refute the foul charge the next day, by either leaving his body to bleach in the woods, or returning with the warrior's trophy of victory. Ac- cordingly, on the 22d of November, in company with his faithful friends, Captain Johnny and Bright Horn, he started down the Maumee. About noon, while resting, they were surprised by seven savages, among whom were the Pottawatomie Chief Winnemac and young Elliott, bearing a British connmission. Outnumbered, as he was, Logan met. Winnemac with open hand, told him they were tired of the American cause, and just then deserting to join the English. The suspicions of Winnemac caused him to disarm his prisoners, and then proceed toward the British camp at the rapids. These three, however, had no idea of remaining prisoners, and at once commenced planning an escape. Their prudence inspired that confidence in their captors which caused their guns to be restored, and, while marching along, they contrived to place bullets in their mouths to have in readiness for reloading when the opportunity presented. Captain Johnny, to remove the suspicion which might attach to this movement, remarked, "me chaw heap tobac." In the evening they encamped on Turkey Foot creek, about twenty miles from the American camp. Here, believing the prisoners to be deserters as repre- sented, the captors rambled about in search of black haws. Some were out of sight when Logan signalled the attack upon those who remained.

At the first fire two of the enemy fell dead, and a third mortally wounded. At this onset all parties came in reach, fired, and "treed." There were now four of the enemy, which gave such an advantage that, while Logan watched the front, the fourth passed around until the great warrior was exposed, and shot him through the body. Two of the surviving four were at this moment wounded, and compelled to fall back. At this juncture Captain Jolmuy mounted Logan, mortally wounded, and Bright Horn, also wounded, upon two of the enemy's horses, when they left the field and reached Winchester's camp about midnight. Captain Johnny secured the scalp of Winnemac, and, proceeding on foot, reached camp about day- light. Of the seven captors, five were either killed or mortally wounded by Logan and companions. This event produced a mournful sensation in camp, as all regretted the accusation which produced such unhappy results. Logan died two or three days later, after requesting Col. Jolin- son to send his two sons to Kentucky to be educated by Major Hardin. Col. Johnson did all he could to carry out the wishes of the dead chief, but was frustrated in his efforts by the Indians, and especially by the mother of the boys, who prevented the execution of the colonel's plans. The children accompanied their mother to the west, and became as wild as any of the race. Of Logan it may be said he was popularly esteemed for bravery, fidelity, and magnanimity. He was closely identified with this section, as his home was at Wapakoneta, where his remains were brought for burial. In consideration of his fidelity he was granted a sec- tion of land within the county, still known as the " Logan Section," in the township bearing his name. His last acts exhibit that high sense of honor which preferred death to a dastard's or traitor's name. On these qualities is built the immortality of his fame.

CAPTAIN JOHNNY.

Captain Johnny and his braves are understood to have lived on the west bank of the Pusheta Creek, just north of the bridge. This chief, in the capacity of a scout, did great service to the American cause. He was with his old comrade Logan, who was mortally wounded near the Maumee Rapids, in November, 1812, while serving General Harrison. The carlier history of Captain Johnny is referred to by Francis Dan- levy, a member of Capt. Craig Ritchie's Company in "Crawford's Expedition." During an engagement by these forces, Dunlevy had been engaged with an Indian of huge proportions. Later in the evening this Indian crept cautiously and stealthily through the top of a tree lately fallen, until supposing himself close enough to Dunlevy, he threw his tomahawk, but his aim missed and he fled. This Indian, Dunlevy believed he afterward recognized as "Big Captain Johnny," who during the war of 1812-13 was with the friendly Shawnees of Wapakoneta. Dunlevy further says: "I frequently saw this Indian; he must have been seven feet in height, and as frightfully ugly as he was unusually large."

That he was courageous and magnanimous is attested by his warm per- sonal friendship and association with Logan. When that chief sought companions for his last perilous and fatal expedition, he sought Captain Johnny and Bright Horn, and when he and Bright Horn were wounded, Captain Johnny found horses for their safe retreat to camp, while he undertook the trip alone and on foot. Ilis fidelity to a cause is attested to by his connection with the American army, and his fidelity to individ- uals by his career with Logan and Bright Horn.

BRIGHT HORN ; OR WA-THE-THE-WE-LA,

was one of the three noted chiefs whom Col. Johnston selected as scouts for Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812. He was present when Logan was mortally wounded in the contest with Winnemac, and was severely wounded in the thigh in the same fight, but recovered. He lived at Wapakoneta, and was a large, commanding Indian in appearance, with good influence with his tribe. He was a brave man, and fought like a hero for our cause in the war of 1812. He is said to have died at Wa- pakoneta in 1825 or 126.

JOHN WOLF ; OR LA-WA TU-CHEH,

& Shawnee of some note, and was well known to Col. John Johnston, as he often accompanied him on his trips through the forest among the different tribes. His son Henry Clay was named after Henry Clay of

. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OIIIO.

Kentucky, and was educated at Upper Piqua, under the supervision of Col. Johnston, at the expense of the Quaker friends. He afterwards became a leading chief, and was a man of considerable talent. He went to Kansas with his tribe, and lived many years after their removal.

PETER CORNSTALK

was n chief of some distinction. He is believed to have been a son of the celebrated chief Cornstalk of Chillicothe, who was assassinated at Point Pleasant, Va. He was a large, fine looking Indian, a man of honor, and a true friend of the whites. It is said he often visited the trading posta, and was known to a good many of the pioneers.

BLUE JACKET ; OR WEYAPIERSENWAHL.

In 1790 Blue Jacket was associated with Little Turtle in command of the Indian forces opposing Gen. Harmar, and was chief commander of the allied Indians who were defeated by Gen. Wayne in 1794. On the night preceding the battle a council was held in which the nations of Miamis, Pottawatomies, Delawares, Shawnees, Chippewas, Ottawas, and Senecas were represented. The council decided to postpone action for the night. The expedieney of attacking Wayne at Presque Isle was then considered. Blue Jacket warmly favored this proposition, and Little Turtle as seriously and more ably opposed it. The advice of Blue Jacket, however, prevailed over the wiser counsel of the Turtle. The battle was fought with desperation, and the Indians were disas- trously defeated. In the following October Blue Jacket concurred in the expediency of suing for peace, and accordingly, at the head of a dep- utation of chiefs, was about to visit Gen. Wayne, when he was inter- cepted by Gov. Simcoe, Col. McKee, and the chief, John Brant, who, with about 150 warriors, arrived at the rapids and invited Blue Jacket and his allies to meet them at the rapids of the Detroit on the tenth of the month. Blue Jacket assented to hear the proposition of the British agents, and Gov. Simcoe urged the chiefs to continue their hos- tile attitude toward the Americans. He roused their fiery passions by speaking of the encroachments of the whites, told them the Ohio lands were theirs by right, and that he had given orders to the commandant at Fort Miami to fire upon the Americans whenever opportunity presented. Ile further advised them to obtain a cessation of hostilities until the following season, when the English would be ready to attack the Amer- icans, drive them over the Ohio, and restore to the Indians all this body of land. This action delayed the conclusion of peace until the next summer. When the council met at Greenville in 1795 to form a treaty

Blue Jacket was present, and acted with moderation and dignity. He appeared as a Shawnee speaker, although his rank was that of a war. rior. When he met Gen. Wayne he apologized for his tardiness, and gave the most solemn assurance of his sincerity. On the second day he explained the relationship of the tribes and justified the position he had taken, as follows: " Brothers, I hope you will not take amiss my change of seat in this council. You all know the Wyandots are our uneles, the Delawares the grandfathers, and the Shawnees the elder brothers of the other nations represented. It is therefore fitting that I sit next my uncles and grandfathers."

Toward the close of the council he rose in the capacity of a warrior and delivered a speech which exhibits the temporary and changing char- acter and relationship of a war chief. He said: "Eller brothers, and you other brothers present, you see me now appear as a war chief to lay down that commission, and place myself subject to the village (civil) chiefs who will hereafter command me."

Although his protestations of peace and friendship were positive and assuring, he was afterward found implicated with the visionary but exterminating scheme of the pretenders, Tecumseh and his fanatical brother. Touching his duplicity, a single incident will serve our pur- pose. In 1800 he agreed to discover to a company a valuable mine on the Kentucky River. His demands for rewards increased with the eagerness of the company. As he was sustained at their expense, he was in no haste to conclude the negotiations. When at length terms were closed, the horses, goods, and money delivered, Blue Jacket and an associate chief, and their families, were escorted to Kentucky in great pomp. They were treated in a very flattering manner, their every want being anticipated. When the fabled region was reached the chief spent some time in fasting, praying, and powwowing to obtain the Great Spirit's consent to reveal the hiding-place of the secret wealth. The answer, obtained in a dream, was about as satisfactory as the usual dream revelation, and many days were spent in fruitless search. Failing to find the promised treasure, he threw the responsibility upon his eyes, which were bedimmed by age, and promised to send his son, who was young and knew the exact spot for which they sought. The son, of course, came not, and the Blue Jacket Mining Association, like many others of later date, abandoned the project to enter bankruptcy. Prior to the war of 1812 he lived upon the Auglaize, engaged in the sale of liquor at Wapakoneta, but after the disastrous results of that war he became dissatisfied and discouraged, went West, and is believed to have died in Illinois, at the present site of Peoria.

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History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 24

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton Number of Pages: 878

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878