USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievemen, Vol. I > Part 25
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I remain, yours affectionately,
To Rev. J. B. Finley. Mononcue.
A striking illustration of primitive justice. Denied burial among his brethren, his grave filled and leveled, no stone set to mark the spot-and left to time and flood to remove all trace of his exit from life, so that no remembrance might remain of his ever having existed. The reader who has read the account of this execution in Howe's Ohio, will note the date of Mononcue's letter, which settles the date of the execution; also, that the murderer and his victim were both young men, and not as Howe states, one old, the other young.
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UNITED STATES INDIAN AGENCY
The Government Indian agency occupied a two-story log building on the site of Fort Ferree. With the sale of the reservation to the United States, and the departure of the Indians, the agency passed out of existence. Purdy M'El- vain the Indian agent, closed up its affairs, filed his report with the commissioner of the general land office, received his discharge, and cast in his lot with the pioneers. When the United States land office was removed from Lima, Ohio, to Upper Sandusky, Col. Moses H. Kirby-the receiver, on his arrival in 1843, found Andrew McElvain occupying the agency building, and utilizing it as a tavern, with limited capacity for entertainment of man and beast.
As history records that employees of the land office and government survey were quartered at the agency, it is fair to presume that the McElvains found employment in their entertainment.
April 26, 1845, the county commissioners, by resolution, requested the register and receiver of the land office to advise them what lot or lots in the town of Upper Sandusky, con- tained valuable improvements made by the Indian agency, and in reply these officials reported outlot 49, as embracing all the valuable improvements made at Upper Sandusky for agency purposes. It was on outlot 49, that Fort Ferree was mainly located. The United States had had almost continu- ous possession thereof, since the War of 1812-15. It was natural, that in establishing an Indian agency; use would be made of the buildings erected in 1813. That the agency build- ing, the log structure, was one of the Fort Ferree block houses, there is little room for doubt. The County History of 1884, page 439, states that one of the four block houses of Fort Fer- ree was standing in 1850. Pioneers now living remember a frame addition attached to the west side of the log building, which was evidently a part of the valuable improvement made by the Indian agency to Fort Ferree belongings. That old block house and Indian agency building, bore the distinction of being the first postoffice in Upper Sandusky, with Andrew McElvain as postmaster, his commission dating from October 12, 1844.
As near as can now be recalled, the agency buildings were removed about 1851-52, possibly later. The frame addition
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was taken to Sandusky avenue, and is now occupied by Chas. Hinkleman for residence and business purposes.
THE WALKER STORE
The Walker store occupied a log cabin located on inlot 193, on Fourth street, now owned by Simon Huffman. Lewis Clason, deputy United States surveyor, designated it on his plan of the town site of Upper Sandusky prepared for the general land office, as Wm. Walkers store. Some of the pio- neers of 1843, dispute this, and say that it was John Walker, a white man, who owned and conducted the store.
Back in 1825, the Christian element of the nation, on the suggestion of Missionary Finley, began a community store.
Judge Leib, United States Government agent, who vis- ited the Wyandots in 1826, said in his report to the secretary of war, "I cannot forbear mentioning a plan adopted by this tribe, under the auspices of the superintendent, which prom- ises salutary effects. A considerable store has been fitted up on their reserve, and furnished with every species of goods suited to their wants, and purchased with their annuities. An account is opened with each individual who deals thereat, and a very small profit acquired. Mr. William Walker, a quadroon, one of the tribe, a trustworthy man and well quali- fied by his habits and education to conduct the business, is their agent." By the Treaty of 1817, Upper Sandusky was made the central point of the reserve and it so continued as the seat of their council house, church, store and jail until 1843. The purpose of the store being to furnish them with those goods they needed at cheap rates, and avoid the tempta- tions and imposition practiced on them in the trading places on the reservation borders. Naturally such an institution continued indefinitely, until conditions necessitated its closing out. Wm. Walker, being one of the commission of five prom- inent Wyandots sent West, to investigate the new home offered the Indians, and report to the nation with their recommenda- tions, very likely anticipated the sale of the reservation, and disposed of the store to John Walker. It is certain that John Walker conducted the store there, after the sale of the reserva- tion and departure of the Indians. Business advertisements in early papers locate him there in 1845-46. They show a
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change in firm name to Walker & Garrett in 1847. It was dis- solved January 5, 1849, Walker removing to Tiffin.
THE WALKER HOME
Wm. Walker erected and occupied the dwelling at the southwest corner of Walker and Fourth streets. It has under- gone little change in the years that have passed over it. It is well it was in hands that valued it enough to preserve its individuality. Changed, remodeled, its historic value would have lost half its interest.
Its quaint architecture, that of another and an elder time, is all the more valuable now. Its historic connection makes it an exceptionally interesting relic.
The date of its building is not definitely known. The first frame building on the reservation was the mission school on the mission farm adjoining the present town site which was erected in 1823.
History has placed the erection of the Indian council house at 1830. Old timers question this, and are disposed to place it earlier, arguing that the interval of seven years is too great. It is reasonable to recognize the doubt, and to say that the date of the erection of both buildings was somewhere between 1823-30.
It is a substantial frame structure, one and a half stories high, set well up above the street on a good brick foundation. Its roof extends down over a spacious front porch, with dor- mer windows above. Some changes of small account have been made in the interior, but the finishing remains much as it was. Being the home of one of the best known and most highly respected men of the nation, who enjoyed the honor of being chief of his clan or tribe as the different branches of the nation were called, this dwelling, the sole remaining relic of historic Upper Sandusky, bears with it the distinc- tion of being the unintentional monument to the memory of a historic Indian village. From the north end of its porch, the in and out lots vested in the county commissioners for public building purposes, by act of Congress approved Feb- ruary 26, 1845, were sold at public auction August 20, 21, 22, of the same year. It would be most fitting could this last im- portant memento associated with historic time be devoted to some worthy public charity or purpose and be preserved for all time, a souvenir of a nation now practically extinct.
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THE OLD INDIAN TAVERN
SOMETIMES CALLED THE OVERLAND INN
Close to the springs and near the southeast corner of Wyandot avenue and Fourth street, there once stood a double log building, two stories in height which, before the departure of the Wyandots in 1843 was known as the Garrett tavern, George Garrett, a white man whose wife was a sister of Wm. Walker, proprietor.
This was the only rest house in the Indian village, prior to 1843, and probably one of the most interesting objects on the Overland stage route. It was closely associated with Indian occupation of the country, camp life, war, and religious mis- sion work for which reasons the trip through the reservation was very interesting to the traveler.
The Overland stage route, was part of what was then the short cut from the East to the West, by which the long con- tinuous trip by stage over the mountains was avoided. This route was by way of Buffalo, Lake Erie to Sandusky City by boat, thence by stage to Columbus and Cincinnati .* That part of the stage route from Delaware via Upper Sandusky to Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, was the old Harrison mili- tary road, surveyed and constructed by troops of Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison in 1812-15.
The old inn extended lengthwise north and south, and occupied parts of inlots 159-160, together with a part of Fourth street, and fronted on Fourth street. Charles Dick- ens on his tour of the United States in 1842, passed through the village, tarrying over night at the inn. He had come by stage from Columbus and was enroute for Sandusky City, where he was to take a steamer for Buffalo. He wrote enter- tainingly of his travels in his volume entitled "American Notes," and of his stay here said: "Between ten and eleven o'clock at night, a few feeble lights appeared in the distance, and Upper Sandusky lay before us. They were gone to bed at the Log inn, which was the only house of entertainment in the place, but soon answered our knocking and got some tea for us, in a sort of kitchen or common room, tapestried with old newspapers pasted on the walls. The bed chamber to which my wife and I were shown was a large low ghostly room, with a quantity of withered branches on the hearth,
*Later, owing to the construction of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad to Tiffin travel by stage was shortened.
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and two doors without any fastening, opposite to each other, both opening on the black night and wild country, and so con- trived that one of them always blew the other open, a novelty in domestic architecture which I do not remember to have seen before, and at which I was somewhat disconcerted, to have forced upon my attention after getting into bed, as I had a considerable sum in gold for our traveling expenses in my dressing case. Some of the luggage, however, piled against the panels soon settled the difficulty. My Boston friend climbed up to somewhere in the roof, where another guest was already snoring hugely. But being bitten beyond his power of endurance, he turned out again and fled for shelter to the coach, which was airing itself in front of the house-and lay there shivering until morning. Nor was it possible to warm him up when he came out, by means of a glass of brandy, for in Indian villages, the Legislature, with a very good and wise intention forbids the sale of spirits by tavern keepers. The precaution, however, is inefficacious, for the Indian never fails to procure liquor of a worse kind at a dearer price from traveling peddlers.
"It is a settlement of Wyandot Indians who inhabit the place. Among the company was a mild old gentleman (Col. John Johnson), who had been for many years employed by the United States Government in conducting negotiations with the Indians, and who had just concluded a treaty with these people, by which they bound themselves in considera- tion of a certain annual sum, to remove next year to some land provided farther west of the Mississippi, and a little way beyond St. Louis.
"He gave me a moving account of their strong attach- ment to the familiar scenes of their infancy, and in particular to the burial places of their kindred, and their great reluc- tance to leave them. He had witnessed many such removals and always with pain, though he knew that they departed for their own good. The question whether this tribe should go or stay, had been discussed among them a day or two before, in a hut erected for the purpose, the logs of which still lay upon the ground before the inn. When the speaking was done, the ayes and noes were ranged on opposite sides, and every male adult voted in his turn. The moment the result was known, the minority (a large one) cheerfully yielded to the rest and withdrew all kind of opposition."
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THE VILLAGE BURIAL GROUND
This was located on the crest of the bluff fronting on Fourth street, a few steps north of the council house. In extent it occupied about an acre.
Could a stranger, ignorant of the country and its inhab- itants, have arrived at the village after the people had retired, and with the moon at its full have walked his tired horse past this spot, and have noted the neat enclosure with its grey sandstone monuments to the memory of the dead, he would have been certain after reading some of the inscriptions, that he was in a country inhabited by a white population, so orderly was everything arranged.
At its north end, there was a wide deep draw which in the course of years has been filled and all trace thereof obliterated. Its southern boundary was a few feet north of the north line of Johnson street.
As late as 1852, both crest and upper slope of the bluff was dotted all over with the neat sandstone markers of the resting places of the dead, and the grounds enclosed with a panel board fence. The date is associated in the writer's memory with an important event and a visit to the burial ground.
There lie buried members of the Garett, Walker, Hicks, Armstrong, Williams, Clark, and Brown families, all mixed bloods, besides many others we do not recall. There were also a few whites buried there both before and after the Indians left. Less than a dozen whole monuments now remain, and they of the latest burials made. All the earlier ones have disappeared.
It is a matter of interest now, why so many bore names of white origin. In 1750 the Wyandot nation was the dom- inant one among all the different tribes inhabiting Ohio and Michigan territories, their rule extending from western Can- ada, throughout both Michigan and Ohio. The valley of the Sandusky was the center of their sphere of influence, and the home of the ruling element. In war they were not behind their savage neighbors. Less bloodthirsty than the Delawares, Shawanese and others, they saved more captives, often buy- ing them from other tribes, and adopting them into their own families in place of warriors and sons lost in war, and by death from ordinary causes.
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The experience of captives among them, the loyalty of the mixed bloods to the nation, and their burial grounds, all testify to this phase of their character. In this way they became allied with some of the best families of the country. The Browns of Old Virginia, the Walkers of Tennessee, the Zanes of West Virginia, the Williams, Armstrong's, McCul- loughs and Magees of Pittsburgh, and Clarks of Kentucky, all had their representatives among them.
In course of time through marriage and intermarriage, this element became very numerous and influential in the nation. They were the progressive element and with such pure bloods as Mononcue, Gray Eyes, Between-the-logs, Jacques, Summendewalt, and Mudeater, were known as the Christian party, who more and more as time passed adopted the ways of their white neighbors. This explains the exist- ence of their burial grounds and their occupants.
The writer visited Mother Garrett as she was familiarly called, at her home near Wyandot, Kansas, in 1869, and learned from her much he has incorporated herein. In response to her inquiries about the church and burial grounds, we told her of them as kindly as we knew how. Her face assumed a sober, thoughtful mien, and bowing and slowly shaking her head as if in deprecation, she was silent. Her parents, husband and son, as well as other relatives, lay buried there near the council house and memory had taken her back to them.
Mrs. Garrett was more than an ordinary woman. Pos- sessed of a strong character, and a good education for the times, she was very attractive and winning in address and conversation. Although up in years when we last saw her, she was well preserved and youthful in action-a more interesting companionable person we have seldom met.
The reader may well wonder how such a priceless memento of a once powerful savage race was permitted to go to destruc- tion, may well wonder why it was not preserved. The fol- lowing is a matter of history and of record. When the Wvan- dots sold their reservation to the United States Government. March 17, 1842, they in and by Article 17 of the treaty of that date, reserved from sale and cession, certain grounds in and near Upper Sandusky, theretofore and then, used as. public burial grounds for their dead, viz., one acre in the town of Upper Sandusky, near what was then known as the council
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house of the nation, and two acres containing the Mission church, north of and adjoining the corporation of Upper Sandusky, to be and so remain forever.
On the 11th day of July, 1843, at the last council held by the Wyandots prior to their departure for the West, in order to provide for the care and preservation of the grounds and graves of their dead, to prevent their being converted or appro- priated to other uses, and from being despoiled by vandals, they formally committed them to the perpetual care, oversight, and control of the Methodist Episcopal church, authorizing the church to take and have possession of them, and to appoint trustees over them according to its own rules and regulations.
As evidence of said action and authority so given and granted to the church, the council executed to the proper officers of the church, an instrument in the nature of a trust deed, duly attested, of which the following is a copy.
Wyandot Council, Upper Sandusky, July 11, 1843. To all whom it may concern:
Whereas, by the 17th article of the late treaty, made and concluded between the Wyandot Nation of Indians and the United States, there was reserved from sale one acre 01 ground near the council house at Upper Sandusky, and also two acres near to and north of Upper Sandusky, to include the stone meeting house-was done for the purpose of secur- ing the house and the places where we have buried friends from being desecrated by appropriating them to other pur- poses from that which they were originally designed. In order that that object may be secured we request that the Methodist Episcopal church take possession thereof and appoint trustees over the same according to its own rules and regulations.
Done by order of the Council,
Attest :
Joel Walker,
Henry Jacques, Principal Chief.
Secretary to the Council.
Conforming to the action of the Indian council and com- plying with the request contained in the deed of trust, the church through its proper representatives accepted the trust, appointed a trustee to take possession of the property, and did take charge of the two acres north of and adjoining the town site, on which was located the old Mission church, some- thing most needed, and which they immediately utilized as
OLD TOLL HOUSE, UPPER SANDUSKY
RUINS OF OLD MISSION CHURCH, UPPER SANDUSKY
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their own. This was most fortunate for the church at the time. A house of worship, ready to hand, without other con- sideration save the performance of a trust, accepted. The society was poor in purse and few in number.
January 22, 1847, the trustees caused the deed of trust to be recorded in the office of the county recorder of Wyandot county, Ohio. Performance, under the deed of trust pro- ceeded no farther than above stated. The village burial ground near the council house was forgotten entirely, and for many years after the trust acceptance, no care, control or concern was manifested over it.
In course of time, the church being far out, and the walk- ing not good in cold and disagreeable weather (though it was none the less so for Missionary Finley and his Indian converts), and the location not being central enough,-the society purchased the lot wherein their present church is located, and proceeded to build a new church at the corner of the alley where the Masonic temple now stands.
With the completion of the new edifice, in which was util- ized the seating and such other portions thereof as supplied their needs from the old Mission church, it was abandoned- left so that winds might whistle freely through it and the rains flood the floor. The deed of trust given under the seal of Henry Jacques, head chief, and Joel Walker, secretary, should have been tacked upon the wall and blue-penciled "Canceled," to complete the record.
A few short years saw the old church and the neat stone monuments surrounding it a lamentable wreck. It became impossible to say with certainty, who was who among the occupants of the graves.
Down at the village burial ground the fence rotted and fell. Weeds and underbrush covered the spot with nature's mantle of charity. Next, a squatter took possession of it, repaired the fence, made some pretence of clearing the grounds, having as he pretended some regard and consider- ation for the dead buried there. Ere long he exhibited the depth of that regard by making it a pasture lot for his stock, and utilized the monuments of the dead as rubbing posts for his cattle, by which many of them were broken down and over- turned, to be broken up or carried away by relic hunters. Suit was brought in the court of common pleas of Wyandot county, on February 16, 1889 vs. the squatter, by the trustees Vol. 1 -18
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of the M. E. church to secure possession of the grounds. The defendant demurred to the petition March 11, 1889, and filed his detailed answer thereto August 8, 1889, reciting the failure and neglect of the church in the performance of the trust reposed in it ; its neglect ever to assume charge of the grounds in dispute; its responsibility for the ruin of the Mission church and burial grounds, etc., ending by claiming the prem- ises by adverse undisturbed possession for over twenty-five years. The answer was most complete in detail, reciting facts the writer has seen fit to omit. The criticism we have to make of the answer of the defendant is that he did not claim the premises through over forty years' undisturbed possession which would be in keeping with the facts. These papers are matters of record in the county clerk's office of Wyandot county, Ohio. Almost the entire bar seem to have been repre- sented in the case. For some inscrutable reason the case was carried no farther-but the record remains.
When called to book and to yield possession, he claimed title by adverse possession despite and in defiance of solemn treaty by and between the United States and the Wyandots, under the terms of which the party of the first part decreed title and purpose should remain forever in the Wyandot nation.
In executing their deed of trust to the church, the Wyan- dots understanding the treaty provision, made it perpetual. Under such conditions, no title by adverse possession could possibly be obtained.
On his death, another squatter followed him, claiming title for services rendered heirs to the first squatter's estate. At last, an indignant and outraged public protested and called upon the municipality to intervene. This was done. The grounds were cleaned and neatly fenced at public expense and the outraged spot enjoyed a short respite.
The record of indifference to, and neglect of, the perform- ance of a solemnly executed trust; of private and notorious exploitation of these burial places of the Wvandots; of the desecration of the graves and destruction of their adornments and belongings; the years of toleration of conditions that might have been prevented; the want of appreciation of the value of these mementoes of the uplift of a pre-historic race, shown by those claiming a higher order of civilization with the Christian religion for its corner-stone; the failure of the
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municipality to earlier intervene for the sake of its own repu- tation ;- that record if published in detail -- complete-would be one of shame and regret.
Never were a people more richly endowed with the many mementoes and souvenirs of a once savage race. Never more reckless indifference marked the passing of endowment. Never was private greed more rampant in the appropriation and conversion to personal use, of relics on the reservation in early day. Nothing was too sacred to escape.
E'en though no trust called for care and preservation on the part of the municipality, still the village burial ground was, in one sense, a municipal possession, belonging not to the church alone, but to the community. The church was simply and solely caretaker,-the executor of a trust. It. failing in performance, the duty of the municipality was to conserve and preserve. That historic village burial ground was here to be preserved for the generations that will come after us looking for these relics of an historic race, who will condemn us for our failure to preserve them. It was here for the student of history, a historic spot, an object lesson of what man had done for savage man, a valuable record of results accomplished through the first mission work of the church. Municipal pride, jealousy alive to the possession of this heirloom of an historic past, and the importance of its preservation, would have left us the original mementoes placed upon these burial places, in their quaint historic patterns, and shaped not out of marble, but of modest gray sandstone, in keeping with the time and the character of those whose pass- ing they commemorated.
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