USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > History of western Ohio and Auglaize County, with illustrations and biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent public men > Part 23
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"The expense of erecting the mills, keeping them in repair, paying hands to attend them, as well as every other expense appertaining to the support of this institution, for the benefit of the Indians, was all borne by the Society of Friends. The saw-mill was used in making boards, in order to assist the Indi- ans in making their houses and furniture for the comfort of their families.
"A large amount of expense was incurred, by keeping up and supporting this institution in that remote place, it being thirty miles from the settlements of white people, as all supplies had to be hauled that distance, over extremely bad roads; and a vast amount fed away to the hungry Indians. Notwithstanding which, the society continued its labors, although there was much difficulty in obtaining superintendents in that wilderness, who were willing to forsake the comforts of life, and civil and relig-
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ious liberty, and spend their time in that cold and inhospitable region, and spend such a life as they had then to endure, among this (then) rude and savage people.
"The Shawnees were very ignorant, in regard to building houses, making rails, building fence, etc. Being aware of this, the Society employed young white men to assist them in building cabins, making rails, and in doing many other things. They were furnished, too, with plow irons, which the Friends stalked for them.
"About this time they received a handsome present in money, from a female Friend in England, for the purpose of supplying them with farming utensils and other necessary implements of husbandry, as an encouragement to them in their laudable under- taking. This money was judiciously appropriated, which, to- gether with the assistance they received from government, and by their own industry, they were soon in a way of doing much better for themselves, than they had formerly been.
"Thus encouraged in bettering their education in life, they fast gained in the arts of civilization and in the acquisition of property, and the estimation of its real value, after having hon- estly acquired it. Being gradually furnished with cows, they soon learned the use of them, to the great comfort of themselves and families. They soon learned the use and benefit of oxen, and work horses, and plowed their corn, and thus relieved their women of the intolerable task they had before laid on them, of raising their corn with the hoe, and by that course the women had more time to attend to the care of themselves and families. And, as the men thus made provision for furnishing food for their families, the women were not behind in their part of the work; and at length these kind-hearted people had begun under the fostering care of the government, and by the aid of the Soci- ety, to realize better days; and through which they could look for- ward with pleasing hope of one day being a prosperous and happy people.
"They had by two treaties secured an annuity of three thou- sand dollars annually, to be paid them at Wapaughkonetta, for the benefit of the whole tribe ; that is, each person to draw his or her portion in money annually, forever. This, for many years, was honestly paid to them, agreeably to the stipulations of the treaties, while their old and worthy agent remained in charge of
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their affairs (John Johnston of Piqua was at that time Indian agent for all the tribes in north-western Ohio) ; but, as the government itself passed into new hands, so in like manner those officers who had long managed the Indian affairs had to give place to others, who neglected their business, and the poor Indi- ans suffered.
"Previous to the commencement of the improvement of their lands, the Indians lived in villages near Auglaize river. Through the warm season of the year, they remained about home, and raised considerable quantities of corn and beans - all the labor being performed by the women and children, who had not only to plant and tend it, but to watch the ponies off, as they had no fences in those times. The men lounged about during the summer, when the weather was warm and the skins and furs were not fit for market ; sometimes, when hunger drove them away from their shades, they would employ themselves in catching fish, and now and then sally off to the woods and kill a deer, as such animals were plenty then. By the time the fall arrived they would have all their corn used up, as they never laid up a store for the future ; what they may have had if they needed it they used it, if it were the last bite they had. Nothing was too costly or too good to set before a friend - what one had was freely set before another - and in this way all they had was soon entirely con- sumed, as they feasted almost continually, when they had any- thing with which to feast one another.
"In the fall season they nearly all commenced making prep- aration for their winter's hunt. When about to set off, the whole family, men, women, and children, together with their dogs, (of which they always had a large supply,) cats, and all, with all their ponies, of which they kept great numbers, with as much of their furniture as they could conveniently carry, generally consisting of several brass or copper kettles, some wooden ladles, bowls, and large spoons, a tomahawk, and each one a large butcher-knife. Thus equipped, the whole company set off for the lonely woods. I have seen many of these companies moving off in cold weather, among whom were to be seen the aged, gray- headed grandmother, the anxious, care-worn, and nearly forlorn mother with her half-naked children, and often a little infant on her back, fastened to a board or wrapped in her blanket and held to her back, with its little naked head to the cold wind over its
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mother's shoulder ; the whole company headed by a nimble-footed and stout-hearted warrior, with his blanket drawn close around his body, a handkerchief curiously twisted to a knot on his head, with his gun on his shoulder and gun-stick in his hand, his toma- hawk in his belt, which is so constructed that the poll is his pipe and the handle the stem, and he carries his tobacco in the skin of some little animal, often a polecat skin.
When they arrive at the place of destination, they erect a tent of sufficient size to afford room for the whole family to lodge in. This tent is made of small poles, with the large end stuck in the ground and the small ends lashed together at the top, and then the skins of animals, which they have killed, are stretched over the poles, so that the upper ones lap over the under ones, and thus turn off the rain and snow as well as boards. In the middle of this tent they build their fire, the smoke ascend- ing through an opening in the top, left for that purpose. In the tent are spread their skins, on which they repose; all lie down together and cover themselves with their blankets, which each one always has if it is within his power, they being of great benefit both by night and day. Indeed, they are seldom seen without them, using them for cover at night and wrapper by day ; they use them while out hunting and when attending their fash- ionable parties, of which they are extremely fond and have often, on which occasion they put on their finest beads, belts, ribbons, and the like paraphernalia, and over all the rest of the body goes the blanket, if cleaned well, if not, it is at once cleaned. If they were furnished with anything in the way of provisions, the blanket is at once removed from their shoulders, and what- ever they have to carry home is wrapped in it ; indeed, so natural was it to see an Indian with his blanket about him, that one would almost conclude that it was actually a part and parcel of the Indian. There are a few things sure to be seen in an Indian's possession, unless very poor indeed ; these are a pony, a gun, tomahawk, a dog, butcher-knife, and blanket. These things are his outfit, and if thus frunished, he is not considered a very poor man by his people.
"When thus settled on their intended hunting grounds, the men sally forth in quest of game, and if any is to be found, they do not fail to bring it down with their rifles. When the game is killed it is hung up in the woods out of the reach of the wolves,
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when the hunter pushes on in quest of more, and often con- tinues his hunt for several days before returning to the camp. Having secured a quantity in this way, he returns to the camp with what he can carry, remains over night with his family and feasts on what he has thus provided. When rested from his excursion and sees his family supplied with food, he sets off with his pony in quest of what game he has secured over the woods, and so thoroughly are these people acquainted with the woods that an Indian hunter can find all the game that he has hanging over the hunting ground, for miles in extent in every direction ; and so honest are they, that no Indian will interrupt what he finds hanging up which others have killed. When the hunter returns to the camp with his game, he gives all into the hands of the women and children, who take care of the skins and furs in the neatest manner, and then slice the best venison up in long, thin slices to dry, except the hams, which they dry before the fire for trade ; and such bony parts as they can not cure to advan- tage they boil in their kettles, and upon that and the soup they feast bountifully, and then the hunter resumes his regular chase for several days together, through the whole winter, or until the skins and furs become unfit for market, and that is toward the last of February ; then they return to their homes.
"When the season for hunting deer closes, the trapping season opens; those of the Indians who chased the deer and trapped the vermin - and nearly all the Shawnees did, who lived near Wapaughkonetta - if they returned at all from the winter hunt, would set out in the same way again. This branch of their business was conducted in the following manner: As soon as the season arrives for frogs to come forth, which are the prin- cipal food of the raccoon, and as they live in and about the ponds of water which abound in the country in which these ani- mals inhabit, the raccoons are ever in quest of them and frequent those places, and not being a water-animal, they have to resort to stratagem, hence they traverse every log, that lops in or about the water, in order to reach their prey. The Indians, being accus- tomed to this, resort to stratagem too, in order to take their prey. This they do after the following manner: Immediately across one of these logs, that lies furthest in the water, they place a long straight pole, and directly over this, and length- wise with it, is laid another, and stakes firmly driven on each side,
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so that the upper one will fall directly on the under one and fit it to exactness; the upper pole is then raised at the upper end, and curiously suspended by triggers arranged so that, when the animal is traversing the log in quest of his hidden prey, in cross- ing the pole on the log he comes directly in contact with the thread, made of sinews from the deer, when the upper pole, by the movement of the animal, is let loose; then the game is instantly secured safe for the new owner until he comes his daily rounds to his traps in search of his well-earned victim, which is taken out and the trap again set in readiness for the next evening intruder. The game, thus taken, is lashed on the pony and carried the rounds of the traps and to the camp, where it is stripped of its soft, warm covering, and well spread out on sticks and hung up to dry by the tent, in care of the squaws, while his body is dressed and hung up by an Indian fire until it is well roasted, when the happy beings divide and eat the flesh, and the dogs devour the bones, and thus are supplied their insa- tiate appetites, and this ends the ceremonies of the feast. But such is the inclination to the golden rule, that if one should find the trap of another, he would not plunder and rob it, but would quietly remove the game carefully, hang it in a bush near by, and set the trap again for the accommodation of his neighbor. Thus we see their honesty exhibited and adhered to in every instance of their pursuits."
In the autumn of 1819, Henry Harvey, a member of the Society of Friends in Philadelphia, moved a part of his family to Wapakoneta ; he being appointed superintendent of the mills erected at that place for the benefit of the Shawnee Indians. Friend Harvey had, before that time, visited the Indian village a number of times, whither he had been sent by the Philadelphia society to inspect the construction of the mills, and if found to be satisfactory, to accept the same and discharge the contractors.
In his numerous visits, he became acquainted with a num- ber of chiefs and other members of the Shawnee nation. In making his visits he also became acquainted with John Johnston, then Indian agent for the Indians of the northwest.
During the time that he resided in Wapakoneta he occupied a house that had been built for him on what is now known as the Jacob Haus property. In his history he records the fol-
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lowing incidents as having occurred during his residence in that property :
"It was, I believe, in the following spring that one of those Indians, whom the Friend believed to be a sober, well-inclined man, became very much enfeebled and debilitated with what he believed to be 'pulmonary consumption.' I often visited him; often I was confined to his house, for the purpose of administer- ing medicine, or taking him nourishment. On going to his house on one occasion, I found the door shut and fastened, so that I
HENRY HARVEY.
could not enter ; but, after a time, it was opened, and on going in, I found the sick man lying on his face, his back bare, and body cut in several places ; he had bled much, and was nearly exhausted. "There was with him in the house a noted Indian, whose name I do not now remember, but the Friend knew him person- ally. The Indian called him their prophet, and he claimed to be twin brother to the celebrated Tecumseh. The Friend then quietly inquired the reason of such a course of treatment toward the sick man, and was informed by the prophet that the man was bewitched, and that he had made these incisions for extract- ing the combustible matter, which the witch had thrown into him. On hearing this assertion, the Friend told him that there was no such thng as witch or witchcraft, and that he had wounded the poor man sorely, and bade him begone. He commenced
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dressing the wounds, and in a short time the prophet returned, apparently much provoked. Late on the night following, the Friend was aroused by some one at his door wishing to get in, and at the same time exclaiming in broken English, "They kill-ee me, they kill-ee me!" The Friend, (Isaac Harvey,) on opening the door, found the applicant to be an Indian woman with her little daughter, some ten years old. On going with her to the United States interpreter, (Duchouquet,) who lived near, she told him that a little messenger had come to her house and informed her privately that the chiefs were then in council, and that she was certainly condemned to die, on a charge of having bewitched the sick man before mentioned, and she had come to the 'Qua-ke-lee' (Quaker) for protection.
"The Friend, not having full confidence in their interpreter, only remarked to the woman, that if he attempted to protect her on such an occasion, he thought it would be at the risk not only of his own life, but also that of his family. He, however, quickly procured another interpreter, the son of the United States black- smith, (Thomas Elliott,) a person in whom he could rely on such an occasion ; and having another interview with the woman, . she gave them the same relation in regard to her situation, and promised very cheerfully that if the 'Qua-kee-lee' would under- take to protect her, she would obey in all things of which they could give her an understanding. During this short interval, the Friend had matured a plan of operation, which he disclosed as follows: That if they could keep the woman and her child con- cealed through the coming day, and he could procure the neces- sary reliable assistance, he would send them direct to his old neighborhood, more than one hundred miles distant. To this proposition the poor woman readily consented, fully believing that, if she should be found, she would be executed; and the blacksmith, promptly entering into his views, cheerfully prof- fered all the assistance in his power.
"The subject of keeping her and her little daughter suffi- ciently concealed through the coming day, was now a question of the deepest interest to all present or concerned in the matter, and as the morn now drew near, it was necessary that this should be attended to quickly. They were therefore taken to the upper chamber of the dwelling, (which was one and a half stories high,) and placed between two beds on the bedstead, and the covering carefully spread, as though nothing was there more than the lone bed. There they were to remain, and actually did, through the following day. A small dog, which had during the night kept close to her side, and which the Friend believed, if discovered by the Indians, would betray them, was immediately dispatched by his own hands. I believe before the middle of the day the mills, the stables, meat-house, dwelling, and even the chamber where the poor woman lay concealed, were each care-
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fully searched by the Indians, who doubtless had been sent by the chiefs for that purpose.
"Toward the middle of the day - and, to that family espe- cially, one of deep anxiety - came the chief, We-as-se-cah, (Capt. Wolf;) a noble-spirited man, and in many respects an ornament to his nation, and informed the superintendent privately of what had recently taken place among them, as though he did not at all suspect that his friend knew anything about it. The Friend gladly embraced the opportunity of unfolding his mind to this chief, on the subject of witches and witchcraft, and sim- plifying his language to the understanding of the man, he ear- nestly expostulated with him on the cruelty and inhumanity of their practice of frequently putting their subjects to death, on a bare charge of this kind. We-as-se-cah left him apparently somewhat confused or disturbed, to find that he and his friend should entertain such conflicting views on what before had seemed to him so important a matter. About an hour after this interview, he returned, and in private expressed a strong convic- tion that the Friend knew more of the facts in the case than he before was aware of, and questioned him so closely relative to the woman, that he doubtless manifested symptoms of fear of being detected, and a willingness to waive the subject; on seeing- which, the chief voluntarily told him that he need not be. afraid to tell him all he knew about it, and labored to assure him that so far from betraying him, he would protect him to the utmost of his ability. As the Friend had long reposed much confidence in this chief, he now felt the conviction very forcibly that if he could only so work upon his feelings as to secure his influence and assistance, that this very trying affair might be brought to a peaceable and satisfactory conclusion ; though, under all the circumstances of the case, it seemed like 'hoping against hope.' He, however, ventured to say to We-ah-se-cah, that he believed the woman whom they had just condemned to die, and for whom the Indians had been making diligent search, was out of their reach, and that he thought they never would see her face again, unless they altogether abandoned the idea of executing her ; and, further, that he had thought, as soon as he could bring it about, he would take his family and go home, and abandon the mission entirely.
"At this rather unlooked for disclosure, the chief manifested some surprise, and was, for a time, much absorbed in thought ; but recovering himself a little, he told the Friend that the chiefs were then in session at the council-house, and proposed that, if he would accompany him there, and then promise the chiefs that he would be answerable for the woman, he believed that he would influence them to agree that she should not be put to death. This was just what the Friend desired, but to accom- plish it, he believed, would prove the trial of his faith. On mak-
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ing his prospects known to his family, some of whom manifested the deepest interest for their welfare in general, and for him in particular, he calmly expressed his belief that if he was faith- ful in the discharge of his whole duty on this trying occasion, He whose protecting care he had often witnessed to be near, would not forsake him in time of need.
"I believe it is not saying too much to state that some of the members of the family who are still living now, after a lapse of more than thirty years, often, very often, remember the trans- actions of that eventful day with feelings of humility and grati- tude.
"The Friend waited on the blacksmith heretofore alluded to, and informed him of what had passed between himself and the chief, (Capt. Wolf,) and requested the assistance of his youthful son as interpreter. This man, knowing the practice of the Indians on such occasions, after expressing some doubts of success, remarked that 'as he had resolved at the beginning to assist in this difficult affair, he was willing to go with him.' "Accordingly, these four individuals repaired to the council- house, where they met twenty or more of the chiefs and head men of the nation. On entering the door, Captain Wolf, in a com- manding tone, bade them 'be still and hear'; he then briefly told the occasion of their sudden appearance among them, and, in a short speech, rehearsed to them the several interviews between himself and his friend; and finally told them the proposition he had made to his friend, the 'Qua-kee-lee,' on hearing which they began to move around and converse among themselves, and a number of them being painted, and having more or less arms about them, they began indeed to present a hostile and formidable appearance.
"The Friend, who, with the rest of his company, had been standing silent spectators, now addressed them through his inter- preter, with a remarkably composed and dispassionate manner and countenance, informing them that he had come with his friends We-as-se-cah and Sim-me-ta, (blacksmith,) to intercede for the life of the woman whom they had condemned to die; but seeing they had determined to pursue their own course, he felt resigned and prepared to offer himself in her stead; that he was now there unarmed, and entirely at their mercy; and that he supposed they would have to take him and do with him as they saw proper. On hearing this last sentence, Captain Wolf, who all this time had been standing near, now stepped close to the Friend, and took hold of his arm, expressing at the same time, in language and tone, and with a countenance not to be mistaken, 'Me Qua-kee-lee friend,' and then called upon the chiefs most impartially, not to suffer their friend, the Quaker, to be in the least harmed or molested; and that 'if they were
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still determined not to submit to the proposition, he was ready to offer his own life instead of his friend's.'
"This unlooked for, yet spirited and courageous movement of their noble chief, whose purpose could no longer be misunder- stood nor easily thwarted, as well as the composed resignation and Christian firmness of the Friend, whose compassionate eye had been overlooking them, and whose feeling heart had yearned toward them with all the affection and tenderness of a parent, seemed for a time to check every movement, and, indeed, to change the countenance of some of the most ferocious among them.
"At this critical stage of the business, when wonder and amazement had taken hold of them, and when probably no one present could foresee the result, the chiefs, one by one, to the number of six or eight, walked deliberately up to the Friend, and with countenances that bespoke the purest friendship, each in his turn offered his hand; and such of them as could speak some English repeated at the same time, 'Me Qua-kee-lee friend ! Me Qua-kee-lee friend !'
"The United States blacksmith (John Elliott) also em- braced the opportunity of showing them that he, too, was the 'Quaker's friend'; so that the Friend was closely surrounded by a number, some of whom, but a moment before, were appar- ently enemies in a hostile attitude, but who now greeted him as their friend.
"As soon as these feelings, produced by the impulse of the moment, had a little subsided, and some order was restored, Cap- tain Wolf began to address his people in an eloquent and pow- erful manner, during which he told them that 'the woman whom they had so incautiously condemned the evening before, by some means unknown to them all, had disappeared, and though the most diligent search had been made, no trace of her could be found ; that if his Quaker friend had sent her to the white people for protection, and they, (the chiefs,) did not pardon and recall her, it would, indeed, be a lasting disgrace to their nation, and that if their friend, the Quaker, should, for this reason, break up the mission that had been begun, and thus far carried on to their (the Indians') entire benefit, to whom, then, shall we look for help ?'
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