USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > History of western Ohio and Auglaize County, with illustrations and biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent public men > Part 27
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answer was that they had, and that Joseph Parks was their head chief. The reply, generally, was - "Well, he is a good chief." "Now," said he, "suppose I am a good chief, what can I do? How can I work without tools? You send me out to work with- out anything to work with. How can you expect me to accom- plish anything without placing in my hands the tools to do the work with?" He said that our young men (some of them) go into the state, and get liquor, carry it out by him, hold up the bottle to his face, and say, "Here is my whiskey, spill it if you dare !" "Well," said Parks, "I have no authority to do anything, and these fellows know it. Now, you make laws, and I will very soon let these men see whether I will do anything with them or not."
The head chief was followed by Blackhoof, a son of the great Shawnee chief of that name, in a lengthy speech, in which he indorsed what had been said by the presiding officer, concern- ing drunkenness, and urged the enactment of a law, compelling men to pay their debts.
"Speeches of a like character followed in order until late in the afternoon, when the discussions were closed by George McDougal in an address, in which he compared their former nomadic life and hardships with their present condition, in which he was both eloquent and witty. He said, "he had tried both places - that he liked the ways of the white men much the best anyhow, he liked not only the ways of white people best, but he liked them the best anyhow, and if he knew he would live thirty years longer, that he would have a white wife if he could get one." This remark was followed by great laughter among the Indians.
"When the question was put to a vote, as to whether a con- stitution and a code of laws should be prepared for the govern- ment of the nation, there were ten votes for the measure and two against it. Accordingly, in the course of the next two years, a constitution was adopted, and a code of laws enacted, under which the nation lived until 1869.
The Shawnees at this time numbered about eight hundred, and owned a territory of six million, four hundred thousand acres, at the junction of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, and extending south and west. They had become cultivators and graziers. Hunting was still occasionally resorted to as a sport or
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amusement, but had been abandoned as a source of subsistence. The disappearance of game forced them to seek subsistence in some other manner, which ultimately overcame their aversion to labor. Schoolcraft, in describing their condition at this time says: "They drive oxen and horses trained to the plow. They split rails and build fences'. They erect substantial cabins and barns. They have old corn in their cribs from year to year. They own good saddle-horses and saddles, and other articles of caparison, and a traveler or visitor will find a good meal, a clean bed, and kind treatment in their settlements."
Many of the Indians in 1854-5 held slaves who tilled their farms and performed such other manual labor as was required. While the agitation of the Kansas-Nebraska bill was in progress, the slave-holding Indians became alarmed, and to secure them- selves in the possession of their slaves, moved into Indian Ter- ritory and settled on unoccupied lands in the Cherokee Nation. The lands formerly occupied by them in Kansas, remained untenanted until 1869, and were known as "Abandoned Indian Lands." In that year the United States government purchased the entire Shawnee reservation in Kansas, and gave them lands in Indian Territory, in exchange for their Kansas property. The conditions of the sale and exchange can be readily understood from the following record of the "Articles of Agreement" taken from the Government Record of Indian Treaties :
AGREEMENT BETWEEN SHAWNEES AND CHEROKEES CONCLUDED JUNE 7, 1869.
APPROVED AY THE PRESIDENT JUNE 9TH, 1869.
Articles of Agreement, made and entered into at Washing- ton, D. C., this 7th day of June, A. D. 1869, by and between H. D. Reese and William P. Adair, duly authorized delegates, repre- senting the Cherokee Nation of Indians, having been duly appointed by the National Council of said Cherokees, parties of the first part, and Graham Rogers and Charles Tucker, duly authorized delegates representing the Shawnee tribe of Indians, parties of the second part witnesseth :
Whereas, It is provided by the fifteenth article of the treaty between the United States and the Cherokee Indians, concluded July 19th, 1866, that the United States may settle any civilized
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Indians, friendly with the Cherokees, and adjacent tribes, within the Cherokee country, on unoccupied lands east of the ninety- sixth meridian, on such terms as may be agreed upon by any such tribe and the Cherokees, subject to the approval of the President of the United States, which shall be consistent with certain provisions specified in said article; and whereas, The Shawnee tribe of Indians are civilized and friendly with the Cherokees and adjacent tribes, and desire to settle within the Cherokee country on lands east of the ninety-sixth meridian,
It is therefore agreed, by the parties hereto, that such settle- ment may be made upon the following terms and conditions, viz :
That the sum of five thousand dollars belonging to the Shawnee tribe of Indians, and arising under the provisions of treaties between the United States and said Shawnee Indians, as follows, viz: For permanent annuity for educational pur- poses, per fourth article of the treaty of August 3d, 1795, and the third article of the treaty of May 10th, 1854, one thousand dollars; for interest, at five per centum on forty thousand dollars for educational purposes, per third article of the treaty of the Ioth of May, 1854, two thousand dollars; for interest, at five per centum, on four thousand dollars for educational purposes, per the third article of the treaty of the 10th of May, 1854, two thousand dollars ;
For permanent annuity, in specie, for educational purposes, per fourth article of the treaty of the 29th of September, 1817, and the third article of the 10th of May, 1854, two thousand dol- lars ; shall be paid annually to the Cherokee Nation of Indians, the same as they have been the annuities and interest and invest- ments of the Shawnee tribe of Indians. And that the sum of fifty thousand dollars shall be paid to the said Cherokees, as soon as the same shall be received by the United States for the said Shawnees, from the sale of the lands in the State of Kansas, known as the Absentee Shawnee Lands in the State of Kansas, in accordance with the resolutions of Congress, approved, April 7th, 1869: entitled: "A resolution for the relief of settlers upon the Absentee Shawnee Lands in Kansas," and the provisions of the treaty between the United States, and the Shawnee Indians, concluded, May 10th, 1854, and also that the said Shawnees shall abandon their tribal organization. And it is further agreed by the parties hereto that in consideration of the said payments
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and acts agreed upon, as hereinbefore stated, that the said Chero- kees will receive the said Shawnees- referring to those now in Kansas, and also to such as properly belong to said tribe who may be at present elsewhere, and including those known as Absentee Shawnees, now residing in Indian Territory - into the country of the said Cherokees, upon unoccupied lands east of the ninety-sixth degree of longitude, and that the said Shawnees shall be incorporated into and ever after remain part of the Cherokee nation, on equal terms in every respect, and with all the privileges and immunities of native citizens of said Cherokee nation ; provided that all of said Shawnees who elect to avail themselves of the provisions of this agreement, shall register their names, and permanently locate in the Cherokee country, as herein provided, within two years from the date hereof, other- wise they shall forfeit all rights under this agreement. In testi- mony whereof, the parties hereto have hereunto subscribed their names, and affixed their seals, on the day and year first above written.
[SEAL. ]
[SEAL. ]
H. D. REESE, WM. P. ADAIR,
Delegates Representing the Cherokee Nation of Indians.
[SEAL. ] [SEAL. ]
GRAHAM ROGERS, CHARLES TUCKER,
Delegates Representing the Shawnee Tribe of Indians.
Attested by :
W. R. IRWIN, H. E. McKEE, A. N. BLACKLEDGE, ยท
JAMES B. ABBOTT.
In 1870, in compliance with the stipulations of the treaty made the previous year, the Shawnees moved from their Kansas reservation to Indian Territory, and settled on unoccupied lands east of the ninety-sixth meridian, in the Cherokee country, and thereby became a part of that nation.
Since their union with the Cherokees, they have not yet advanced beyond a semi-civilized state. It is an important truth to be borne in mind, that the civilization of these two tribes is due in a measure to the white and negro members who at one
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time or another have been admitted by adoption, rather than to the Indians themselves. Pure-blooded Indians form only a small per cent. of the population. It is estimated that about fifteen or, at most, twenty per cent. of the Shawnees and Cherokees. are of pure Indian descent. Even among those claiming to be Indians are many quarter-breeds and half-breeds. "It is doubt- ful, therefore, whether the advancement made by these tribes- proves anything as to the capacity of the genuine Indian for civi- lization." The agricultural work is done principally by negroes, as it was done before the Civil War, and the adoption of the Christian religion, the establishment of newspapers and schools- is mainly due to the white element of the population. From the same cause, ninety per cent. attire themselves after the manner of American citizens. A few of the medicine men, and more tur- bulent characters, still adhere to their old heathenish faith and practices. The Cherokees have an alphabet in which their books and laws are printed. The Cherokee Advocate, the national organ, published at Tahlequah, is printed half in English, and half in Cherokee. The books used in all the public schools, how- ever, are in the English language. The Cherokees expend half of the revenue received from the United States in the support of an orphan asylum, two seminaries, and one hundred primary schools. The number of children attending the public schools in 1890 was four thousand four hundred and thirty-nine. Sep- arate schools are provided for negroes. The Cherokees have over fifty churches and about one hundred primary schools. The Methodist churches, followed in order by Baptists, Presbyte- rians, and Quakers.
The treaty of 1866 gives the Cherokee courts the authority to punish members of the tribe for violations of the criminal law. When an Indian is condemned to death, he is given a respite of thirty days, in which time he may go home and settle up his affairs. He is neither guarded nor watched, and when he has completed his business he bids his family good-by, returns at the date appointed, and is shot. There is no taxation, direct or indi- rect, the government revenue, and the interest on the funds held in trust by the United States, rents from leased lands, licenses to trade and "permits" given to intruders afford funds sufficient to meet the requirements of the Indian government. Since the lands are held in common, only the improvements on
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them and personal property are subjects of sale and of levy for debt.
The story of the wrongs imposed upon the Cherokees and Shawnees, by the United States government is a melancholy one - they are wrongs of which every fair-minded American citizen should feel ashamed. A partial recital of the wrongs of the Shawnees has been given in the preceding pages. The his- tory of the Cherokees is equally as sad to contemplate. "The Cherokees of Georgia were the most civilized and humane of all the Indian nations. They had, to a certain degree, adopted the manners of the whites. They had pleasant farms, prosperous towns, schools, printing-presses, and a written code of laws. The government of the United States had given to Georgia a pledge to purchase the Cherokee lands for the benefit of the State. The pledge was not fulfilled; the authorities of Georgia grew tired of waiting for the removal of the Indians; and the legislature passed a statute by which the government of the Cherokees was abrogated and the laws of the state extended over the Indian domain. At the same time it was enacted that the Cherokees should not have the use of the State courts or the protection of the laws. This statute, however, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. The Indians then appealed to the President for help; but he refused to interfere between them and the laws of Georgia. He also recommended the removal of the Cherokees to lands beyond the Mississippi; and with this end in view, Indian Territory was organized in 1834. The Indians yielded with great reluctance. More than five million dollars were paid them for their lands; but still they clung to their homes. At last General Scott was ordered to remove them to the new territory, using force if necessary to accomplish the work. The years 1837-8 were occupied with the transfer of the Cherokees to Indian Territory."
The swindling of the Indians which began two centuries ago, has continued uninterruptedly up to the present. The "Indian Ring" at Washington is, and has been, as corrupt a gang of miscreants as ever went unhanged. It has brought to naught all the attempts to better the condition of the red men. It provided the Indians with bones for meat, rotting rags for blankets, took away their cultivated lands and gave them des-
19 HAC
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erts, and one-tenth of the annuities and money due them, and stealing the other nine-tenths, as pay for having done so much.
It is to be regretted that the wrongs of the red men are not yet ended. At the present writing, the Dawes Commission is now engaged in surveying and allotting lands in Indian Terri- tory, that have been guaranteed to the Indians by a score of solemn treaties made by the general government.
CHAPTER XII.
INDIAN BIOGRAPHY.
BLACKHOOF, OR QUASKEY.
Of the many distinguished chiefs in Indian history there are but few, who rank higher in prowess, bravery, and wisdom in council, than did Blackhoof, chief of the Shawnee tribes. He was born in Florida, in 1711, and afterward lived in the Caro- linas until the Shawnees emigrated to the Cumberland Valley. In that valley he grew to manhood. When the tribes afterward obtained permission to occupy certain portions of the Ohio Terri- tory, he accompanied them to the Miami Valley.
The cabin in which he lived for many years was located on the west bank of the Miami River, a short distance south of the mouth of Loramie creek near a spring, known at the present day as Blackhoof's spring. There he continued to reside until Gen- eral Clark made his celebrated raid on the Mad river and Piqua towns. After the destruction of their villages, the Shawnees retreated to localities further north and west. The tribe to which Blackhoof was attached located at Wapakoneta.
Blackhoof, or Quaskey, was present with other tribes of Shawnees, at the defeat of General Braddock, near Pittsburgh in 1755. In that battle and other engagements that followed soon afterward, he so distinguished himself for his desperation, and military ability, that he became known far and wide. It was probably about this time, or soon afterward that he was pro- claimed Head Chief of all the Shawnee tribes. "He was the in- veterate foe of the white man, and held that no peace should be made nor negotiation attempted, except on the condition that the whites should repass the mountains, and leave the great plains of the West to the sole occupancy of the red men." He was one of the ablest orators of all the Indian nations. Tecumseh, no doubt, acquired much of his inspiration from listening to the oratory and conversation of Blackhoof. Colonel Johnston is the authority for the statement that Blackhoof had probably been in more battles than any living man of his day. As an evidence
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of his prowess, he had a hundred and twenty scalps on his string. He led war parties in their attacks on boats, descending the Ohio river from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, in which many lives were lost, and many captives were led to Shawnee towns, and put to death by torture. He commanded one hundred and fifty war- riors at St. Clair's defeat, and participated in the battle of the Fallen Timbers.
After the defeat of the allied Indian nations by Wayne, Blackhoof and his band of Shawnee warriors returned to Wapa- koneta. Later, Blackhoof and his trusted followers established
BLACKHOOF.
themselves at Blackhoof-Town, now the site of the flourishing village of St. Johns. There, on the summit of a mound that afforded an extensive view of the surrounding country, he built a cabin in which he lived until his death, in the summer of 1831.
After their galling defeat by Wayne, followed by a winter of suffering from the losses they had sustained, Blackhoof and his adherents decided to sue for peace along with the other tribes. It was with great reluctance that he made his melancholy journey to Greenville to sign away the domain of his countrymen. He did not appear at Greenville until the last days of the treaty. Having signed it he departed from the meeting with a resolution
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never again to take up arms against the white man. The resolu- tion was adhered to, although, he was frequently importuned by Tecumseh, and numerous agents of the British army to join them in the war of 1812.
When General Harrison mobilized six thousand Indians around the Indian agency at Piqua, Blackhoof erected his tepee on the bank of the Miami river, near where he had formerly resided, and during the years of war that followed, gave valu- able aid by his counsel, and by furnishing scouts and spies to the army.
The courtesies extended to Blackhoof by Colonel Johnston and other governmental officers, did much to soften the asperities of the final defeat of his nation.
His roving disposition would not permit him to remain quiet at his encampment. To relieve the monotony he made frequent visits to the different military posts. On the occasion of one of his visits to Fort McArthur in 1813, he was shot by some mis- creant 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 several weeks."
At the close of the war Blackhoof returned to his former residence five miles east of Wapakoneta, and spent the remainder of his life in cultivating the acquaintance and friendship of the early pioneer white men, and such tribal duties as his age would permit him to perform. In his intercourse with the trading sta- tion and Quaker mission at Wapakoneta, a strong attachment was formed between him and Henry Harvey, that continued until the death of the old warrior. As their intimacy grew, they frequently exchanged visits, at which times the Christian religion was the principal subject of conversation.
Blackhoof is said to have been opposed to polygamy and the practice of burning prisoners (?) He lived forty years with one wife, raising a large family of children, who both loved and respected him. He was small in stature, not more than five feet eight inches in height. He was favored with good health and unimpaired eye-sight to the period of his death.
Quaskey, his eldest son, possessed many of the qualities of his distinguished father. He went west with his people in 1832, and died about 1869. He, like his father, was a good speaker.
The following description of the funeral ceremonies at the
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burial of Blackhoof is taken from "Harvey's History of the Shawnees." Harvey and his wife were present, by invitation. He says, "Being present upon that occasion, I was very much struck with the solemn and disconsolate appearance of all classes of the Shawnees. They had for many years looked to the experi- enced chief, in peace and war. He was of such an age that recol- lections carried him back to the men who had, in 1682, made the great treaty at Philadelphia, and with a clear recollection of these transactions, encouraged the people of his nation in becoming a civilized people.
"On arriving at the residence of the deceased chief, on the day the funeral was to take place, we found the corpse wrapped in a clean, new blanket, and a large quantity of fine new goods, such as calico, belts, ribbons, etc., around and about the corpse, which was laid upon a new, clean slab prepared for the purpose - his gun, tomahawk, knife, and pipe lying by his side. All the Indians present, and there was a large number of them, had their clothes hanging loose around them, their hair also down about their shoulders in the loosest manner - many of them having their faces painted in the ancient Indian style. All the men were smoking, all classes were seated near where their ancient beloved, and faithful chief was laid. He, who had been their leader and counselor in peace and war, was lying lifeless there before them. They had their eyes set on him in solemn silence - not one word was spoken for hours in that large concourse of people - all felt their bereavement in the loss of him - tears were to be seen in every eye. No one could distinguish between his own children (a number of them being present) and others ; all grieved alike the departure of the great chief ; no affectation. but real, heartfelt, grief ; as of a group of children for the loss of an only parent, and no one left to look up to.
"In the yard, in front of the cabin of the deceased, was a very large quantity of meat from wild animals, such as deer, turkeys, etc., the spoil of a two days' hunt by young men selected for that express purpose. Twenty deer were killed ; besides a large number of turkeys and what smaller wild animals they con- sidered fit to eat - no tame animal or fowl was suffered to be eaten on that occasion, though there was a large quantity of bread prepared. All this vast amount of provisions lay in one pile, stacked up handsomely together, and carefully guarded by some
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boys, so nothing should molest it. Although the Indians, on ordinary, occasions, always have a large number of dogs with them at their gatherings, here was scarcely one to be seen. At the arrival of the time to proceed to the grave with the corpse, a few of the choice young men, provided for deceased, arranged the clothing about the body, took four large straps, and placing them under it - one taking hold of each end - started off directly to the place of its final rest. No child was taken along in the procession; my wife had her babe with her; when about starting, an Indian woman offered to keep it for her, which she did, as they feared it might make a noise. The children of the deceased proceeded next the corpse, then the head chief, who was to succeed Blackhoof in that office, then the other chiefs in succession, then ourselves, and after us, came the whole com- pany. On arriving at the grave they all gathered round in a group. The grave was about three and a half feet deep - at the bottom a split puncheon was placed, and one set on edge at each side, about ten inches wide; the corpse was let down, the clothing of the deceased, which he last wore when in health, laid on his body, when his old moccasins were cut in pieces and placed with the rest, but no weapon was put in; then another puncheon was laid over him. This being done, John Perry, head chief, took some small seeds from a cloth, and, commencing at the head of the grave, walked carefully around it, sprinkling them all over it as he went; this done, he set off on the path directly to the house, and in this was followed by all present, except three men, who remained to close the grave. After this was finished, the men went toward the creek, and in about half an hour returned to the house. On their return, the smoking and convesation com- menced.
(The Indian cemetery in which the chief was buried was located on the summit of a gravel-mound, about eighty rods north-east of the village of St. Johns. - Editor.)
"When the company started from the grave, they moved in single file, one after another, not one looking back. On the arrival of those who had filled up the grave, I observed them to commence conversation. I inquired of Henry Clay, one of them, and also a chief, what they went to the water for. He replied, "that as I was their friend, he would tell me; it was to purify themselves by puking, and washing their bodies."
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"Soon after they had smoked around the company, they commenced their feast, but it being now late in the day, they pleaded with us to remain and partake with them - still we were compelled to leave for home, which was about ten miles distant.
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