USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume II > Part 101
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" LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, January 20, 1835.
"Dear Sir: In the hope that some good may result from it, I have taken this means of giving to your fellow-citizens-say the descendants of the early settlers of the Susquehanna-the following information; and if there be any now living whose name is SLOKUM, to them I hope the following may be communicated through the public prints of your place.
"There is now living near this place, among the Miami tribe of Indians, an aged white woman, who, a few days ago, told me that she was taken away from lier father's house, on or near the Susquehanna River, when she was very young-say from five to eight years old, as she thinks-by the Delaware Indians, who were then hostile towards the whites. She says her father's name was SLOKUM; that he was a Quaker, rather small in stature, and wore a large brimmed liat; was of sandy lair and light complexion, and much freckled; that he lived about half a mile from a town where there was a fort ;* that they lived in a wooden house of two stories high, and had a spring near the house.
"She says three Delawares came to the house in the day-time, when all were absent but herself and, perhaps, two smaller children; her father and brothers were absent making hay. The Indians carried her off, and she was adopted into a family of Delawares, who raised her and treated her as their own child. They died about forty years ago, somewhere in Ohio. She then was married to a Miami, by whom she had four children; two only of them are now living; they are botli daughters, and she lives with them. Her husband is dead; she is old and feeble, and thinks she will not live long. These considerations induced her to give the present history of herself, which she never would [give] before, fearing her kindred would come and force lier away. She has lived long and happy as an Indian, and but for her color would not be suspected for being anything else than such. She is very respectable and wealthy, sober and honest. Her name is without reproach.
"She says her father had a large family- say eight children in all ; six older than herself, one younger, as well as she can recollect. She doubts not there are yet living many of their descendants ; but seems to think that all her brothers and sisters must be dead, as she is very old herself-not far from eighty years old. She thinks she was taken prisoner before the two last wars, which must inean the Revolutionary War, as Wayne's War and the late war have been since that one. She has entirely lost her mother-tongue, and she speaks only in Indian, which I also understand, and she gave me a full history of herself. Her own Christian name she has forgotten. Her father's name was SLOKUM, and he was a Quaker. She also recollects that it was upon the Susquehanna River that they lived, but doesn't recollect the name of the town near which they lived. I have thought that from this letter you might cause something to be inserted in the newspapers of your country, that might possibly catch the eye of some of the descendants of the SLOKUM family who have a knowledge of a girl having been car- ried off by the Indians some seventy years ago. This they might know from family tra- dition. If so, and they will come here, I will carry them where they will see the subject of my letter, alive and happy, though old and far advanced in life.
" I can form no idea whereabouts upon the Susquehanna River this family could have lived at that early period, namely, about the time of the Revolutionary War ; but perhaps you can ascertain more about it. If so, I hope you will interest yourself and, if possible, let her brothers and sisters, if any be alive (and if not, their children), know
* In 1777 and 1778 when Frances Slocum lived in Wilkes-Barre there were very few houses in the upper end of the town-plot. The majority of the houses were below the present Market Street. As shown on page 1121, the Slocum house was upwards of half a mile from Fort Wyoming.
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where they may once more see a relative whose fate has been wrapped in mystery for seventy years, and for whom her bereaved and afflicted parents doubtless shed many a bitter tear. They have long since found their graves, though their lost child they never found. I have been much affected with this disclosure, and hope the surviving friends may obtain, through your goodness, the information I desire for them. If I can be of any service to them, they may command me. In the mean time I hope you will excuse me for the freedom I have taken with you, a total stranger ; and believe me to be, Sir, with much respect, " Your most obedient Servant,
[Signed] "GEORGE W. EWING."
Jonathan J. Slocum of Wilkes-Barré, son of Joseph Slocum, imme- diately wrote to Colonel Ewing relative to his two-year old letter which had just been brought to the attention of the Slocums, and informed him that steps would be taken immediately to investigate the inatter. Under the date of August 26, 1837, Colonel Ewing wrote from Logans- port to Jonathan J. Slocum in part as follows :
"The female I spoke of in January, 1835, is still alive; nor can I for a moment doubt but that she is the identical relative that has been so long lost to your family. I feel mnuch gratified to think that I have been thus instrumental in disclosing to yourself and friends such facts in relation to her as will enable you to visit her and satisfy your- selves more fully. She recovered from the temporary illness by which she was afflicted about the time I spent the night with her in January, 1835, and which was, no doubt, the cause that induced her to speak so freely of her early captivity. Although she is now, by long habit, an Indian, and her manners and customs precisely theirs, yet she will doubt- less be happy to see any of you, and I, myself, will take great pleasure in accompanying you to the house. Should you come out for that purpose, I advise you to repair directly to this place ; and should it so happen that I should be absent at the time, you will find others who can take you to her. Bring with you this letter ; show it to James T. Miller of Peru, Indiana-a small town not far from this place. He knows her well. He speaks the Miami tongue, and will accompany you if I should not be at home."
As speedily as possible it was arranged that Joseph Slocuin, accom- panied by one of his nephews, should proceed from Wilkes-Barré to Ohio and join his sister, Mrs. Mary Towne, who lived in the central part of the State, and then proceed with her, by private conveyance, to Indiana. Isaac Slocum, who, as mentioned on page 1116, was living in Sandusky County, Ohio, was to meet his brother and sister somewhere near the home of their supposed sister in Indiana. This was in September, 1837. Isaac Slocum, who lived less than 200 miles from Peru, Indiana, pro- ceeded to that place, where he arrived in advance of his brother and sister. Becoming impatient at the delay caused by their non-arrival, he hunted up James T. Miller, and with him proceeded to "Deaf Man's Village." By that time the story of Mac-on-a-quah, or Frances Slocumn, had become well known in Peru, and it excited almost as much interest and comment there as in Wyoming Valley. The following account of the visit of Messrs. Slocum and Miller to " Deaf Man's Village " was printed in the Peru Forester, of about the 20th of September, 1837, but has never heretofore been reprinted in any of the books which have been published about Frances Slocum.
"A few evenings ago Mr. Isaac Slocum, a younger brother of Frances, arrived in town from his residence in Sandusky County, Ohio, and in company with James T. Miller of this place, interpreter, proceeded to the place of her residence, known by the appellation of 'Deaf Man's Village,' about nine miles above Peru, on the Mississineva River. Mr. Slocum, on the way, remarked to his guide that if the woman ( Frances) was really his sister he would recognize her by a scar upon the forefinger of her left hand, caused by a blow from a hammer upon an anvil, while at play with her brother before she was taken captive ; but he knew not in what other way he should be able to convince either her or himself of the relationship which subsisted between them.
"Mr. Miller proceeded to the house alone, in order to prepare the old lady for the reception of her brother ; but found her unwilling to believe that such a thing could be. She recalled many of the circumstances which attended her capture-that she had a father, mother, brothers and sisters, but supposed that they were all long since dead. The brother at length entered the house, and, gazing upon the changed appearance of
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Frances, involuntarily exclaimed, 'Good God ! is this my sister?' Then grasping her hand he drew it toward the light and beheld the scar-the identical scar which he had described ! He was then satisfied, but Frances was still unwilling to believe Mr. Slocum to be her brother. Mr. Miller, at the request of Mr. Slocum, interrogated her in the Indian language (as she speaks or understands no other) concerning the scar upon her finger, and she related the same story which her brother had told him on their way; and finally, before they separated, Frances was satisfied to acknowledge Isaac to be her own brother, but expressed no inclination to leave her wigwam to partake of the com- forts of his hospitable mansion.
"Mr. Slocum is exceedingly anxious to prevail upon her to accompany him to Ohio, where he now resides, and to Pennsylvania, the land of their fathers, but he informs us that his efforts to do so will prove abortive. * * * Mr. Slocum informs us that while in Canada forty years ago with his brothers they offered some traders the sum of $300. if they would only give intelligence of Frances. He also states that his brother Joseph, and sister, Mrs. Mary Towne, will be here in a few days, and that he will await their arrival. Mr. Slocuni bears the appearance of a gentleman of the first respectability, and in conversation often alludes to the horrible scenes which transpired on the banks of the Susquehanna during the days of his boyhood. He is now sixty-two years old, in apparent good health."
Messrs. Slocumn and Miller returned to Peri, where, after several days' waiting on their part, they were joined on September 21st by Joseph Slocum, his nephew, and Mrs. Towne. Preparations were almost immediately mnade to proceed to " Deaf Man's Village." Miller, the interpreter, a young man froin Pennsylvania named Fulwiler, who had recently settled in Peru, and an Indian half-breed, named Hunt, who had been educated in Kentucky, accompanied the Slocums thither. Mrs. Towne, being in ill health, remained behind at Peru. Taking the Indian path the party soon came to the first Indian village on the Mis- sissineva, a short distance above its junction with the Wabash. Here a remnant of the Miami tribe lived in small cabins. At this point the path turned to the left from the river, and proceeded to the residence of Francis Godfroy, who had succeeded She-po-con-ah, the husband of Frances Slocum11, as war-chief of the Miamis. His settlement consisted of five or six two-story log houses within an enclosure of about half an acre, situated on a rising piece of ground not far from the Wabash River. Here Godfroy's great store, or trading-post, was located. A gate- way admitted the travelers to the buildings of the establishment, and on entering the main building the interpreter introduced the several members of the party to the Chief and informned him of their errand. He received them with great dignity and politeness, and proffered them every assistance in his power to facilitate the success of their mission.
After a pleasant visit the Slocums and their companions took leave of Chief Godfroy, and then hastened on about four miles. Having forded the Mississineva again, they entered " Deaf Man's Village." On the outskirts they inet the Indian husband of the younger daughter of Mac-on-a-quah, who mounted his pony and conducted the party to his mother-in-law's dwelling. This was a large story-and-a-lıalf log liouse, or, rather, two houses joined together by a shed, and it stood on the brink of the river. When the Slocuin party entered the dwelling they found Mac-on-a-quah quietly sitting in a chair, with her two daughters and the husband-"Capt." Jean Baptiste Brouillette-of the elder daughter in the room with her. The visitors were received formally, if not coldly, and after the ceremony of introduction by the interpreter, Mac-on-a-quah did not seem disposed to converse freely. In a short time, however, she relaxed somewhat, and gave a brief account of her family and the circumstances of hier capture; but seemed utterly uninoved, and not free fromn suspicion that there was some plan in opera-
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tion to take her away or rob her of what she possessed. During the interview Isaac and Joseph Slocum paced the floor in great agitation. Their Indian sister, however, did not change a feature of her countenance, shed a tear, or show any emotion whatever.
As mentioned by Colonel Ewing in his first letter, Mac-on-a-quah had forgotten her Christian name. Her brothers had not been with her long when one of them asked her if she could remember it if she would hear it mentioned. Her answer was, "It is a long time; I do not know." " Was it Frances?" she was asked. Something like emotion immediately agitated her impassive features, and it was evident that an idea was struggling through the dark recesses of hier mind. Then a smile lit up her countenance, and she answered, "Mi, França, França !" The painful situation changed a little, but very slowly. When the con- versation was concluded Frances went about her work, apparently with as much indifference as though nothing of interest had happened. Returning from a stroll about the premises a little later, the visitors found her seated on the floor scraping and manipulating a deer-skin, in order to prepare it for use. Finally it was time for the visitors to depart, and they proposed to Frances that she and her family should accompany them to Peru. She declined to give them a positive answer until she had ridden over to the house of Chief Godfroy and consulted him about the matter. He advised her to comply with the request, assuring her that she would be in no danger from the respectable strangers. The advice of the Chief gave her confidence, and shortly afterwards the whole party set out for Peru, where Mrs. Towne awaited them. Before return- ing home that night Frances promised that on the next day she would visit her brothers and sister again.
True to her promise Frances came to Peru early on the following day, accompanied by her two daughters and "Captain" Brouillette, and they spent the greater part of the day with their Slocum relatives. Upon this occasion Frances gave a more complete and detailed account of her capture and wanderings than she had previously given. This was trans- lated by Messrs. Miller and Hunt, and was committed to writing by Joseph Slocumn's nephew. At the conclusion of her story she was asked if she would not accompany her brother Joseph back to her old home in Wilkes-Barré. "No, I cannot," was the firm reply. "I have always lived with the Indians; they have always used me very kindly; I am used to them. The Great Spirit has always allowed ine to live with them, and I wish to live and die with them. * I should have died * sooner if I had left them. My husband and my two boys are buried here, and I cannot leave them. On his dying day my husband charged me not to leave the Indians. I have a house and large lands, two daughters, three grand-children, and everything to make me comfortable ; why should I go, and be like a fish out of water ? "
When Frances had given her reasons for not desiring to leave her home, "Captain " Brouillette spoke up and said : "The people about here, at Logansport and at Miamisport [Peru], have known me ever since the country was settled by the whites. They know mne to be industrious, to manage well, and to maintain my family respectably. My mother-in-law's sons are dead, and I stand in their place to her. I mean to maintain her well as long as she lives-for the truth of which you may depend on the word of 'Captain ' Brouillette." "What
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'Captain ' Brouillette says," quickly added the old lady, "is true. He has always treated ine kindly, and I hope my connections will not feel any uneasiness about me. The Indians are my people. I do no work. I sit in the house with these my two daughters, who do the work, and I sit with them." "But won't you at least go and inake a visit to your early home, and when you have seen us, return again to your children?" asked Joseph Slocum. " I cannot, I cannot ! I am an old tree. I can- not move about. I was a sapling when they took me away. * I * should not be happy with my white relatives. I am glad enough to see them, but I cannot go, I cannot go. I have done."
" When the whites take a squaw," said Brouillette, with much ani- mation-as if delighted with the decision of the old lady-" they make her work like a slave. It was never so with this woman." * * * Frances' elder daughter, the wife of Brouillette, then assented to all that had been said, and added that "the deer cannot live out of the forest." O-zah-shin-quah, the younger daughter, then confirmed what her sister had stated, and said that she thought her mother could not go even on a visit, because " the fish dies quickly out of the water.". This remark- able and pathetic interview now came to a close. Frances bade her white relatives adieu, and, mounting her pony, galloped away, followed by her daughters and " Captain " Brouillette.
Dr. George Peck says* "Frances looked like an Indian, talked like an Indian, lived like an Indian, seated herself like an Indian, ate like an Indian, lay down to sleep like an Indian, thought, felt and reasoned like an Indian ; she liad no longings for her original home, or the society of her kindred ; she eschewed the trammels of civilized life and could only breathe freely in the great, unfenced out-doors which God gave to the red man. There was, however, this to comfort the Slocums-their sister was not degraded in her habits or her character ; * * her Anglo-Saxon blood had not been tainted by savage touch, but bore itself gloriously amid the long series of trials through which it had passed."
A day or two after Frances' visit to Peru the Slocums set out for their respective homes, and in due time Joseph Slocum reached Wilkes- Barré, very much gratified at what he had seen and learned. The won- derful story he had to tell was listened to with the most intense interest by his family and friends.
Nearly two years later Joseph Slocum completed preparations for a second visit to his sister Frances, and set out from Wilkes-Barré Sep- tember 10, 1839, accompanied by his eldest child, Hannah Fell (Mrs. Ziba Bennett), by his youngest, Harriet Elizabeth, and by Charles Saylor. Eigliteen days later they arrived at Peru, Indiana, having traveled by means of stage-coaches, lake steamers, canal-boats and rail- roads, via Tunkhannock, Montrose, Owego, Ithaca, Rochester, Lock- port, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Sandusky City, Maumee City and Fort Wayne. Peru was reached at three o'clock on Saturday morning, Sep- tember 28th, and on the following Monday morning, a two-horse wagon and a driver having been hired, Mr. Slocum, his two daughters, Charles Saylor, James T. Miller (the interpreter) and James B. Fulwiler, previ- ously mentioned, set out for " Deaf Man's Village."
Mrs. Hannah Fell (Slocum) Bennett kept a diary of the incidents of the journey from Wilkes-Barre to Peru and back. This diary has
* In his sketch of Frances Slocum, in "Wyoming; its History, Romantic Adventures, etc."
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been published wholly, or in part, at different times, in three or four books hereinafter mentioned, and from it we learn that "Captain " Brouillette, having received intelligence of the approach of the Slocum party, came riding through the woods to meet them. He dismounted, shook hands with them all, and bade them welcome. Then he remounted his horse and galloped off with great speed to apprize his mother-in-law of the approach of the visitors. On reaching the house the latter found Frances seated in a chair, with her two daughters standing by her. The coldness and reserve of the former visit were now entirely gone, and Frances expressed great joy at again seeing her brother, and pleased that he had brought his daughters so far to see her. From the diary of Mrs. Bennett we learn further :
"The whole family appeared glad to see us, and made us as welcome as they knew how. The 'Captain ' speaks broken English. They are much more cleanly about their housekeeping and cookery than I expected to find them. We staid with them till Tues- day noon. * * She [Frances] is of small stature, not very much bent ; her hair is somewhat gray ; her eyes a bright chestnut, clear and sprightly for one of her age ; her face is very much wrinkled and weatherbeaten. * *
* The interior of her hut seemed well supplied with all the necessaries, if not with luxuries. They had six beds, principally composed of blankets and other goods folded together. One room contained the cooking utensils, the other the table and dishes. They spread a cloth on their table and gave us a very comfortable meal of fried venison, tea and short-cake. * * A great many trinkets hang about the house-beads and chains of silver and polished steel. Some of their dresses are richly embroidered with silver brooches-seven and eight rows of brooches as closely as they can be put together. They have many silver ear-rings. My aunt had seven pairs in her ears ; her daughters perhaps a dozen apiece. They have saddles and bridles of the most costly kind-six men's saddles and one side-saddle. They have between fifty and sixty horses, 100 hogs, seventeen head of cattle, also geese and chickens. Their house is euclosed with a common worm-fence, with sonie outhouses, principally built of logs. A never-failing spring of excellent water is near the door, with a house over it. They have a section of land (640 acres) given to the two daughters [as tenants in common] .* The treaty was ratified by the Government this Spring. * *
"'Captain ' Brouillette, Frances' son-in-law, is now with her, providing for the family by killing game, as he is a noted hunter. He provides the wood-which is rather unusual for an Indian-and lays up corn and hay for the Winter. The husband of the younger daughter and he did not agree very well, as the former was a lazy, indolent Indian, who would not provide, but was ready to spend and eat what was provided. Brouillette left, was absent seven months, during which time the other died, in April [1839]. In June she [O-zah-shin-quah ] married a secondt ; he was killed by a Weat in August [1839]. There is a dispute between the Miamis and the Weas respecting their annuity. The Miamis disclaim all connection with the Weas; they had a dispute, and it ended in the death [of O-zah-shin-quah's husband].
The time for parting between the families of Frances and Joseph Slocum finally came. Frances made an effort to prevail upon her brother to come and live with her-offering to give him half of her land. Her sincerity and earnestness in this matter were affecting. As Frances, her daughters and "Captain" Brouillette shook each of their relatives warmly by the hand, they showed, by words as well as actions, the gratification they had received from the visit. Brouillette gave Mr. Slocum the most ample assurances that he would take good care of his mother-in-law while she lived.
This was the last time Joseph Slocum saw his sister, although he frequently heard from her down to the close of her life. Before leaving Peru Mr. Slocum arranged with George Winter, an English artist then residing at Logansport, to paint a portrait of Frances. It was executed in due time, and subsequently a second portrait was painted by the same
* Under the treaty described on page 1126, ante.
¡ In reality he was her fourth husband.
# The Weas, who had a common origin with the Miamis, were once a powerful tribe, and lived on the lower Wabash. In 1820 they made a final cession of all their lands along the Wabash and its affluents, and agreed to leave; but many of them remained.
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artist. Both are now in the possession of relatives in Wilkes-Barré, to- gether with various curious and interesting articles of apparel which were worn by Frances in her latter years. Mr. Slocum and his daughters left Peru on October 3d, and, journeying via Logansport, In- dianapolis, Cincinnati, Wheel- ing, Cadiz, Steubenville, Pitts- burg, Hollidaysburg, Northum- berland and Danville, arrived at Wilkes-Barré October 28th.
As it was stipulated in the treaty of 1840 (see page 1126, ante) that the Miamis should abandon their homes on the Wabash within five years from the ratification of the treaty, there began to be much uneasi- ness manifested among many of the older members of the tribe as the time for taking their departure drew near. Among those who mourned over the coming emigration of the tribe was Frances Slocum. It was her earnest desire to be permit- ted to remain at her home on the banks of the Mississineva, MAC-ON-A-QUAH ( FRANCES SLOCUM). and, when she died, to be buried From a portrait painted by George Winter in 1839. (Reproduced through the courtesy of Mrs. Martha B. Phelps.) by the side of her husband and sons. She therefore appealed for advice and assistance to her brothers Isaac and Joseph, all the other members of her father's family being now dead-her sister Mary (Mrs. Towne) having died in April, 1844. It was finally decided to have Frances appeal to Congress, and ask if she could not be exempted from the terms of the treaty. Therefore a memorial, carefully and properly drawn up, under the date of January 17, 1845, and signed "Frances Slocum," was presented and read in the National House of Represent- atives. It was in part as follows :
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