HO »• '• ^"-n^. ^ 1'. V '^^ ''.'^<^*^^\* 0^ ,y/r?^' \ "-.. .^^ .0' < '1* a\ ^4 q^ , ;i^^ S^V:- z-^- ^o O > «^ * - « ' -^ . o"^ t » • " ■» "^b %. )V o r •I o <: .•yr;*/>- •• •*. •^^^0^ .^ H o. V o > • ^r i W/ {Removal of the Pottauiattomie Indians fpom flortheFn Indiana. By DANIEL McDONALD, Plymouth, Indiana. This is one among the most important historical works that has ever been issued in Indiana. It treats exhaustively a subject that has been heretofore only barely mentioned in the histories of the State so far written. It is a complete history of the " dawn of civilization in Northern Indiana." It embraces also a brief state- ment of the Indian Policy of the government and other historical matter relating to the Indian question, and is embellished with ten photo engravings of places, distinguished Indians and prominent men connected with the removal of the Indians to the country al- lotted to them west of the Mississippi River. Ex-Senator C. H. Reeve, of Plymouth, author of ''Prison Reform," and many other works on scientific and other subjects, to whom the manuscript was sub- mitted, says of it: ''An unusually fine production, showing much labor, extraordinary care, and literary ability; consti- tuting a truthful picture, in a grouping of interesting and important events in Indian history, and in the early days of Indiana. You are to be congratulated." No library, either public or private, will be complete without a copy of this work. It will be of special interest to the Improved Order of Red Men. It will be sent post-paid on receipt of price: Pa})er covers, 50 cents; Cloth, $1.00 Address DANIEL McDonald, Plymouth, Ind. <^^X^OOC^_ AiUlior (»r "A llistor.x of Marsliall Coiiiity;" " IJiy l-'oiir WOikIim-s o AiDerica;" "A History of Kreeiiiasoiiry in Indiana:" " Kfiiiovai of the Pot tawattomie Indians from Northern Indiana;" etc. REMOVAL OF THE POTTAWATTOMIE INDIANS FROM NORTHERN INDIANA EMBRACING ALSO A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INDIAN POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER HISTORICAL MATTER RELATING TO THE INDIAN OUESTION. -BY- DANiEL McDonald "A mixed occapancy of the same territory by the white and red man is incompatible with the safety or happiness of either * * * The remedial policy, the principles of which were settled more than thirty years ago under the administration of Mr. Jefferson, con- sists of an extinction, for a fair consideration, of the titles to all the lands sfill occupied by the Indians within the states and territories of the United States, their removal to a country west of the Mississippi much more extensive and better adapted to their con- dition than they now occupy * * * "—From President Van Buhen's Message. Plymouth, Indiana; D MpDonald a Co., Phintf.us and Minders. 1«99 cofyrkjht 1898 By Daniel McDonald. All Rights Reserved. WO c?op»68 Recrivto. my NDEX. Algonquin (j Aubenaube, Anecdote of 29 Aubenaube's Reserve 13 Battle of Tippecanoe 27 Biography of Governor Wallace li) Brute. Bishop 32, 36 Burial Ground, Indian 20, 32 Carey Mission 38 Chapel. Indian 32 Chi-cbi-pe On-te-pe 32, 35 Chip-pe-way Village 13 Clary, I. N., Statement 46 Comoza Reserve 14 Coquillard, Benjamin, Statement 48 Council at Twin Lakes 16 Cox, Sanford, Narrative 37 Daily Journal of General Tipton .24, 25, 2() DeSeille, Father. 32 First Emigration 15 French, Charles H , Statement 48 Godfrey, Gabriel, Miami Chief 52 Government Indian Policy 7, 58, 59 Governor Wallwce. Message of 18 Green vil It' Trea<^y 7 Hill, William \V.. Rpcollections 52 Houghton. T. K , Recollections 44 How, David, Recollections 44 Indian Chapel, Twin Lak^•s 32 Indian Pol'cy of the (jovernment 7, 58. 59 Indians. Miami 5 Indians, Miami, Hemoval of 50 INDEX— Continued. Jackson, I'residt'iit 8, '.> Jennings, Jonathan 29, HO Lake Manato '.> IjHgislaturt'. Joint Kosolntioii 18 lient/.. Owen J. l>Vcollections 48 Lowery, Joliii, Recollections 45 Macataiiiaaw l.'{ Manato Lake i> Mcroy, Christiana 12 McCoy, Kev. Isaac ;n, HS Menominee as a Preacher 11 Menominee Cruelly Treatetl 12 Menominee Has Two Wives 41 Menominee, Speeches of K), :ib, 40 Menominee \'illa^e .'^2 Miami I ndians 5 Miami Imliaiis. I u' in oval of ;")( ► Michigan K'oad ( 'on.plcted 11 Michif^an K'oad Treaty 11 Mill, I'ottawattomie \i Monroe, President. M<-ssaf Poka^on. Simon ."U, 5(') P"ka^'on \ illa^'e :iO, :U. ."{2 I'nike Kainilv 11 I'ot tawat tomie Hamls (i, 5(> P(dta\vatlomie Mill c> 2S Pottawattomie Tnlir 1 )|^appearin^; 'y{\ I'ottawattdiiiir-, WliM Kiiiii^ratrd W.-st |7 INDEX — Continued. Removals, Voluntary 46 Report of General Tipton 21, 22, 23, 24 Reservation, Osage 15 Resolutions, Joint Legislature 18 River Styx 54 Scott, M. H.. Recollections of 49 Sluyter, William, Recollections of 43 Styx, River 54 Table of Treaties 14 Tipton, General, Report of 21, 22, 23, 24 Tipton, General, Sketch of 26, 27 Treaty of Greenville 7 Treaty of 1826 9 Treaty of 1795-1832 13 Twin Lakes 13, 32 Visit to Menominee 39 Visit to Pcheeko 40 Wallace. Governor, Biography of 19 Wea Indians 5 LLUSTRATIONS. BETWEEN PAGES First Frame House Erecfed North of the Wabash 10 — 11 Mrs. Christiana McCoy 12—13 Col. Abel C. Pepper 20—21 Chippeway Village Camp 24 — 25 Gen. John Tipton 26—27 Pottawattomie Mill Dam 28—29 Gov. Jonathan Jennings 28 — 29 Chief Simon Pokagon 32 — 33 Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin 32 — 33 Mrs. Angelina Shipshewana 38 — 39 NTRODUCTION. The question of the extiuf^uishment of the Indian titles to the lands of the I'ottawattomie Indians in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan and their removal to a reservation to be provided for them west of the Missouri river, was one of the most important and delicate questions the government had to deal with in the early settlement of this part of the Northwest territory. General treaties were made from 1820 to IS.'W between the government aj^ents and the chiefs and head- men of the Pottawattomies in this part of the country by which large tracts of land were ceded Jo the government, and numerous reserva- tions made to various bands' of Pottawattomies in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Later these reservations were ceded by treaty by the Indians to the government for a stipulated amount, and in all the treaties it was provided that the Indians should remove to the res- ervation west of the Missouri within two years from the date thereof. The dates of these treaties were about all in the years 1835 and 1830, the last date for removal expiring about the first of August, 1838. In the numerous treaties and histctrical sketches which have been written concerning the early settlement of this part of the country up to the present time, but little information bas been given in regard to this interesting (piestion. The story which follows was a paper i)re- pared by the writer for, and delivered to, the Northern Indiana Histor- ical Society of South heud. in the early })art of 18U8. It was so well received by the society and the large and intelligent audience who heard it, that it bas been deemed of suthi.ient historical interest to pre- serve it in this loriii THE STORY OF THE REMOVAL. The territory now included within the Ijoundaries of Indiana, Illi- nois and Michigan, which was the home of the Pottawattoniie Indians for many years prior to the time they were removed to a,, reservation west of the Missouri river — the cause for which removal will appear hereafter — was in the early days of the history of America owned and occupied by the Miami Indians, originally known as the Twightwees. It was claimed by France from the time of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi river by La Salle in 1682 to 1763 when it was relin- quished by treaty to the government of England and held by it until 1779 as a part of her colonial possessions in Xorth America. The state of Virginia extended its jurisdiction over it until 1783 when it came by treaty of peace and by deed of cession from Virginia the property of the United States. In 1787 an ordinance was passed by congress creating the territory Northwest of the River Ohio, which embraced the territory of the now states above mentioned. The Miami Indians. The Miami Indians, the original inhabitants of this region, were a powerful nation, and about 1790 could muster about 1500 warriors. They were at war with the whites more or less until they were disas- trously defeated by Gen. Anthony Wayne in 1791, afti^r which they, made peace at Greenville in 1795. After that they rapidly declined. Hy a series of treaties between that date and 1809 they ceded lands ex- tending from the Wabash river to the Ohio state line. The annuities proved fatal to them, introducing intoxicating liquors, resulting in dis- sipation, indolence and violence. In the war of 1812 they sided with England and being defeated under Gen. Harrison, they sued for peace, and a treaty was made September 15, 1815. War had broken up the progress they had previously made; drunkenness and debauchery again prevailed, leading to fights in which nearly 500 perished in fifteen years. In 1822, as shown by the census, they numbered 2,000 or 3,000 on three reservations. The Wea or Pin-kee-shaw bands numbering 384 were removed — or rather removed themselves, in 1833-5 to a reser- vation of 1(J0,000 acres of land in Kansas. The Miamis, then number- ing about 1.100 all told, sold to the government 177,000 acres in Indi- ana for S335,680, still retaining a considerable tract, but by treaties b THK RF.MUVAI- OV TIIK I'OTTAWATToMlE INlJlAXS. made in l^;{^^ aiul ISIO they ceded to the grovernment practically all these reservations and were removed to near Fort Levenworth, Kansas. At that time they had dwindled to a wretched, dissipated band of 250, each individual It^ing paid an annuity of about S12."3. In 187*3 they numbered about l.")(), and now that once great and powerful nation originally in possession of the whole of the territory of what is now Indiana, Illinois and Southern Michigan, is practically extinct. The Pottawattomie Indians. In the early days the Miamis permitted the I'ottawattomies to occupy their lands in Northern Indiana. Illinois and Southern Michigan, and Hnally they were recognized by the owners of the territory occui)ied by them, and with them, after the United States came in possession of the territory through the ordinance of 17(S7, treaties were made by which all the lands were tinally ceded to the United States. The Pottawattomie tribe of Indians, the owners and inhabitants of the territory now compnsing Morthern Indiana, belonged to the great Al-gon-(|uin family, and were related by ties of consanguinity to the Ojibways or Chipewas and Ottowas. The lirst trace we have of them locates their territory in the L;ike Su]ierior region on the islands near the entrance to Green Bay, holding the country from the latter point to the head waters of the great lakes. Subsequently they adopted into their tribe many of the Ottowas from Upper Canada. In the name of this tribe there is a marked signiiicance touching certain characteristics from which they acquire some early distinction. The name is said Ijy a writer on Indian lore to be a comjjound of Put- ta-wa, signifying a blowing out or exfiansion of the cheeks as in blow- ing a Hre; and "Me" a nation, which, Ijeing interpreted means a nation of fire-blowers. The application seems to have orignated in the facil- ity with which they produced Hame and set burning the ancient coun- cil fires of their forefathers beside the waters of the Green Bay country. Ai)out 1817 it was estimated that there were in the region north of tiie Wabash river and south of Lake Michigan something niore than ■J.UOO I'ottawattomies. They were located at villages on the Tippeca- noe, Kankakee, Iroquois, Yellow river, St. Joseph oi Lake Michigan, the KIkhart, Miauiis of the Lake, the St. Jose]>h emptying into it, the St. Marys, Twin Lakes, Muk-Ren-ciick-ee and Lake Kewana. At that time they had no uniform abiding place of residence. During the fall, winter, and part of the spring they were scattered in the- woods hunting and tishing. [Their wigwams were made of poles stuck in the ground and tied together with slips of bark, slender hickory wythes or raw- hide strings. They were covered with liark or a kind of a mat made of flags. There was an occasional rude hut made of logs or poles, but nearly all the dwellings were wigwams hastily put up as here described. THE REMOVAL OF THE POTTAWATTOMIE INDIANS. 7 They raised some corn, but lived principally on wild game, fish, fruits, nuts, roots, and were clothed with blankets and untanned skins. The Treaty of Qreenville==i795. After Gen. Anthony W;iyne had subdued the Indians in 1794, he succeeded in concluding a treaty with the various tribes at Greenville, Ohio, in 1795. The boundary lines which were established by that treaty between the United States and the bands of the Northwest- ern tribes, gave to the Indians all the territory lying within the present limits of Indiana, with the following exceptions: Six miles square where Ft. Wayne now stands; two miles square on the Wabash river at the end of the portage from the head of the river Maumee eight miles WHst of Ft. Wayne; six miles square at Ouetenon, or old Wea town; 150,000 acres near the falls of the Ohio, the same being known as "Clark's grant;" the town of Vincennes and adjacent lands to which Indian titles had been extinguished, and all similar lands at other places in possession of the French people, or other white settlers among them and a strip of land running directly from the site of Fort Re- covery so as to intersect the river Ohio at a point opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river. Indian Policy of the Government. The most important question this country had to deal with in the days of the formation of the republic in regard to Indian affairs was, as to what [lolicy should be adopted and pursued in regard to the future disposition of the various Indian tribes and bands. In his second inaugural address in 1821, President Monroe brought the question of the care and disposition of the Indian tribes before con- gress. Up to that time the government had treated them as separate and independent nations. "The distinction," said President Monroe, "had flattered their pride, retarded their improvement, and in many in- stances paved the way for their destruction." Continuing he said: "They have claims on the magnanimity — on the justice of this nation which we must all feel, and we should become their real benefactors. Their sovereignty over vast territories should cease, in lieu of which the right of soil should be granted, to be invested in permanent funds for the support of civil government over them and for the education of their children, for their instruction in the arts of husbandry, and to provide sustenance for them until they can provide it for themselves." In conformity to this recommendation congress soon after made appropriations and appointed commissioners to negotiate treaties with the various tribes. In 1824 president Monroe in his inaugural message again stated that the object had not been effected, but added: "Many of the tribes have already made great progress in the arts of civilization 8 TIIK RKMOVAI. OF TIN: I'OTTA WATTi >M 1 E IXKIAN'S. and civili/efl life. This desirable result has )>een brought about by the humane and persevering polity of the government, and particularly by the proposition for the civilization of the Indians. There have been established under the jirovisions of this act 'A'l schools, containing 910 scholars who are well instructed in several branches of literature, and likewise in agriculture and the ordinary arts of life. Their civilization is indispensible to their safety, and this can be accomplished only by degrees. Dilliculties of the most serious character present themselves to the attainment of this very desirable result on the territory on which they now reside. To remove them by force even with a view to their own security and happiness would be revolting to humanity and unjus- tiKaljle.'" He therefore recommended that the territory embraced with- in the limits of the states and territories and the Kocky mountains, and Me.xico should be divided into districts to which the Indians should be induced to emigrate. In a special message to congress in 1825 President Monroe again said: "The great object to be accomplished is the removal of these tribes to the territory designated on conditions which shall be satisfactory to themselves and honorable to the United States. This can be done only by conveying to each tribe a good title to an adequate portion of laud to which it may consent to remove, and by providing for it there a sys- tem of internal government which shall protect their property from invasion and by the regular progress of improvement and civilization prevent that degeneracy which has generally marked the transition from the one to the other state." In his Second annual message dated December <)th, Ib^O, President Andrew .Jackson, on this subject said: "It gives me pleasure to announce to congress that the benevolent policy of the government steadily pursued for nearly thirty years in re- lation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlement is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the provisions made for their renioval at the last session of congress, and it is believed their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages." "Doubtless," he con- tinued "it will be painful to leave the graves of their fathers; but what do they more than our ancestors did or their children are now doing? To better their condition in an unknown land our forefathers left all that was dear in earthly objects. Our children by thousands yearly leave the land of their birth to seek new homes in distant regions. Does humanity weej) at these painful separations from everything animate and inanimate with which the young heart has become entwined? It is rather a source of joy that our country affords scope where our young popula- tion may range unconstraiiicd in body or mind, developing the power and faculties of the man in their highest perfection. These remove THE KKMOVAI. OF THK I'OTT A \V ATToM 1 F INDIANS, 9 hundreds and almost thousands of miles at their own expense, i)urchase the lands they occupy and support themselves at their new homes from the moment of their arrival. Can it be cruel in this govern- ment, when by events which it cannot control, the Indian is niade discontented in his ancient home to purchase his lauds, to o-ive him a new and extensive territory, to pay the expense of his removal and support him a year in his new abode? How many thousands of our people would gladly embrace the o}>portunity of removing west on such conditions?" In his message in 18H1 he said: "My oi)inion remains the same, and T can see no other alternative for the Indians but that of their removal to the west or a quiet sub- mission to the state laws." That policy the government adhered to to the end, and in accord- ance therewith all subsequent treaties were made. The Treaty of 1826. On October 10, 1820, Lewis ("ass, .Tames B. Ray and John Tipton concluded a treaty with the Pottawattomie tribe by which a large scope of country in Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana, was ceded to the United States, from which numerous small reservations were made, in all containing ninety-nine sections. The Indians were to receive an annuity of S2,000 in silver for the term of twenty-two years, and the government was to support a blacksmith shop at some convenient point, and to apjiropriate for educational purposes annually S2,000 as long as congress might think proper; also to build for them a mill, sufficient for them to grind corn, on the Tippecanoe river, and provide for the support of a miller. This mill was built on the outlet of Mana-tou lake a short distance east of the present town of Rochester. The gov- ernment was also to pay theru annually 1()0 bushels of salt, all to be paid by the Indian agent at Fort Wayne. The Michigan Road Treaty. Into this treaty was interjected an article in which was ceded to the State of Indiana a strip of land one hundred feet wide extending from Lake Michigan at Michigan City to Madison on the Ohio river. The article is as follows: "Aktk'le 2. As an evidence of the attachment which the Potta- wattomie tribe feel towards the American people, and particularly to the soil of Indiana, and with a view to demonstrate their liberality, and benetit themselves by creating facilities for traveling and increas- ing the value of their remaining country, the said tribe do hereby cede to the United States a strip of land commencing at Lake Michigan and 10 THR HFMUVAL Ol' THE ToTTAW ATToMIE INDIANS. ninniiig thence to the ^^'ahash river, one hundred feet wide, for a road, and also, one section of good laud contiguous to the said road for each mile of the same, and also for each mile of a road from the termination thereof through Indirina])olis to the Ohio river for the purpose of making a road aforesaid from Lake Michigan by the way of Indianap- olis to some convenient point on the Ohio river. And the general assembly of the State of Indiana shall have a right to locate the said road and to apply said sections, or the proceeds thereof to the making of the same, and the said grant shall be at their sole disposal." The wording of the treaty was a cunningly devised arrangement to swindle the Indians of an immense amount of some of the best lands belonging to them in the state. The Indians had nothing to do with writing the treaty, and evidently knew little about what the result of its operation would be. They were lead to believe that a great thor- oughfare between Lake Michigan and the Ohio river would be built which would enable them to travel with ease and comfort between these two important points. Congress having confirmed the treaty the legislature in 18."30 or- dered the line to be surveyed and laid out. By reference to the state map, it will be observed that the road did not run in a direct line across the state. From Indianapolis north it leads directly to Logansjiort, thence through Uochester and Plymouth to South Bend. At the latter place it turns directly west and runs through the bt. Joseph and Laporte prairies and thence to the mouth of Trail creek at Michigan City. By the act of the legislature approved in 1832 a commissioner to manage the construction of the road and dispose of the lauds was cre- ated. In regard to the construction of the road north of Logansport it was provided as follows: "Sec. 11. Said commissioner is hereby authorized and required to have that part of the Michigan road that lies between the town of Lo- gansport and Lake Michigan at the mouth of Trail Creek, cut and 0])ened one hundred feet wide, between the 15th day of June next and the last day of November next, in the manner following to-wit: Cut and clear off of the said road, all logs, timber and undergrowth, leaving no stuuij) more than one foot above the level of the earth; the creek banks to be graded, and the swamps and mud causewayed, and good, siitHcient l)ridge made over such streams and swamps as is necessary to make the same j)assai)le at all times for wagons, and as near as may be every part equally good. Proridrd^ however, that the expenditure on said road, north of Ii')gansport, shall not exceed in the aggregate, the amount that has been expended and is by this act appropriated on said road south of Lngansport to the Ohio river, in proportion to the distance. "Sec. 12. Said ommissoner shall cause that part of said road be- tween Logansport and Lake Michigan to be laid olT in sections of one Fii{sr KPvAMK Horsi-; i:i{i:('TKi) xoirni of wacasit invi:!!. Jk'sidencf of William I'olke, near 'I'ippccaiiKe i{i\er, on Michiyaii l!(>ah otiiccr. and remained for about three years in Detroit, sup- jiorting herself and child l)y her needle The three other children were carried otl by the l*ottawattomie Indians to the St. Joseph river, prob- aMy in the vicinity of the Carey Mi'ision (Niles). "I'^or three long years my grandfather supposed they had all been slain in the massacre at the burning fort. At last my grandmother lound means to send iiiiii W()rd of their condition, lie traveled alone on foot through the trackless wilderness three hundred miles in search of his lost ones wluun (lod had spared. He was treated with great kindness by the llritish otHcials, who gave him such aid for the recovery of his idiildren as he desired, lie went alone, and at last found them. two with one family of the I'ottawattomies and one with another, by whom they were adopted. When grandfather found the two first, Wil- liam ami Eleanor, and tliey knew he had come for them, they both ran and hid t hi'mstd ves. They had forgotten their native tongue, ami it Mi;s. ( IIUISTIAXA M( (•()^ . [From a iili(itiii:i-;ipli ulitaiiicd liy Cajit. ()r\illc I-". ( 'lianilii rlin, of I'lUliart, fioni M iv. I lanis, a uniml- (laujihter of Mi-s. McCoy.] TBE REMOVAL OF THE POTTAWATTOMIE IiNTDIANS. 13 was with difficulty that he finally irjcUiced their foster-parents to give them np or them to accompany him. This transpired certainly but a few miles from the site of the old Carey Mission, where years after- wards another child, and sister of these lost captives, went through toil and tempest to repay the very same people (many of whom were still living), not with vengeance or injury, but with gifts of richer and more enduring value than gold." Treaties Between 1795 and 1832. From the date of the treaty of peace at Greenville in 1795 to 1832 all the lands in possession of the Pottawattomie and Miami Indians were ceded to the United States by treaties made between the chiefs on behalf of the Indians, and commissioners appointed by the govern- ment on behalf of the United States. Nearly all the titles to the lands in this part of the country reserved for various bands by the treaty of 1882 were extinguished by United States Commissioner Abel C. Pepper who seems to have had a powerful influence over the wild men of the forest. He was born in Shenandoah county, A'^irginia, settled in Rising Sun, Indiana, prior to the admission into the Union in 1816, and in vari- ous ways took an active interest in the formation of the new state and preventing them from committing depredations. He died in Rising Sun March 20, 1860. In the year 1831 the legislature of Indiana passed a joint resolution requesting an appropriation by congress for the purpose of the extin- guishment of the remaining Indian titles of lands within the state. The appropriation was made and three citizens — Jonathan Jennings, first Covernor of Indiana, John W. Davis and Marks Crume were appointed by the secretary of war to carry into effect the law authorizing the ap- propriation. These commissioners assembled with the several Indian chiefs concerned at a place called Chippeway, or Chippeway-nung on the Tippecanoe river where the Michigan road crosses the same, two or three miles north of Rochester, and sixteen miles south of Plymouth, where they concluded a treaty October 27, 1832, by which the chiefs and warriors of the Pottawattomies of Indiana and Michigan territory ceded to the United States their title and interest to all the lands in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois south of Grand River. From this gen- eral treaty a large number of small individual reservations were made. Among them was a reservation of two sections to Nas-wau-gee, and one section to Quash-qua, both on the east shore of Lake Muk-sen- cuck-ee; 22 sections to Menouiiuee, Pe-pin-a-wa, Na-ta-ka and Mac-a- taw-ma-aw, taking in Twin Lakes; — several sections on the east anJ south of Lake Muk-sen-cuck-ee to Au-be-nau-be, in all, in this and Ful- ton county, 36 sections, and to other chiefs making total reservations of 160 sections. These reservations were all ceded back to the govern- 14 THE HEMOVAT. f)F Tlir I'OTT A WATToMI E IN'KIAXS. ment between iSiM 7 by treaties, mostly negotiated by Abel C Pepper. WilliiUii Marshall concluded a treaty with (Jhief Com-o-za Dec. 4, 1S34, on the lake which is spelled Max-ee-nie-kue-kee. April 11th Col. Pep- ])er negotiated a treaty with Pau-koo-shuck on the Tippecanoe river for the .'if) sections owned by Au-be-nau-be, his father, whom he had killed in his cabin near the Tippecanoe river. Table of Treaties. The following is a table of all the treaties by which the individual reservations in Marshall and adjoining counties were ceded to the gov- ernment, being the reservations made to the several chiefs named by the treaty of 18;t2: l)at( Dec. 4, 18.34 Dtv. 10, ';54 Ih'v. 17, ':U Mar. 2(), ';^(i Mar. i".», '8() Apr. 11, '8(> Apr. I'u', '.S() IMacc Maxeeniekuekee Tl|)pcvan()e L<; Sept. 2;?, ':^(i Sept. UH, '8() Sept. 2;i, '-Mi Sept. L';?, ';!(i I'd.. 11, 'iw Wa-hiiiLrtoii ; .1. T. Doujxla.- Wni. Mai-shall. A he! ('. lVpi)cr. Chier. Coni-o-za Muck-kose Mo-ta Mus-(|ua-buck Wa-kc-ua Tau-koo-shuek Au-ka-inaus;, Ke- way-iiee, Ne-bo-sh, Mat-chis-jaw Quash-ipia, Nas- \vau->ree Me-inet-wa, ("lie- ([Ua-ke-ki) IV'-piu-a-wa, Na- ta-ka,Mack-a-ta\v- nia-ah Krin-krash ("l)e-(liaw-k(ise . . . . As-kuin, We-si- oM-as W«-sa\v M(i-ta, Min-iMjuet, Mnsac ( 'lu-clia\v-kose, As- k u m , We- saw , Muek-rose, (i u e- k(>-t(>, all the inter- est of whieh tliey were iH)s.'*essetl. No. Sees 2 6 4 4 4 8t) 10 8 10 4 10 10 4 12 The last treaty the government concluded with the PoJtawattomies was made at Washington (^ity by ,Itdin T. Doughiss on the part of the United States and ( "liee-chaw-kt)se, .Ask-um, We-saw, or Lnuison, Muk- kose, and «^)ni-i|ui-to chiefs. This treaty was a ratitication of all the treaties concluded by .Abel C. P.pper, August "ith and Septeml)er 'I'M, LSI{(), in whirl) were ceded tlie lands reserved for them in the treaty of October 2(» 7, 1m;{2. The said chiefs agreed that they and their several l)ands would remove to the country that would be jtrovided for them by THE REMOVAL OF THE POTTAWATTOMTE INDIAXS. 15 the govt-rnment southwest of the Missouri river within two years from the date of the treaty. It was also further provided as follows: "Article 8.— The United States further agrees to convey by patent to the Pottawattomies of Indiana a tract of country on the Osage river, southwest of the Missouri river, sufficient in extent and adapted to their wants and habits, remove them to the same; furnish them with one jear's subsistence after their arrival there, and pay the expenses of the treaty, and of the delegation now in this city." All the treaties previously made by which the Indians surrendered their titles to the lauds reserved for them by the treaty of 1832 also contained a provision that they would remove to the reservation west of the Missouri within two years. First Emigration From Northern Indiana. The first emigration of the Pottawattomies from Northern Indiana under the treaty stipulations made in 1836 that they would remove to their reservation within two years took place in July, 1837. Under the direction of Abel C. I'epper U. S. Commissioner, the small bands of Ke- wa-na, Ne-bosh, Nas-wau-gee, and a few others assetubled at the village now known as Ke-wa-na, in Fulton county. They were placed in charge of a man by the name of George Proffit who conducted them to their reservation. In this emigration there were about one hundred all told, all of whom went voluntarily. Among the chiefs who were well known was Nas-wau-gee. He ruled over a little band at his village on the east shore of Lake Muk-sen-cuck-ee not far from the residence of the late Henry H. Culver, founder of Culver military academy. He owned a reserve of two sections which he ceded to the government in 1836, and agreed to remove with his baud to the country west of the Missouri within two years from the date of the treaty. Nas-wau-gee was a quiet, peaceable chief, and made friends with all the white settlers in the region about. When the time came to leave he determined to go peaceably, as he had agreed he would. The day before he started he sent word to all the white settlers to come to his village, as he wished to bid them farewell. A large number assem- bled, and through an interpreter he said substantially: ''Ml/ WJiite Brefliren:~l have called you here to bid you farewell. Myself and my band start at sunrise tomorrow morning to remove to an unknown country the government of the United States has provided for us west of the Missouri river. 1 have sold my lands to the govern- ment and we agreed to leave within two years. That time is about to expire, and according to the agreement we have made we must leave you and the scenes near and dear to all of us. The government has treated us fairly and it is our duty to live up to that contract by doing as we agreed, and so we must go. The white settlers here have been ICi nil l;l.\H'\\l 111 TIIK I'UTTAW \TTiiMIK 1M>1».N.-. good and kind t(j us, and in leavinir tlieni it seems like severing the ties of our own kindred and friends. We go away and may never re- turn, l»ut wlierover we may be — wherever our lot in life may be cast, we sliall always remember you with sincere feellings of respect and esteem."" The old chief was visibly affected and tears were seen to tiow from his eyes. All the people present took him by the hand and bade him a final adieu as well as most of the members of his band. Early the next hiorning with their personal effects packed on their ponies, they marched away in single tile following the Indian trail along the east shore to the south end of .Muksencuckee thence southwest to Ke wa-na, where they joined the other bands and immediately proceeded on their long and wearisome journey. On the ')th of August, IS^iS, the time sti|iulated in the several trea- ties for the Indians to emigrate having expired, and many declining to go, a council was held at the Me-no-mi-nee village just north of Twin Lakes in Marshall county, live miles southwest from IMymouth, in July or August, Ibo.'S. Col. Abel C. Pepper, agent of the government was present and most of the chiefs in that part of the county, also many white residents of the surrounding country. The treaties were read wherein it was shown that in ceding their lands the Indians had agreed to remove to the western reservation within the time specified, and that the date was then at hand when they must go. It was plain to those present who were familiar with the Indian character that there was great dissatisfaetio.i among them and a spirit of rebellion growing which if not soon su])pressed would probably lead to serious results. The leader and ^jrincipal spokesman for the Indians was Me-no-mi-nee. liy the treaty of 18)32, twenty-two sections of land had been reserved to him and three other chiefs, viz: Pe pin-a waw, Na-ta-ka, and Mack-a- taw-ma-ah. This reservation bordered on the west of Plymouth and far enough south to take in Twin Lakes about halfway between Plymouth and Muk-sen-cuck-ee Lake. The last three named chiefs entered into a treaty with Col. Abel C. Pe]>per on l)ehalf of the government August 5th, l^iI{<), by which they ceded all their interest in the reservation above described, for which the government agreed to pay them S14,UN() in specie, atid they were to remove to the country west of the Missouri river provided for them within two years. Chief Me-no-mi-nee refused to sign the treaty, and persistently d'clined to release to the govern- ment his interest in the reservation. \\ hen Col. Pepper had made his final ap|)eal and all hail had their say. Me-no-mi-nee rose to his feet, and drawing his costly blanket around him is rejiorted by one who was present to have said in substance as follows: "Ki mieheo/imadodagemagad kageta kideniiua kigaget. \\ in dowa nin waiegima ondji. Windodagemagad kidenima tchi kin sindal)iii- igansiwanimo achi tchiniii kawika migwan lagina tchi. Windadasem- THE REMOVAL OF THE I'OTTA WATTOM I E 1XI)[AXS. IT agad kidenima tcdii kin ojtcdilgade iiind oshki ogiuiag giwslika he aclii awiidis tchi abindis iiin. Nind dodageniagad kidenima tchi nin diawa luiwima tchi atawa ninawke achi Ijeka niiwia. Win songendoniowin kageto gaskiewisiwiii iiiii ikonjowa kewin kihchibegauiog kinidaniss ogema awenan apinchi mawclii maiiito ka nind pagidina ichi bi badjini nind kin niinisino inendamowin nin sa.siddina takobinige dowa animoosh kishpin kekendge widebewin. Niu awena wi niichi ogima win gwaiak- obimadis dash win pissinam tcdii ikkitiwin ni noshke ogi mog ke aidwapinwabo; achi aupe win kikegige debwewin win lejiddani nagana neii tchiu nin dnkee. Ninian kageto auiawe nin aukee. Nin inenidam kadeto Awtawe inew. Nin aian kagen ijinikasownn debwewin mau- sinaigan, achi memdani kageto injinkaswain pa/diig ninaw kegeto miwi tchi nagana nidukee achi nin kageto manes tchi nomdam mina wa." Which being interpreted is as follows: "Members of the Council: — The president does not know the truth. He like me has been imposed upon. He does not know that your treaty is a lie, and that I never signed it. He does not know that you made my young chiefs drunk and got their consent, and pretended to get mine. He does not know that I have refused to sell my lands and still refuse. He would not by force drive me from my home the graves of my tribe, and my children who have gone to the Great Spirit, nor allow you to tell me your braves will take me, tied like a dog if he knew the truth. My brother, the President, is just, but he listens to the word of the young chiefs who have lied; and when he knows the truth he will leave me to my own. I have not sold my lands. I will not sell them. 1 have not signed any treaty and will not sign any. 1 am not going to leave my lands and I don't want to hear anything more about it." Describing the scene, one who was present said: ''Amid the ap- plause of the chiefs he sat down. Spoken in the peculiar style of the Indian orator — although repeated by an interpreter — with an elociueuce of which Logan would have been proud, his presence the personifica- tion of dignity, it presented one of those rare occasions of which his- tory gives but few instances, and on the man of true appreciation would have made a most profound impression." Considerable time was spent in trying to persuade Me-no-mi-nee and his following to accept the inevitable and remove peaceably to the reservation provided for them, as if they did not, the government would be compelled to remove them by force. Without accomplishing any- thing, however, the council disbanded. Me-no-mi-nee was a wise and experienced chief, and he knew that the final consummation was near at hand. As soon as the council had disbanded he began at once to fire the hearts of his followers with a determination to resist the gov- ernment officers in their evident intention to remove them, peaceably if 1^ Till-; i:i:mi)\ Ai. oi ihe i-oi taw attcimik imuans. they could, f()r(il)ly if tliny imist. 'I'lie consequence was, the Indians l)eianie desperate, int(ixicatin»^ liijuors were drank to excess; threats of violence were freely made, and the white settlers in the immediate nri^liltorhood hecauu- greatly alarmed tor the safety of thniuselves and families. In this ahirmiuf^ condition of alTairs, a innnher of white set- tlers of Marshall couuty early in Aut/ust l!S3S petitioned tlie j^overnor of Indiana for protection M»^iiin>t what they believed would result in the certain destruction of their lives and jtroperty. In his messafj;e to the legislature DecemWer 4, 1888, Governor Wallace said: ••|?v the comlitions of the late treaty with the Pottawattomie tribe of Indians in Indiana, the time stipulated for their departure to the west of the Mississipjii expired on the 'ith of August last. As this try- ing moment aj)proaehed a strong disposition was manifested by many of the most influential among them to disregard the treaty entirely, and to cling to the homes and graves of their fathers at all hazards. In consecjuence of such a determination on their part, a collision of the most serious character was likely to ensue between them and the surrniiuding settlers. Apprehensive of such a result, and \sitli a view to prevent it, tlie citizens of Marshall county, early in the month of .August, forwarded to the executive a }>etition jiraying that an armed force might be immediately sent to their protection. On recei|)t of this petition I repaired as speedily as circumstances would permit to the scene of dithculty, in order to satisfy myself by a personal examination whether their fears were justifiable or not. i)n my return to Logans- port a formal retjuisition awaited me from the Indian Agent, Col. A. <'. IVpper, for on? hundred armed volunteers to be placed \inder the com- mand of some competent citi/en of the state whose duty it should be to preserve the peace, and to arrest the growing spirit of hostility dis- played by the Indians. The recpiisition was instantly granted. 1 ap- jiointed the Hon. .lohn Tipton to this command, and gave him author- ity to raise the necessary number of volunteers. He promptly and patriotically accepted the appointment, and although sickness and dis- ease prevailed to an alarming extent throughout northern Imliana. yet sui'h was the spirit ami patriotism of the i>eople there, that in about forty-eight hours after the recpiisition was authorized, the re(|uisite force was not only mustered, but was transported into the midst of the Indians before they were aware of its approach, or before even they could |tossibly take steps to resist or re|tel it. The rapidity of the moven.ent, the known decision ami energy of Gen. Tipton, backed by his intin)ate actjuaintance and popularity with the Indians, whom it was his business to (piiet, accon)plished everything desired. The re- fractory became complacent; opposition to removal ceased; and the whole tribe, with a few cxiteptions, amounting to between SOU and IKX) voluntarily prepared to emigrate, (ien. Tipton and the volunteers ac- THK REMOVAL OK THK POTTA WATTOM [E IXDIAXS, 10 companied them as far as Danville, Illinois, administering to them on the way whatever comfort and relief hnmanity reqnired. There they were delivered over to the care of Judge Polke and the United States re- moving agents. (Copies of all tlie communications and reports made to the executive by Gen. Tipton while in the discharge of this duty I lay before you, from which \ feel assured you will discover with myself that much credit and many thanks are due not only to him but to all wao assisted him in bringing so delicate an affair to so hapj)y and suc- cessful a termination." (Diligent search and inquiry has been made in the several depart- ments of the state at Indianapolis, and it is much to be regretted that none of the papers referred to have been preserved.) Governor David Wallace. David Wallace was (Tovernor of Indiana from 1887 to 1810. He was the father of General Lew Wallace, author of "Ben Hur." He was born in Pennsylvania April 21. 1799, and graduated from West Point in 1821. He served in the legislature in 1828, 1829 and 1831, and as Lieutenant-Governor from 1881 to 1830 and Governor 1837 to 1840. During his term as Governor he issued the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation. The most important act of his administration was his order to remove the remaining Pottawattomie Indians, as set forth in his message above quoted. Governor Wallace, after his term as Governor expired, was subsequently elected to Congress. He was made a member of the Committee of Ways and Means and in that commit- tee gave the casting vote in favor of assisting with a donation to Pro- fessor Morse to develop the magnetic telegraph. This vote was rid- iculed by his political opponents and cost him many votes the last time he ran for Congress. But he lived to see the telegraph established in nearly all the countries of the world, and the wisdoirr of his action ac- knowledged by all. As an orator Governor Wallace had few equals. One who knew him well speaking of his oratorical powers said: "With a voice modu- lated to the finest and nicest precision, an eye sparkling and expressive, a countenance and person remarkable for beauty and symmetry, he stepped upon the speaker's stand, in these respects far in advance of his compeers. His style of delivery was impressive, graceful and at times impassioned, never rising to a scream or breaking into wild ges- ticulations, and never descending into indistinctiveness or lassitude. His style of composition was chaste, finished, flowing and beautiful, often swelling up into rarest eloquence or melting down into the ten- derest pathos. His prepared orations were completed with the severest care. As the sculptor chisels down and finishes his statue, chipping and chipping away the stone to find within his besutiful ideal, so did •JO IHK KKMoVM. or TIIK I't »T TA \V.\TT( »M 1 K INDIANS. he elaborate liis tlioii^'lits till they assuiDed the shape lie would give them, and «o will retain them forever." Me died suddenly on Septeinher 4, \^')\K and lies huried in Crown 1 1 ill ( 'I'liiettTV. Indianapolis. Col. Abel C. Pepper, Indian Agent. Col. Ahel C. I'epper, the government Indian .Vgent, who then was stationed at liOgans|iort, and who made the recjuisition for the company ol militia ordered hy iJovernor Wallace, was born in Shenandoah, county, N'irginia, in l"*J."{, and died at Kising Sun, Indiana, March '20, |s<»0. lie had tilled numerous otHces under the state and nation, always with entire acceptability. Kspecially acres. In all these treaties a provision was inserted that the Indians should remove within two years to the western reservation provided by the government. Me-no-mi-nee and his band refusing to go. Colonel I'epper made the reijuisition for the company of vfdunteer militia above referred to. hi ;ill the walks of life Col. I'epper was an exemplary citi/.en. II'' lived rt'>ptMted. and died regretted by all who knew liim. La.st Visit to the Indian Burial Ground. ( )ii the i\:i\ |irior to the exodus a meeting of the Indians was held at the little grave yard, a short distance from the villa^^^e. at which a linal farewell of the dead was taken by tliose who were to leave the follow- ing morning never to return. Addresses were made by the chiefs present and by se\eral white settlers. An address of .some length was delivered by !^Ivron 1 1. Orton, of I.al'orte, which was afterwards printed, but untortiinately no copies of it can now be found. 'I'lu' scene is sai(] to have been alTecting in the extreme. Weeping and wailing, which was conlined to a few at tirst, became general, and until they were tinally induced to disperse, it looked as though a rjot would surely en- sue. In solemn reverence they turned their weeping faces from the sleeping dead, never to look Upon the graves (d their kiiulred again. Getting Ready to Move. lieiieral Tipton recruited and organized the companv of scddiers authorized by Covernor Wallace within forty-eight hours alter the retpiisition was made. These recruits were nearly all fr«un Cass county^ at bogansport, and in the vicinity. They started frinn bogansport the COL. ABEL C. PEPPER. The Government's Indian Agent, Stationed at Logansport, September, 1888. THE REMOVAL OF THE POTT A WATTOM I E INDIANS. 21 latter part of August, marching along the Michigan Koad through Rochester, across Tippecanoe River, and then along the old Indian trail north-westward, until they came to Me-no-mi-nee Village at Twin Lakes, five miles south-west from Plymouth. A great many of the white settlers in the neighborhood turned out to welcome the soldiers, and to render such assistance as might be necessary. The Indians were surrounded before they realized that the soldiers had been sent to re- move them. LThey were disarmed, and pre})arations at once commenced for the starting of the caravan. Squads of soldiers were sent out in every direction for the purpose of capturing the straggling bands en- camped in various places in the county, and such others as might be found hunting and lishing in the neighborhood. Several days were oc- cupied in getting everything in readiness. The names of heads of fam- ilies, and other Indians were registered, and when the list was comi)leted it showed a total of 859. When all was in readiness to move, the wigwams and cabins were torn down and Me-no-mi-nee Village had the appearance of having been swept by a hurricane. Early on the morn- ing of September 2, 1888 orders were given to move, and at once nearly one thousand men, women and children, with broken hearts and tear- ful eyes, took up the line of march to their far western home. General Tipton's Report to Governor Wallace. General Tipton accompanied the Indians as far as Sandusky I'oint, where he made the following report to Governor Wallace: Encampment, Sandusky Point, Illinois, September 18, 1838. Dear Sir: — I have the honor to inform you that the yolunteers under my command reached this place last evening with 859 Pottawat- tomie Indians. Three persons improperly called chiefs — Me-no-mi-nee, Black Wolf, and Pe-pin-a-wa — are of the number. I have this morn- ing put the Indians under the charge of Judge Wm. Polke, who has been appointed by the United States to conduct them west of the Mis- souri River. I have also the honor to lay before your excellency a copy of ray orderly book, or daily journal, to which I beg leave to refer a de- tailed statement of the manner in which my duties have been performed as commanding ofHcer of volunteers engaged in this delicate service. It may be the opinion of those not well informed upon the subject that the expedition was uncalled for, but I feel confident that nothing but the presence of an armed force for the protection of the citizens of the state and to punish the insolence of the Indians could have pre- vented bloodshed. The arrival of the volunteers in the Indian village was the first intimation they had of the movement of men with arms. Many of the Indian men were assembled near thetdiapel when we arrived and were not permitted to leave camp or separate until matters L'L' TflK ICKMtiN Al. or THK I'un A W \ IT( iM I K INIUANS w»*re ariiicaljiv s»*ttle(l, and tlit*y liad aj^rt'efl to ^ive |i»'aceal)le possessioi) of the land sold by tlieni. I did not fVtd aiith(jri/t'd to drive these poor degraded hein^^s from our state, hut to remove them from tlie reserve, and to give peac*' and security to oiir citizens. But I found the Indi- ans did not own an acre of hind east of the Missi«si|i|»i: that the gov- ernment was hound to remove them to the Osage river, to support tliem one vear after their arrival west, and to give to each individual of ihe tribe ;{L'(» acres of land. Mo>t of them appeared willing to do so. Three of their principal men. however, expressed a wish to be governed bv the advice of their prievt, ( Mr. I'etit.a <'atholie gentleman) who had resided with them up to the time of the (•ommencenient of the ijuarrei between the Indians and the whites, when lie left Twin Lakes and re- tired to South Hi-nd. I addressed a h-tter inviting him to join the emi- gration and go west lie has accepted the invitation and I am hajtpy to inform y(»u that he joined us two days ago, and is going west with the Indian*-. It i.^^; hut justice to him to say that lie has. both by ex- ample arul |>recept, [iroduced a very favorable change in the morals and industry of the Indians, that his untiring zeal in the cause of civiliza- tion has been, and will continue to be. eventually beneficial to these unfortunate rottawattomies, whrn they rea»'h their new abode. .Ml are ni)W satistied and appear anxious to proceed on their journey to their new hoines, where they anticipate peace, security ami happiness. It may be expected that I should give your excellency an intimation or an opinion of the causes which have led \ip to the difficulty now hap- pily terminated. A few words on that subject must suthce. First the pernicious practice (I believe first introduced into our In- dian treaty making at lort Mrigs in Isll) of making reservations of land t<» satisfy jndiviilual Indians, and sometimes white men, o|iened the (hior for bnth speculation and fraud. Uv thr treaty of IMIl', the I'ot tawattoinif Indians sold all their claims to laiul within the state of I mliana, except a few small reserves for parti( ular tribes and parties. These reservations did not vest in the ehief of aiiv party a fi-e in the lands reserved; the original Indnm title remained undisturbed, as you will see by the opinion of the .Attorney • Jeneral of the I'nited States in the case of a reserve made by a treaty with tlif I'rairie I'.it tawattouiies October I'U, \IAN>. that tlipy nii^ht siicceetl to the places of the jjreseiit incumbents. And still amtther elass, perhaps less N\i), showing the names of the I'ottawattomie Indians as emigrants, and the number of their respective families. (icneral Tipton'."; Daily Journal. The following is abridgeil from (Jen. Tipton's daily journal of tli. (Kcurrences that took place on the way: Ti i>i»AY, September ith, IS'iS.— Left Twin Lakes. Marshall County, Iniliana, early this morning. Traveling today was attended with much distress on account of the scarcity of water. Provisions and forage were also very scarce ami of poor i|iuility. The distance matle was I'l miles. ('mI•-l'K-\\■.\^" \illa(;k. Caiuping: (Jrouiid l-"ii>t Nijilit :it Tinu' of IIc^hhin jil, Sc|itciiilH r iliui, Is:'>S; On Tippt'caiMH' Hivt-r at the ( 'i-Dssiiif: of .Miclii.L'-aii Itoad. 'I'lircc Miles Noi-tli of l^ocliester. THE REMOVAL OF THE I'OTTA WATTOM IE INDIANS. 25 Wednesday, 5th. — Fifty-one persons were found to be unable to continue the journey on account of the want of transportation and were left, the most of them sick, with some to care for them. On ac- count of the difficulty of finding water, a distance of only V) miles was traveled. On the evening of this day a child died and was buried the next morning. Thursday, Hth. — A distance of IT miles was traveled and less of sufPering and difficulty was experienced than on either of the previous days. During the evening 1) persons left behind the day before came into camp. Friday, 7th.— Thirteen persons more of the number left on Wednes- day came into camp. Eighteen persons belonging to different families also joined the expedition. A child died in the morning. Saturday, 8th. — A child 3 years old died and was buried. A chief, named We-wis-sa, came in with his family consisting of 6 persons. Two wagons which had been sent back for those left behind at Chip- peway on Wednesday, returned bringing 22 person, the whole number left behind, except 9 who were unable to travel, and a few who had managed to escape. Jt was arranged for those left behind to be taken care of until able to proceed on the way. Sunday, 9th.— Physicians came into camp and reported about 300 cases of sickness which they pronounced of a temporary character. A kind of hospital was erected to facilitate the administering of medical treatment. Two children died this day. Monday, 10th — The journey was renewed and 21 persons inclusive of sick and their attendants were left behind. The day was hot, but as the journey was made along the Wabash, there was not so much suf- fering for water. On the evening and night after getting into camp a child and man died. Tuesday, 11th. — A distance of 17 miles was accomplished through an open and champaign country with only the difficulties of procuring subsistance and forage. Wednesday. 12th.— The distance traveled from camp to cam}) was tifteen miles. The encampment was made near Tippecanoe Battle Ground. At this place a quantity of dry goods, such as cloaks, blank- ets, calicoes, etc., amounting to $5,469.81 was distributed among the Indians. Here, too. a very old woman, the mother of We-wis-sa, died. She was said to be over 100 years old. Thursday, 13th. — A distance of eighteen miles was traveled. The sultry heat and the dust were the chief drawbacks on the way. Two physicians were called in to prescribe for those indisposed. They reported a hundred and sixty cases of sickness. Friday, 14th. — A journey of eighteen miles was made over a dry and unhealthy portion of the country. Persons who through weari- _<■) TIIK KKMHVAI. OF TUK l't»TT A W ATToMl K INr)IANS, ness and fatigue were coiitinnally falling sivk along the route and the wagons to triins|)f>rt them were heconiiiig daily more and more crowded. As the (larty advaii(»Ml into the prairies the >treanis were found to be literally dried ii|> Two deaths took place on the evening of this day. Satiiu»av, loth, .\fter traveling ten miles the migrating party were forced to enratnp at noon n»ar an nnliealthy and tilthy looking stream a.s it was ii-arned that there would he no chance of a better place that day. 'I'wo stnall children died along the road. Si Nl>AY. l'»th. l)anville in Illinois was reached after a journey of fifteen miles, a large part of the way being over the Grand I'rairie. The heat and the dust made the traveling distressing. In the morning sev- eral persons were left sick in camp. The horses had become jaded, the Indians sickly, and many persons engaged in the emigration more or less sick The whole country passed through was afflicted, as every village and hamlet had its invalids. Provisions and forage were found more enormously dear the farther the advance of the party. The sickness of the whole country was ff)und to be unparalleled. Four persons in the little town near the etjcampment had died the day before. Monday, 17th. The volunteers and H5*l Pottawattomie Indians reached Sandusky Point where they were turned over to Judge Williau) l'f<>\\l. <»l Till. !•<»! I \\\ A ITOMII IMUANS. and woiiiuU'il was 17y, Ijut no company suffered like ours. We then h»'leal of Corn and some head indiaiis in th»' liousfs loaded <*» waggons with ('orn and Burnt what wa> Kstiinated at '2 thousaiifl bushels and U of our men died last night. " lie soon with his companions returned to his Injme in Corydon, Indiana. Subse(|uently he was, by regular gradation, promoted to the rank ol Brigadier General, ami givi'ii ((nnmaiid of ihe militia in Soutii- erii Indiana. lie held numerous oflices in county and state, always with honor and credit to himself. He was a member of the legislature in IMIO and was chairman of the committee which selected and located the present fapital of Indiana at I ndianHjxdis. In liS2){ he was appointed General Agent for the IN.ttawattomie Indums on the I'pper Wabash. Tippeca- noe and ^ ellow Kivers, and established the agency at Fort Wayne, which was afterwards removed t(t Logansport. .\t the session of the Legislature in L*^^U he was elected Lnited States Senator to till the vacancy occasioned bv ttie death of .lames N(»ble, and was elected in I^."!!! for the term ei.ding in ISo'.t. lie died on the morning of April .">, l^'A\), in the meridian of life, honored and respected by all who admired an honest, upright, conscientious citi/en, neighbor ami iriend. The Pottawattomie Mills. The I'ot tawat toiiiie .Mill, pro\ ided 1)\ the third artiide of the treaty of ()ctol)er !•», iN'Jb, was erected on the north-west shore of Lake Man- a-tou a short tlistance east of l{o(diester. and almost in sight of the spot win-re the lndiall■^ were raiii|ied on Tipjiecanoe river the first night after (ien. Tipt(Ui started them from Twin Lake'^ on their removal west of the Missis.sippi. By a treaty made .March I<'>, \'^''u\ the Indians ceded all their lands in that part of Indiana, including the mill, and the miller [trovided for was no longer to be supported by the I'nited States The Indians, by the terms of the treaty, agreed to remove to the West within two years. Among the most noted chiefs who figured extensively here about that tinie was Au-be-nau-l.| < Jt.v.riior <>r Imliaiin; l)i>'l .liilv -Jti, \s:\\. THE KEMOVAL OF THK I'OTTA WATTOMIE INDIANS. 29 1833, he aud his band were given thirty-two sections of land, which in- cluded his village that stood near Leiter's Ford. Aubenaube Township in Fulton County is named in his honor. Au-be-nau-be was not a very good Indian. He was nearly always drunk and quarrelsome. In one of his drunken sprees he killed one of his wives. Some time afterwards be was killed by his son, Pau-koo-shuk, in a log house later owned by Mr. Blodgett, west of the Michigan road, near the north Fulton county^Hne. His band went peaceably to the Western Reservation about 4887; An Anecdote of Au=be-nau=be. In the negotiation of the treaty of October 2G, 1832, an anecdote is told of Au-be-nau-be. (spelled Obanoby in that treaty) which will bear repeating here, as that old chief was one of the most important factors among the Pottawattome Indians in Northern Indiana at that time. President Jackson appointed Gov. Jonathan Jennings a Commis- sioner to negotiate a treaty with the Indians of Northern Indiana. His associates on the commission were John W. Davis and Marks Crume, the treaty being held at the forks of the Wabash where the city of Huntington now stands, ()ctol)er 20, 1832. One who was present tells the story of what happened there as follows: ''During the preliminary council. Dr. John W. Davis, who was a jiompous, big-feeling man, said something that gave offense to Obanoby one of the head chiefs of the Pottawattomies. Obanoby addressed Gov. .lennings, saying: 'Does our great father intend to insult us by send- ing such men to treat with us? Why did he not send Generals Cass and Tipton? You (pointing to Governor Jennings) good man and know how to trent us (Pointing to Crume)— He chipped beef for the squaws at Wabash;' — meauiny that Crume was the beef contractor at the treaty of 182H. Then pointing to Dr. Davis he said: 'Big man and danin-fool.' The chief then spoke a few words to the Pottawatto- mies present, who gave one of their peculiar yells and left the council- house, and could only be induced to return after several days, and then only through the great influence of Governor Jennings. The signing of this treaty was the last othcial act of Governor Jennings. Qovernor Jonathan Jennings. Jonathan Jennings, first governor of Indiana was, probably, the most distinguished man. in many ways, who took an active part in the formation of the Indiana Territory, and later the organization of the State in ISIH He was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1784. In his early dnys he studied law in Pennsylvania, but before being ad- mitted to practice, he took passage at Pittsburg on a flat-boat, and floated down the river to Jefferson vi lie. where he landed, having deter- 'M) TMK KKMMVAI. ol' THK I'oTTA W ATT* »M I K INIHANS. miiM-'l to iiiiikf that t.iwn liis li(.iin'. IIjth 1ip completed the study of law and lit'iumf a |tra(titi<»iit'r in tli»' courts of that and other towns in t(i«' t«'rritorv. H»' wts sulistM|UPiitly made clerk of the territorial legis- latur<\ aud whilf disrliaT}^ing the dutins of that position, hecarae a can- didate for ((Uijjr.'ss against Thomas Randolph, atlornev of the territory, lit' was »«lect»'d l»y a small uuijority: was re-elected over Waller Tay- lf)r in 1^11. and in 1 ^lii rho-icn fnr tlie third time. Karly in iWlt) he reported a hill to Congress to enahle the people of the territory to take the necessiirv steps to convert it into a state. Delegates to a convention to form a ^tate cnnst itut um were selected in Mav 181(), (iov. .lenniiigs heini; chosen one from the county of Clark. Wheii the convention assembled he was honored hy heing chosen to preside over its delibera- tions, and iit the election which fullowcd was elected governor of the new state hy a majority of lliTT votes over the territorial governor, Mr. I'osev. liis ojtpoiient. In this otHce he served six years, also acting as Indian C,iiiiinisxiont r in iSlS by appointment of Pre«v appointment of President .lackson in lKi'2. At the close of his term as (iov»'rnor he was elected representative in Congress for four consecutive terms. On leaving (Congress he retired to his farm near Charlestown, where he remaineil cultivating the soil and spending his leisure time in his library until duly 2'», 1NM4, when the end came. He died at home surrounded by his family and friends, beloved by all. lie was a man of polislied manners; one more fascinating would be hard to liml. lie was always gentle and kind to those about him. He was not an orator, but he could tell what he knew in a pleasing way. He wrote well perliaji- as well as any of his successors in the Govern- or's otlice. He was an ambitious man, but his ambition was in the rigiit direction — to serve the people the best he could. He had l)lue eyes, fair complexion ami sandy hair. He was about Hve feet, e'ght and one-half inches iiigh, and in his latter days was inclined to corpulency. He was broad shouhlered and heavy set, ami weighed about ISO. He die, 1>S9!(. THE REMOVAL OF THE POTTAWATTOMIE INDIANS, 31 race iu the St. Joseph Valley. He has heeu described as a man of con- siderable talents, and in his many business transactions with the early settlers was never known to break his word. He set a good example to his followers by not indulging in ''fire water" (whisky). He was particularly distinguished for his devotion to the traditional teachings of the .Jesuit Fathers. After the destruction of Ft St. Joseph by the Spaniards in 1781, says Mr. Leeper in "Some Early Local Foot Prints," the St. Joseph Valley was practically abandoned as a missionary field for nearly a half century. Pokagon made several visits to Detroit especially to ask that the black gowns (missionaries) be again sent among his people. The last of these appeals was July, 1880. Detroit was then the residence of M. Gabriel Richard, vicar general of the bishop of Cincin- nati, and to the church official Pokagon poured out the deep yearnings of his soul. ''Father, Father," he exclaimed, "I come to beg you to send us a black gown to teach us the word of God. We are ready to give up whisky and all our barbarous customs. Thou dost not send us a black gown and thou hast often promised us one. What! Must we live and die in our ignorance? If thou hast no pity on us, take pity on our poor children, who will live as we have liyed, in ignorance and vice." And he went on to recount how his people had jireserved the prayers taught their ancestors by the black gown formerly at St. Joseph; how his wife and children, every night and morning, prayed Ijefore tlie crucifix; how the men, women and children of his band fasted according to the traditions of their fathers and mothers. M. Frederick Reze was sent temporarily to minister to these urgent spirit- ual demands. July 22, 1830 he began his work baptizing Pokagon and his wife, respectively as Leopold and Elizabeth; the one at 55 and the other at 46. Pokagon died in Cass County, Michigan about 1841. Simon Pokagon. Simon Pokagon, a distinguished Pottawattomie Indian still living near Hartford, Michigan, is the only living son of Leopold Pokagon, having been born at Pokagon Village in 1830. He has the distinction of being the best educated and most distinguished full blooded Indian, probablv. in America. He has written much and delivered many ad- dresses of real literary merit during the past quarter of a century, and when he passes away he will leave iio surcessoj:_tn ttiis line worthy of the name. He has managed the band of al)out'200,' of which he has for many years been the acknowledged head, with consummate skill and ability, and while the band, of which he is the most prominent member, have not made much headway in keeping pace with the rapid advance of civilization the past fifty years, yet had it not been for Po- kagon. his education, enlightened views, and influence exerted in the right direction, it is likelv they would have retrograded, disintegrated, '6'2 TIIK UEMnVAI, <)I THK HtTTAW ATTOMIE INIUANS. :iim1 wdiild uinloiibtedly lon^ since have been scattered to tli^ four winds ut lii-avcii. W'liile the ohl chief lias his faults, "even as y' Indians. Menominee Village. ^V[eiiomiiiee village, where the Indians were surrounded and made prisoners by the soldiers under commaud of General Tipton, was a siiurt distance north of Twin bakes (falbd l)y the I ndiaiis ( 'hi-clii-pe ()ii-ti-pe) in Marshall County. The burial ground was located a short distance north-west of the village. The Indian chapel was situated on the north l>ank of the middle Twin Lake about twenty rods west of the \ audalia rail roarl. The chapel was erected by l{ev Stephen Theodore Hadin, the tirst (^itbolic priest ordained in the United States. He was born at Orh-ans. l-'rance. in IT'JtS. ordained ilay 'IH. 17U3, and died at Cincinnati A|»ril ll*. \>^o'A. He had not Jou^ beforn nrected a cha|)el at l'tdt end of the chapel, and it was reached from b»'low by n'leaiis of a rustic ladder. The furniture was of the most primitive kind, and tin* f((od corn and wild meat and such fruits and vegetables as were suitable to eat during the summer season. This chapel, it is much to be regretted, was torn d>wn manv vears ago. The spot where it stood is, however, plainiv visible. Ministrations of Fattier I)e 5eille. l-'ather liadin was succeeded as missionary at the chapel bv F.itlier he Seille, probably about 1S:{2-.'?, and continued until al»out 18IJ7. lie is described as a man of grave and reserved manner. lii> lonu inter- c(tnrse with the Indians imparted to hitu a tinge of t lieir (»w n deep mel- anclioly. His face, t hough youthful, bore the traces of suffering ami the marks of tears; abstinence was written on his brow and his down- cast eye accorded with his meek profession. Hut under that calm ex- terior l)eat the l>urniug heart of an apostle whose everv breath was for (iod. The love of the Indians for him was beyond exj>ression; thev Utved him as their father, beii'-faitor and friend; as •'the g(»od messen- ger of the good (iod." Bishop Mrute. of Vincennes, visited Norlhem Indiana in Ib'.M^. ami describes the missions of FaHier DeSeilb* as fcdiows: --.V large number «)f their huts are built around the chapel, which is constructed of bark. RF.V. STEPHEN THEODORE HADIN. Born at Orleans, France, in ITfJO; Ordained ^iay I'.S, 17!t:{; DIimI at Cin- cinnati, April 19, 1858; First Catholic I'liest Ordained in the Cnited States. THE REMOVAL OF THK I'OTTA W ATTOM I K INDIAXS. 38 with a cross erected behind and rising above it, and tilled with rudely- made benches. The Indians begin and end their work without hammer, saw or nails, the ax being their only implement, and bits of skin or bark serving to fasten the pieces together. The room of the missionary is over the chapel, the floor of the on- forming the ceiling of the other. A ladder in the corner leads to it, and his furniture consists, as did the prophets, of a table and chair, and a bed, or rather a hammock swung on ropes. Around the room are his books, and the trunks which con- tain the articles used in his chapel, as well as his own apparel, lie spends his life with his good people, shnring their corn and meat, with water for his drink, and tea made from the herbs of his little garden. He abjures all spirits, as all Catholic Indians are forbidden to touch that which is the bane of their race, and he would encourage them with his example. I attended at the evening catechism, prayers and canti- cles, and in the morning said mass, at which a large number attended." Father Benjamin Marit- Petit. Father Benjamin Marie Petit succeeded Father DeSeilie about 1837-!S, his tirst record appearing March 25, 188S. This ardent youthful spirit evinced an intense enthusiasm from first to last in the work of his chosen field, and in an outburst of fervency he tells something of his feelings and of his ministrations. '' How f love these children of mine,' he exclaimed, "and what pleasure it is for me to find myself amongst them. There are now from 1,000 to 1.200 Christians. Could you see the little children when I enter a cabin crowding around me and climb- ing on my knees — the father and mother making the sign of the cross in pious recollection, and then coming with a confiding smile on their faces to shake hands with me — you could not hut love them as I do." And again: ''When I am traveling in the woods, if I perceive an In- dian hut, or even an abandoned pncanii)nient, I find my heart beat with joy. If 1 discover any Indians on my road, all my fatigue is forgotten, and when their smiles greet me at a distance. 1 feel as if I were in the midst of my own family.'' This was at Twin Lakes, Marshall county, Indiana, then known as ''Clii-chi-pe Ou-ti-pe." Of the chapel exercises he gives the following intertesing account: '• At sunrise the first peal was rung; then you might see the savages moving along the paths of the forest and the borders of the lakes; when they were assembled the second peal was rung. The catechist then in an animated manner gave the substance of the sermon jireaclied the evening l)efore; a cha])ter of the catechism was read and morning ])rayers were recited. I then sains the while; after which I preached, my sermon being translated as I pro- ceeded by a respectable French lady, 72 years old. who has devoted her- self to the missions in the capacity of interpreter. The sermon was fol- 84 THi: !tKMi)\AI, or the I'oTTAU ATToMIK IMiI\NS, lowed by a pater and an ave; after wliich tlie congregation sang a li\ inn to Oiir Lady, and t|iiiHtly dispersed. The next thing was confessiun, which histed till evening, and sometimes was resumed after supper. At sunset the natives again assembled for catechism, fdUnwed by an exli j)astorate he baptized eighteen adults and blessed nine marriages. Hut all this while a heavy grief lay at his heart, lie knew that his joy was to be short lived; that his "dear Itidiaiis" were soon to be taken from him and bauisiied to the far West. In the bitter anguish of liis soul he exclaimed: " I shall have to level the altar and church to th^ ground, and l)ury the cross which overshadows the t()ml)s to save them fnuu profanation. Ami those Christian souls will pine away, deprived of those sacraments whicii thev approached with so niucii fervor, ami languishing under an unknown sky where I, their father, shall be un- alile to follow them."" Characteristics of Father Petit. IVom a sketch of the Catl'.olic Missionaries of Northern Indiana, published in An M always good, calm, gentle and undisturbed, as an infant's. It is true, and this thought consoles me, the lal)or and fatigue of the day were all for the gh.ry of the (xood Master, to whom I give myself without reserve. May lie acce])t it as a continual praver; it is. for those who know how to oifer it, a continual 30 TIIK HKMoVAL < U- THK I'OTTA NVATToM I K INIUANS. sacrifice. Nevertheless, there are monieuts wheu the heart seems ready to hiirst with joy and the eyes overflow with sweet tears. Oh, it is so frond to feel that one has nothing to do in the world hut work for God. Thanks, thanks, niv Goil." .\lMiut tiiis tiiiit' tilt' f^dvernment sent officers to arrang*' for thn de- }iartnre of the Indians. Father Petit again writes: "One morning I said mass, and immediately afterward we began re- moving all the ornaments from my dear little church. At tiie moment of my d<'parture I asembled all my children to speak to them for the last time. I wept, and my auditors sobbed aloud; it was indeed a heart- rending sight, and over our dying mission we prayed for the success of those they would estal)lish -n their new hunting grounds. We tlen with (Wie accord sang: ■•(>. \ irtfin, we place our contidence In Thee." " It was often int- ri opted i)y S"bs and but few voices were able {<> Hiiisji it. 1 then left them. Oh. it was indeed sad for a missionnry t<> see a work so young and vigorous expire in his arms, f^miie days af- terward I jeiirned That the Indiai:s. uotwii hstaiiiling their |ie;iceal)le dis- |>ositireteni e of a council they were all reunitpd when the military force secured 400. Tin- government sent at the sjiui^^ time to invite nie to acco\upany them to their new destination. It >eem< that their separation frmii their pastor was one of the niotixes whiih ) revente ' the Indians from (MMisenting to go i^nietly to their exile, i replied tli-.t I could t;ik'" no steps without permission of mv Bishop." The order was giseii to march without further delay. The Indians were driven on at the point of the bayonet; many were sick, huddled to- gether in transport wagons; numbers died of heat and thirst. It hapjiened, however, that liishop Brute was to consecrate a church in a neighboring mission on the 9th of September; and on the 7th the Indians would be encamped within a mile of the place. Two days be- fore, the Hishop entered Father I'etit's room. Together they set out for liOgansport and on their way learned of the sufferings of the poor Indians. The new.'^ was like a dagger in the heart of Father Petit, but to his delight the Pishop gave him permission to follow the emigrants on cumlition of returning as soon as he was summoned; and he hasten- ed immediately to his post. Mo sooner did it get abroad that the priest was come than the whole camp was in motion; the natives flocked out to meet him, the whites drawn up in tile formed a lane for him to pass. The enthusiasm was unl)ounded and the otHcer in commaml said. "This man has more power THE REMOVAI> OF THR I'OTTA WATTOMIK INDIANS. 37 here thnn I have." On Sunday Father Petit said mass, and vespers were sung. On the 16th he rejoined his flock. He found them moving onward, enveloped in clouds of dust, and surrounded by the soldiers who hurried on their march. Behind came the wagons, in which were crowded together the sick, the women, and the children. The scene as described by Father Petit was one of the most mournful description; the children, overcome by heat, were reduced to a wretched state of languor and exhaustion. By this time the general had begun to under- staml something of Father Petit's worth, and treated him with marked respect. The chiefs who had hitherto been treated as prisoners of war were reI"H-ed at the priest's request and took their place with the rest of the tribe. First went the flag of the United States borne by a dra- goon: aftnr which came the baggage; then the vehicle occupied by the native chiefs; next followed the main body of the emigrants, men, wo- men and children, mounted on horses, marching in file after Indian fashion, wliile all along the flanks of the multitude might be seen dra- goons and v(danteers urging on unwilling stragglers, often with the mosr. violent words and gestures. The sick were in their wagons under an awning of canvas, which, however, far from protecting them from the stifling heat and dust, only deprived them of air. The interior was like an {)VHn and many consequently died. Six miles from Danville, Illinois, there was a halt for two days. " When we quitted the spot," he said, '• we left six graves under the shadow of the cross." Order had been so thoroughly restored through the presence of the priest that the troops now retired, and Father Petit was Inft with the civil authorities to con- duct the emigrants to their destination. Having seen the emigrants safely landed such as had not died and escaped on the way — Father Petit started on the return trip. At St, L-mis he was taken sick from fatigue and malarial fever and died. His remain^ were afterward removed to Notre Dame. Indiana, where they lie buried in the Catholic cemetery at that place. Sanford Cox Visits the Caravan. Sanford C. Cox, of LaFayette, in his recollections of the " Early Set- tlement of the Wabash Valley," published in 18G0, in speaking of this removal, says: "Hearing that the large emigration, which consisted of about one ti-.ousHnd of a'l nges and sexes would pass within eight or nine miles west of LiiFaveftn, a few of us procured h'Tses and rode over to see the retiring band, as they reluctantly wended their way toward the setting sun. It was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness these children of the forest s-lowly retiring from the home of their childhood that con- tained not only the graves of their revered ancestors, but many endear- ing scenes to which their memorif^s would ever recur as sunny spots 8iS THK KCMOVAI. <>F THK I'OTTA \VATT«»M I P: INIilANS. along their jKithwaj througl) the wilderness. They felt that they were l>iiMing farewell to the hills, valleys and streams of their infancy, the more extiting hunting grounds of their advanced ycnith, as well as the stern and bloody battle-fields where they had contended in riper man- hood — on whieh they had received wounds, and where many (>\ their friends and loved relatives had fallen, covered with gore and with glory. All these they were leaving behind them to )>e desecrated l)y the plow- share of t!ie white man. As they east mournful glances backward to- ward these loved scenes that were rapidly fading in the distance, tears fell from the cheeks of the downcast warrior, old men trembled, matrons wept, the swarthy maiden cheek turned pale, ami sighs and half-sup- pressed sobs escaped from the motly groups as they passed along, some on foot, some on horseback, and otiiers in wagons — sad as a luneral procession. I saw several of the aged warriors casting glances toward the sky, as if they were im|)loring aid from the spirits of th»^ir de[)arted heroes who were looking down upon them from the clouds, or from the great ^•pirit who would ultimately redress the wrongs of the red man, whose l)roken l)ow had fallen from his hand, and whose sad heart was bleeding within him. Ever and anttn one of the party would start Icuk out into the l)ush and away to their old encampment, declaring that they would rather die than be banished from their country. Thus scores of discontented emigrants returned from diff-rent points on their journey, and it was several years before they could be induced to join their countrymen west of the Mississippi." Me-no=mi-nee. The I'ottawattomie Indian, Me-no-mi- nee, was the central figure in the disturbances that lead to the raising of troops and the removal of ttie Indians by force from Twin Likes, September 4. ls;is. He was personally known to many of the original settlers of Marshall i-ounty, nearly all (»f whom, however, have huig since passed away, hi his his- tory of Indian affair^. Uev. Isaav McCoy, a Baptist missionary, and the foinuler of ("arey Mission, on the St. .loseph river, a short distance west I't Nile'-, .M irliij_'an. thus speaks of Mi'-iii.-iiii-nce, for whom the Menomi- ui'c village was named. Writing from l"t. Wayne about 1N21. he says: 1 hatl been informed by ail Imiiaii trader that on the Illinois river some hiimired miles from Ft. \\ ayiie. there was a coiu|ianv of religious l*u-ta-wat-i. at the hearl of whom was (.ne who was a kind of jireacher. whose nam.' was MiMioiuiueK. As this utan exhorted his fol- liiwers to abstain from ardent s))irits and iiiaiiv other vices, and to prac- f»i-e many good morals, and as a part of their reli>;ious services consisted in praying, I was induced to hope that their minds were souiewhat jire- pared to receive religious instruction. .My tir( nmstances were su( h that I einild not visit them at that time. Imt I wrote the leader a MRS. ax(;I':lin.\ shii'shi-.wana. Mrs. Angelina Shipslu'waiia was a tiill-!)l(«Mi Pottawattumic Indian, and did not speak a word of Kiiglish. Slie resided in llie njiion of (r;nnsl<>\\ n, St. Joseph Connty, where she was born in tlie year ls21. Her history, hke that of most of her race, was sneh as occurs in the lives of ilic ciiildri'n of the forest before the white man came. THE REMOVAL oF TlIK I'OTTA W \TT( >M 1 K INDIANS. ^t) letter to come to Ft. Wayne to see me, wliieh he ciid about April 1st, 1S21. He professed to have been called some few years previously by the Great Spirit to preach to the Indians that they should forsake "their evil practices, among which he enumerated the vices of drunkenness, theft, murder, and many other wicked practices. He had a few follow- ers, the number of whom was increasing. Menominee appeared to be more meek, and more ready to receive instruction than could have been expected from a wild man who had arrogated to himself claims to be a leader not only in temporal )>ut also in spiritual things. At his partic- ular request 1 gave him a writing in which I stated that he had been several days with me, that I had heard him pre;ich and pray, and had conversed much with him; that I hoped his instructions would do his people good, and therefore requested all to treat him with kindness. '' Now," said he, *' ] will go home and preach to my people all my life. I will tell them that my father says I tell the truth." Rev. Mr. McCoy Visits Me=no=mi=nee. Hi June following. Rev. McCoy visited Menominee at his village near Twin Lakes, in what is now Marshall County. Ft was then un- organized territory. Of that visit he said: "As we approached the vil- lage, Menominee and others met us with all the signs of joy and glad- ness which could have been expressed by these poor creatures. Meno- minee immediately cried aloud to his people, all of whom [1821] lived in four little bark huts, informing them that their father had arrived. 1 was no sooner seated by their invitation than men. women and child- ren came around and gave me their hand — even infants were brought, that I might take them by the hand. A messenger was immediately dispatched to a neighboring village to announce my arrival. Hi his absence Menominee inc|uired if I had come to reside among them. Re- ceiving evasive answers he expressed great concern. Me said the prin- cipal chief of their party, and all the people of the villages, with few exceptions desired me to come.' He showed me a place which he had selected for me to l)uild a house upon. 'IMieir huts being exceedingly hot and unpleasant, I proposed taking a seat out of doors. The yard was immediately swept and mats spread for me to eiti)er sit or lie upmi. We were presently regaled with a bowl of boiled turtle's eggs; next came a kettle of sweetened water for us to drink. I was then shown a large turtle which had been taken in a pond, and asked if I were fund of it. Fearing that with their cooking I should not be able to eat it, I replied that I was very fond of corn and beans. This I knew was already over the tire. H was placed before us in one large wooden bowl, and we ate it with wooden ladles. Menominee had two wives, each of whom presented me with a bark box of sugar containing about thirty jiounds "ach. Ml Tin: UKM<»\AI. oi- thk i-ottawattomh; inkians. '' In Ji short time tlif priiicipal chief, Fcheekn [ <'he kose? | and every man and almost every woman and child in his villa»^e. were at Menomi- nee's, and all eame and shook hands. <>n the arrival of IVheeko we had resumed our station in the house, where I handed out my toljaueo, and all sundxed until the fumes and heat became almost insutTerable. but mustered couraiir I'atlier. we are glad to see vou ami have \ on aimmg us. We are convinced that you come among us from motives of charity. We l)elieve that you know what to tell us, and that you tell us the truth. W e are glad to hear that you are coiuing among us to live near us. and when yoii shall have arrived we will visit your house often and hear \ou speak of these g(»od things. ' The bowl of hominy was then passed around theconipanv again: all sniolo'd. shook hands, and parted in IrieniUliip. ()ii leaving soun- of theni ga.e their Messing,'. The l.enedictioii o| one was as f(dlj[eons which they liad killed with sticks; some deer mi^ht have been taken but they were dest itute of powder ami lead, and had not anything with which to pure base tiiese articles. Hxcej»ting roots and weeds their only food at tiiis time consisted of corn and dried beans, of which their stork was exceediuf^'ly small." What Became of Me=no-mi=nee. It may he a <|uery in the minds of many what linally became of the ^'imkI preai lier, Menoruinee. The twenty-two sections of land ceded to liitii and rt'-|iin-a-wa. Xa-ta-ka ami Mak-a-taw-ma-ali, were never trans- ferred to the government by Menon:inee. and were lie living wiiatever interest lie then had would still be his. 'i'he other chiefs who shared witii liini in tlie ownership received Si I.OM) for their interest, but Me- nominee refused to sign the treaty, and never transferred his interest either by treaty or sale to the government or others. He was placed under military surveillaiue at t lie t inie of the removal from Twin Lakes, in llSi{^i, and guarded by soldiers on the IKK) mile march to t:.e Western reservation, lie was at this time a man well along in years, and it is iiHUt' than likely, as he was never heard of afterward, that he died of a l)roken heart. As to the other chiefs associated with him in the owner- ship of the reservation, the white traders cheated them out of the money received for their share before they were removed, and in the mixing up of the various bainN in tiie caravan, they lost tlu'ir ideiititv and disappeared — but \\ liitlicr they went and imw they fared, NiiIkkIv knew and lioliodv cared. Me-no-mi-nee Cruelly Treated, In view of all the facts as revealed l)y a careful investigation, the conviction forces itself upon me that Menominei'' and his band were cruelly treated and badly misused, (iovenior Wallace had as much right to order the raising of a company of troop.-^ to go to Twin I^akes and drive away the white settlers that were interfering with Me- nominee and his followers as he had to arrest Menominee and drive him at the jioint of the bayonet from his home he had not surrendered. If he had signed the treaty cedinjT his lands to the government, agreeing to remove to the Woterii reservation and had refused to do so, then the case would have l>een ditVcrent. lie had as godi] a right to remain THE REMOVAL OF THK I'OTTA WATTOM I K INDIANS. 43 on Lis lands at Twin Lakes as had Joseph Waters and liis white fol- lowing, who seem to have been the real cause of the disturbance. As 1 look at it, the whole affair was cruel and inhuman, and i)artook more of savagery than the act of a civilized, enlightened and Christian peo- ple. The Indians were surrounded by the soldiers before they were aware that force was to be used in driving them away. They were dis- armed of guns, tomahawks and bows and arrows; their wigwams and cabins were torn down and destroyed, and the old and decrepid, the hune, the halt and the blind, the women and children, were marched off by the soldiers like so many cattle to the slaughter. And when the record shows that the graves of lOi) of the poor, helpless beings mark the pathway of that sad and solemn procession, I can not resist the con- clusion that a cruel wrong was done, which time can not condone, and which can not be forgiven here or hereafter. RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY RESIDENTS. The following interviews with residents of Marshall county who were |)resent at the time of the removal, or who were conversant with the facts, will be of historic value in this connection: What William Sluyter Remembers. William Sluyter — '' I lived near the Menominee village, which was just north of Twin Lakes, in Marshall county, and was present at the time the Indians were congregated there, September 8-4, 1888, to be removed to the western reservation. The village was composed of log huts and wigwams of poles covered with bark and matting, erected w.'thout any system. There were 75 or 100 of these primitive dwellings. A grave yard in which their dead were buried was near by. They buried their dead mostly by splitting logs in the middle and digging a trough in one part of it, putting the dead in and closing it up. Some of them were put under ground, and some were set upright with poles placed around them. "Tiiere were several hundred Indians there at the time and quite a number of soldiers — State militia, 1 think. Col. A. C. Pepper, I believe, was there in immediate charge, while, I understood, General Tipton was the chief of the removal. I think the caravan went in a southwesterly direction near the north end of Lake Muk-sen-cuck-ee, thence south- west of Logansport and so on down a few miles west of the Wabash river. " I saw no ill treatment of the Indians so far as the government was concerned. There were, however, individual cases of bad treatment bv souie of thos*^ in authority. The soldiers disarmed the Indians, taking II Tni: itKMovAi. <»i Tin: pdtt wvattomie rNiHANs. from tlit'iii tlit'ir ^mis. tinii;ili;i\vks, axes, bows ;iinl arrows, knives, etc., and placed tlieiii in waj^ons for transportation. There were plenty of wagons to carry all who were unable to walk, but not many would con- .sent to j^et into the wagons, never having seen any vehicles of that kind and were afraid of them. They marched oil single tile, with a soldier at tlie head of about every forty or fifty. It was indeed a sad sight to see them leaving tln'ir h"mes and huntin«4 grounds where many of them had lived all their livt-s, and going to a strange land concerning which they knew nothing. Alter they left, the wigwams were torn down and burned; eventually tlie old chapel which was used as a guard-house was torn down, and the little graveyard was finally phjwed over and obliterated, and no trace of tlie village, the chapel, or the graveyard can now l)e found. " David How's Statement. 1>\\ IK How: "I was aitoiit ten years old when the Indians weie re- moved. I was there with my father. Isaac How. who lived near by, the night before the caravan started. My fathtT was one of the guards at tlie chapel in which Chief Me-no-mi-nee, who refused to go peaceably, was fonlined. I should tliink there were several hundred Indians there at the time and a hundred or more soldiers. When they left a soldier was |>laced at the head of about every thirty or forty Indians. The Indians were all disarmed. Wagons were provided for all who were unal)le to walk and others, but most of them disliked to ride in a gov- ern uu-nt wagon and all walked that possibly could. The Indians were brought to the village from different ]»arts of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan bv squads of soldiers, who forced them to leave tht'ir vilhigt's, ami after selecting such articles as could be conveniently carried and would i)e of use on the way. they tore down and burned uj> tlie huts and wigwams, and marched them otT to the general rede/vous. My sym|)athies were always with the Indians, and think many of them W»'re sji;iiiie(iilly treated." I'homas H«)ii}rhton's Recollections. liioMv.- K. lloriiiiTo.N. •In l"^:i^ I livedwith my father on the In- dian trail between the Ueii-ak village ill Tippecanoe townshi|» and the M'-no-nii-nee village where the Indians were congregated to get readv to be removed. I was not there at the time but it was about the onlv sui)jei-t of conversation for many years ami I heard considerable about it. One incident connected with the removal 1 remember distinctly. Nigo was a Miami Indian who afterwards lived in Marshall county and ilied in riymoiith about INSO. Me was forced bv the soldiers to go to the place of rendezvous, .\fter the caravan had started he went to Gen. I'e|i|ier on the second da\ oin and told him he was not a I 'idtawattomie THE REMOVAL OF THE POTTAAV ATTOMIE INDIANS. 45 aud that he was not ou the list of those that had agreed iu the treaties to go west of the Missouri. Gen. Pepper examined the list and found that such was the case. He told Nigo that it would not be safe for him to attempt to leave the caravan then as if he did he might be shot by the guards. He told him that when they camped that night to come to his tent and he would see what could be done. Gen. Pepper's headquarters that night was in a log cabin that had been previ- ously vacated. At dark Nigo was promptly on hand. Gen. Pep- per told him to take his blanket and go into the loft above and to lie down and go to sleep and remain there until after the caravan had moved away the next morning when he could get up and go where he pleased. Nigo did as directed, and next morning started back through the woods to his wigwam north of Bourbon where he remained until a few years prior to his death when he removed to Plymouth where he died as stated.'" John Lowery's Recollections. John Lowery,— "1 lived close by the Indian chapel which was lo- cated on the north bank of Twin Lakes a few rods west of where the railroad crosses the wagon road, and near where the Indians congrega- ted in 1888 preparatory to being removed to a reservation west of the Mississippi. I was not there at the time, being absent in Laporte coun- ty. I talked with those who were there, and with some who went with the Indians part of the way. "Gen. Tipton was the moving agent, had command of the militia, aud had had much to do with the Indians for many years previous in this part of the country, having been employed by the government to secure treaties for the extinguishment of the Indian titles to their res- ervations. The Pottawattomies were peaceable and were always kindly treated by him. There was no occasion for cruel treatment on his part and I am satisfied none was offered to any of them unless they deserved it. The time specified in the treaties for the Indians to remove having passed, Gen. Tipton sent squads of militia to the several villages in this part of the state with directions to require the Indians to assemble at the chapel on a day named as a starting place. ■'At the appointed time nearly all that were able to go met at the chapel where a council was held and arrangements made for the start the next day. The chapel hall was used for the meeting of the council. The building: was made of hewn logs and its dimensions were about 40x20 feet. The doors were not locked; no handcuffs were used and no indignities were shown any of the Indians so far as I have been able to learn. They were told that the treaties signed by their chiefs required them to go west to the reservation provided for them within two years from the date of the treaties, and that time having expired, it was their W) TlIK KKMuVAl, ()]• THE I'oTI A U ATT< (Ml K INIMANS. duty to go peaceably. Miniy nl tlu- Imlians protested tliat the treaties had lieen procnrL'd l)y fraud, and had not been sii^jned by those having authority to sign them, and that was the reason they had not gone peace- ably before. The treaties, however, having been ratified l)y the govern- ni«*nt, and the reservations having be>Mi made subject to entry there was nothing to be done but to remove the Indians. That was done as quietly and huuianely as it was posssible under the circumstances. The <-ouutry was new and unimproved, and in Northern Indiana an un- liroknu vNibieruess. There were no wagon roads then and the Indian trail was dilTicult of passage with wagons and packhorses. There were among the Indians many old men and women, and pap(>ooses. and not a fi'W siek and unable to go without being transported in wagons or on packhorses. This was the condition oji that September morning in ly^JS whtMi over iSOO Indians started mi their long journey." Statement of I. N. Clary, Wagoner. .Mr. 1. N. Clary, of Lueerne, Cass (Jounty, Indiana, since deceased. i)eing interviewed said: "I was a boy of twenty and went with the caravan as a teamster, driving a four-horse team. Gen. Morgan, of b'ush county, was major tjeneral, and \\ ui I'olke lieutenant. l)r. Jeroloman. of liOgiinsp(»rt. was the physieian in eliarge. The Indians camjied the lirst night on the Tippecanoe river ;iul the third night at Horney'sKun, north of Logansport. The caravan moved in wagons and on foot, the Indian men walking and hunting as they went. The number of wagons was sixty and flie distance made each day was from seven to twenty miles. Stops for the night were made where water was plenty and all slept in tents and wagons. The Indians were well treated by the re- tnoving party and did not suffer for food or \v iter. The caravan went west from Logansport and passed through Sagama town; crossed Sag- am a river, and l who |i;ii| not entered land and settled THE REMOVAL OF THE I'OTTA WATTOM IE IXDIAXS. 47 down to peaceful pursuits, were congregated at South Bend some time in tlie summer of 1851, and conducted from there to the Western reser- vation, also under the direction of Alexis Coquillard. who had been awarded the contract by the government at a price agreed upon, to re- move the Indians. In a report made to the Indian department in 1840, it appears that (Ten H. Brady was instructed by the secretary of war on February 20, 1840, to assume the direction of the emigration of the remainder of the Pottawattomies. A party of 536 set out, and 520 were delivered October 6. 1840, to the sub-agent at the place of their destination, and on October 10, General Brady reported that 430 more had set ou<-, and on the Hrd of November wt-re moving to the southwest. In a letter address'^d to George W. Ewing, of Fort Wayne, who was inteiested with Coquillard and others in the contract for the removal of the Indians, May 19, 1853, the commissioner of Indian affairs reported the number of Pottawattomies and other tribes who emigrated west as follows: YEAR 1833 1833 1834 1835 1830 1837 1837 1838 1838 1840 1840 1851 JN CHARGE OF L. H Sands James Kennedy William (jordon Captain Knssell G. Krrchival G. W. Proffit L H. Sands I S Berry William Polk /General Tipton) A. Coquillard Godfrey and Kerchival A. Cotjuillard and others Total NO. IN PARTY 67 179 199 712 634 53 447 150 756 520 430 039 4792 A lariie number removed themselves not included in the above table. In 1836 upwards of 500 s6 removed of whom no roll was furnished. In 1837 a p;irty of 842 was enrolled and reported to the department which probably included the self emigrants of 183(5. In 1847 a party of between 700 and 800 who were probably not en- rolled, were removed by Alexis Coquillard. No mention is made of the 4b THK I{KM<»VAI. removal \vlii( h my uncle conducted. The caravan start- ed about 11 miles north of I'eru, Indiana, and traveled a little north of west through W'inamac and Ottowa 1 don't remember any of the other points. We traveled about 33 miles per day. There were no deaths or desertions. 'J'he Indians were treated well; were provided with tents and ponies and also had the privilege of riding in the wagons. They liad pliMity of food, such as Hour, bacon, coffee, beans, sugar, molasses, etc. \\ hite flour was used exclusively. Alexis t'o(|uillard, the younger, was business manager, whose duty it was to go in advance to select ( ani|iiii^ places, and warn the people of the towns not to sell li(|Uor to the Indians. Fannie, .\ lexis ('o(|uillard's wife, was the onlv woman in the company." riiAiii.Ks 11. {■'uKNi'ii. South Hend. — "I went with the removal of 1N17, whicdi was uiuler the direction of Alexis Coipiillard. The Indians were collected at Columbia Tity, Huntington, Manchester. South Hend, Peru ami \\ inamac. I lived then in Kosciusko county, where E/.ekiel French, my father joined the party at that jioint. We crossed the Mis- sissippi at iiurlington, and the Missouri about four miles from Inde- pfiidence. We crossed both rivers in tlat-l)Mats. I don't remember anv other points enroute We readied our destination near St. Mary's •Mission, Kansas, about Sej)tember 1st, having l>een on the way about thirty ( ?) days. Tin- Indians were treated well; had i>lenty of substan- tial food; tents to slee|> in if they wanted to, and the privilege of riding in tlie wagons. Only a few had [tonies. as they were rather poor. The Indians went willingly, and there was no loss by death or desertion. The only dilliculty »'Xperienced was in going through towns, where, unless watched, the Indians wcuild secure whiskev. to prevent which the utmost precaution was used. Mrs. ('o(|uillard was the onlv white woman ill t he conipan v." OuKN ,1. Lkntz, South I'.ciid. •• I drove team for Alexis Coc|uillard wlicii he tiM.k tlir linliaiis west in IS.M. We started imin South I'end in .)une with i'orty Indians and got six hundred more about l-'ondulac, Wisconsin; we were about four months on the wav. Our rendezvous was at Theresa, on |'o\ Iviver, aixuit twenty miles above I'ondulac, where I helpeil to 'iiHeit tlir WiMoiisiii Indians. Xo *'orce was used. TTTK RKMOVAI. OF 'l-HI', IM )TT \ W ATTOM I i; INTDIAXS. 41) '' We buried six or seven liuliiuis west of the Missouri U'iver who had died of cholera There were no desertions. They were treated well; had plent}^ to eat, and tents to sleep in, such as wanted them. The route was ten miles north of Madison, Wisconsin. We crossed the Mississippi at Eagle Point, three m>les above Dubuque, on a horse ferry, thence through Iowa City, and crossed the Missouri at Ft. Leavenworth on a rope ferry. We had about half a dozen teams when we left South Bend, and seventy teams when the whole caravan was made up. The Indians had about three hundred ponies of their own. They were per- mitted to ride in the wagons whenever they chose to do so. Samuel L. Cottrell was the captain; John Mack, secretary, and Alexis Co((nillard (younger), commissary. " The ladies of the party were Mrs. Coquillard, Mrs. ("ottrell, Ma- tilda liouseau and Frances (' , Maria, and Clarissa Sancomb. The Co- quillards and Captain Cottrell usually went ahead to secure food, the camping place, and warn the people of the villages not to sell whiskey to the Indians. Frances C. Sancomb became the wife of Francis I). LaSalle, of Fort Wayne, now the widow of Edward Edwards. Maria Sancomb became the first wife of the late ex-county clerk, (ieorge W. Matthews " M. H. Scott, of Danville, TIL, in regard to a removal that occurred in 1837, says: '"The party who removed the Indians consisted of Louis H. Sands, John B. Durett and myself, the superintendent of the removal being Col. A. C. Pepper, of Rising Sun, Indiana, whose head(|uarters were at Logansport. We went from Logansport to the Indian village near South Bend, where we collected them. There were about five hun- dred removed, most of whom were under Chief To-pin-e-bee. We wished to remove Po-ka-gon and his tribe also, but he refused to go, and ob- tained permission from the government to remove his tribe to Saganaw, Michigan. We took the five hundred Imliaus to Chicago. Our instruct- ions were to get them to Kansas if possible; otherwise to ('ouncil Bluft's. At a consultation held in Chicago, two hundred agreed to go to Kansas, and I tpok them there. Sands took the others to Council BlutTs. Several families of half-breeds were removed by us from Chicago. We had no military organization whatever." .")() THK KKMdVM, OF THE I'* »TTA W ATT( iMI K INIHAXS. REMOVAL OF THE MIAWIS. Ill this connection it seems f^ermain to the subject under considera- tion that a pause l)e made here to record brieHy tlie removal of a small hand of Miami Indians from IVru, on the north bank of the Wabash Kivcr in hS4<), by Alexis Coquillard. referred to frequently in the fore- ^oiii^ sketches. The Miamis and I'ottawattomies were closely allied, having li\ cd und intermingled by association and marriage to that extent for a long period of time that they had become by ties of blood, and by habits and tribal customs, practically one tribe in this part of the country. The history of the removal of this band is gathered from a corres- pondence from one of the removing ])arty to the South Bend Register, in October, ISK). then published by the late \'ice-Pr?sident Schuyler Colfax, and for which the writer is indebted to lioii. I). K. beeper, of South l'>ciid. The correspondence is as follows: '•St. Loris, October 21. Ls4(;. I'kiend Colfax: It may not be wholly uninteresting to many of your readers to know something of the progress of the Miami emigration from the \\ abash in Indiana to the country allotted to them by the gov- crmiient on the Osage, near the Missouri Hiver under the direction and imiiHMJiate control of our townsman, Alexis Co(|uillard. truly " the great Indian man " of the West. The history of the gathering and departure of tliH Indians is about this: The time had expired in which they had agreed to remove west under the treaty of 1810. and last spring they were notiKed that a compliance with the stipulation of the treaty must be had. and in a council in .\|tril they agreed in a few weeks to coni- niciicc the work of preparation. An examination of claims against the Indians under the commissioners, selected partly l)y the Indiajis and {)artly by the traders, took place, which detained the matter some six weeks. On the sixth of June they met in council and agreed again, with solemn assurances, that if they could be indulged until the lirst of August, they would t)e all ill readiness and start. This was granted them by their paying halt the expense accruing during that time; but on the Hrst of .August they still remained /// sfafit i/iio, and on the lUth of that iiioiitli liriuly refused to emigrate, giving various reasons, one of wiiicli was that the government should agree to pay tlie (laims allowed l)y the commissioners in money. This the gov»»rnment had refused al- ready with as little ceremony as (Jen. Taylor used in giving Amjmdia until one o'clcck to mmply with bis demaiul of surrender at Monterey. TIIR REMOVAL OF TIIK I'OTTA W .\TT( »M 1 K INIHAXS. 51 This, as had been well enough known before by many, showed the poor Indians were the dupes of a set of corrupt traders who made the Indians believe it would be dishonest to go off without arranging about their debts, and that the president would not use force to compel the execu- tion and fulfillment of the treaty of 1840. The presence of a company of U. S. soldiers, however, very soon realized to the poor Indians (who are chargeable with all the extra expense), the falsity of the assurances of those interested friends, and the truth of their mil ones. They im- mediately consented to go, and in ten days were on their way. They left Peru, Indiana, on the 6th inst. in canal boats by way of the Wabash and Erie and Miami canals; arrived at Cincinnati, where they took steam- boat and reached here yesterday. Tomorrow they will start up the Missouri on the steamer Clermont. The boat from Cincinnati was much delayed by extreme low water. The captain of the Clermont allows more than double the usual time to make the trip up the Missouri for the same reason. The city papers make beautiful work in their reports of the arrival of the emigrating party. One of them gives an interest- ing history of the Miami Indians now here under the direction of ''Mr. Cutran.'" It will no doubt pass through a number of journals as "'an interesting sketch," and its verity scarcely doubted, although fabulous. It would be amusing to see the various manners in which Mr. Coquil- lard's name is written by persons ignorant of the true way. They are as numerous and droll as they used to get up on ('hicago. and which were amusingly going the rounds of the papers. It is " Cutran," " Cut- tan," '"Cartran." etc., etc., never imagining it to be Coquillard. There were ten Indians died on the ))assage. The Indian agent. Major Sinclair, of Ft. Wayne, as su})erintending agent on the part of the government, and Major Edson, also of Ft. Wayne, one of the con- tractors, also accompanied the emigration. Major Sinclair is known as formerly a member of the State legislature. ^'ours truly, •!.'" On November 9, 1840, the same correspondent wrote as follows from the ''Indian t\)untry:" "A trip up the Missouri Kiver at low stage of water is certainly one of the greatest bores that can be perpetrated upon a poor mortal, but when to its usual horrors is added the comfort of being cooped up with 350 lilthy Indians and the usual number of hangers-on, within the lim- its of a small boat, with straw beds, straw pillows, your head against one partition and your feet against another, and all other accommodat- ions in strict accordance therewith, traveling twenty-tive to fort3'-tive miles a day and tying up at night, you may presume that comfort finds no place there. We arrived at Westport Landing with the Miami emigrating Indians on the morning of the first of November, 420 miles by river from St. ~)2 THK KKMoVAf, OF THK I'OTT A \V ATToM I P: INDIANS. Louis, and to tlu' country alloted to tlieni, on the fifth. There were four deaths of Indian diildren after we left St. Louis, and the wonder is that tliere Wfre not many ninre. 'i'he dis|)osition and habits of the Indians wholly unfit them f<»r water emigration, and I am fully satisfied that under no rircumstanres can an Indian he sr> cunifortaMe in the white man's boat as upon his nujther earth, and in his native forest or jirairie. The country frtun Kansas (called Westport Landing at the mouth of the Kansas river) to '.his place, nlxuit hfty-five miles directly south, is as liandsoiue, and, I doubt not. as fertile as can be found anywhere. It is nearly all a rich, rolling, well-watered prairie. There i-; sufficient tim- ber, in connection with coal, for fences and fuel. The Miamis are at their new homes, well ti.ved, well satisfied, and but for the two great curses — traders and whiskey — they might be a happy people. Their land is excellent— plenty of ]irairie timber, water and stone; good game, fish and wild fruit. Yours. .1." What W. W. Hill Remembers of the Miami Removal. W'li.i.iAM \W . llii.i,. now and for many years ])ast a citi/.en of Plym- outh, was, at the time of the removal above noted, a resident of Miami county and was present at the time the Indians were being congregated, and was there the day they started. He says there was some dissatis- faction among the Indians in regard to the adjustment of their accounts, and they determined not to g'l until a satisfactory settlement was made. Thereupon the government sent a company of soldiers from Newport barracks, near Cincinnati, whose presence soon satisfied the Indians that the only course left was for them to arrange to go ])eaceal)ly. The soldiers renuiined until the Indians were started on their long journey, wMien they returned to the liarracks at Newport. The Indians, .Mr. Hill says, were loaded on canal boats ami taken east on the \\ abash ami Erie canal to the intersection of the canal running south through Celina, Ohio, thence to Cincinnati, and there shipped i)y boat down the Oliio river. Mr. Hill was well ac(|uainted with many of the tril>e. and in the early times talked fluently the language of the Miami^;. He was espec- ially w<'ll ac(|iiaint"i| with (Jabriel Oodfroy. the last lineal descendent of the .Miamis, still living near I'er\i. They are about the same age. and were |)layfellows together for many years during their boyhood days. (Jodfroy ami his band, he says, retaim^d their reservation, settled down to |)ea(eful persuits. and have got on in the world as well as their white liretnren. (inhricl Oodfroy, the /Miami Chief. (i viMUKi, (JoMi'uoY, since tiie recent death of l'okagon,is the most dis- tinguished Indian in the imrtliwest. According to a recent corresjiond- THE UEMOVAI, OF THK l'()TTA\\'!\TT()M I E INDIANS. 'h\ ent, iiltliough more tliai) three score of years of age, he is still a hue specimen of niaiihood. He is short and stont, has a piercing black eye, a quick step and is well educated. A heavy growth of snow-white hair covers his head and hangs to his shoulders, and together with his swarthy countenance it produces a very picturesque appearance. Chief Godfroy, as he is more familiarly known about home, owns one of the finest farms in northern Indiana, and as he looks after it himself it is cared for in the most successful manner. Surrounding him at honie is his wife and several small children, the youngest not more than a year old. In the neighborhood are hundreds of Miami Indians, who very frequently look to Chief Godfroy for all kinds of ad- vice and assistance. It is said without any exception he is guardian for more persons than any individual in the north central states. Chief Godfroy has tried to trace his ancestors, but he failed to as- certain much concerning them. However, he has learned that his grandfather was a white man and was captured by the Suwanee Indi- ans near Louisville, Ky., when he was but seven years of age. The ))oy grew up among the red-skins and became one of the most skillful traders of the tribe. He was the interpreter at the treaty of Green- ville. He chose for a wife a woman who was half French but she be- longed to the Miami tribe. To them were born many children, and at a ripe old age the father died near the place where he was captured when a boy. The mother and her children moved to Ft. Wayne to live among her people, and while there one of her daughters married Fran- cis Godfroy, a Miami chief, whose father was a full-blooded Frenchman. Only a few children resulted from this union, and one of them was Gabriel Godfroy, the subject of this sketch. 54 THK HKMOV.M. OF TH K I'OTTA W ATTd.M IK IN1»IAXS. rilF. HIVER STYX. Alt»»r the rt'iiiuval of tlie Indians, Jerry Smith was sent out Ijy tlie government to survey tlie hinds in Northern Indiana secured by the various treaties tr'Uu the Pottawat tomii- Indians. The Menominee, Aulienaulje, Naswaugee and other reserves in Marshall county, and the Kankakee reservations in Lal'orte, Starke, Pulaski, Porter and Lake counties on the west, were ail surveyed and properly laid oil' into sect- ions and smaller divisions by him. Jle was an educated man, well read in ancient literature and the classics, and, l)esides, had a large vein of humor running through his mental organization. Those who werr familiar with the Kankakee swamjts in the region of the mouth of Yel- low Piver will appreciate the folhjwing introduction by .lerry Smith to the report of his survey of this part of the lauds ceded to the govern- ment l)y the Pottawattomie Indians. He says: "That the h'iver Styx is a fabled stream and that it never existed except in tlu' Krain of ancient poets and [»riests is a proposition which 1 am now fully pre|)ared todeuy and disprove; that Tiiaron everexisted, ever kept a boat and ferry iaiuliiig: that the dreary region of wliidi ancient poels speak and through wliicii tlie souls of the unburied wan- dered for one hundred years l)efore his niMJesty of the frail bark would give them passage, and that the Elysian iieids. where the souls of the just reveled in never-ending scenes of jijeasure and ilelight. are iuiag- inarv regions, are e(|ually false. "The Kankakee, as it slops over Indiana and ea«;tern Illinois, is the ancient .\rtdieron. and flnglish lake is the Stygian )iool. at the head of which, near the line Ijetween ranges o and 4, still remain imli>putable evidence of Charon's existence, of the identical spot where he so often landed his boat and loolv on board the souls of the departed, and last, liut most of all, as a precious relic of anti((uity which wnuld make even an ordinary auti(|uarian leap with ecstasy of jov, the verv |)addle of the old gentleman is in existence. "The dreiiry regir smils have wamlered their (Mk- Ii ii ndred years ami, in fact, as the use of the magnetic needle was ncd then known, I am not surprised at it taking a pttor man so long to get out of that place wlieu he was diu'e I'.iirly set into it without cIANS. THE POTTAWATTOMIE INDIANS IN COURSE OF ULTIMATE EXTINCTION. By an act approved ''uly .21, 1852, Cong:ress appro|»rif men and wnmeu (d' high social standing; wlmse forefathers THE REMOVAL OV THE I'OTTA WATTOMIE INDIANS. 57 on one side were full blooded so-called savages, and yet the society in which they move, and in many cases they themselves, are ignorant of the fact. All white people are not ashamed of Indian blood; in fact, a few are proud of it. "T do not wish it to be understood that 1 advocate or desire the amal- gamation of our people with the white race. But I speak of it as an event that is almost certain, and we had much better rock with the boat that bears us on, than fight against the inevitable. I am frequently asked: '" Pokagon, do you believe that the white man and the red man were originally of one blood? ' " My reply has been: I do not know, but from the present outlook they will be. " The index finger of the past and present is pointing to the future, showing most conclusively that by the middle of the next century, all Indian reservations will have passed away. Then our people will begin to scatter, and the result will be a general mixing of the races. By in- termarriage, the blood of our people, like the waters that How into the great ocean, will be forever lost in that of the dominant race, and gen- erations yet unborn will read in history of the red men of the forest, and inquire, ' Where are they? ' " r>y THK KKM(»\M. oK Till-: I'nT TA \V \TT(»M I E *! N Dl A N'S. THE GOVERNMENT'S INDIAN POLICY. ill liis annual message to coni're.'-s on l)H(einl»er 3, lbi{h, I'resid.Mit \ an Uiiren, upon cont^ratulatiiif^ tlie country on the successful removal of tlic Indians to tlic Wcsti-rn reservation, took occasion to set forth exjilicitly tlie policy lont^ estahlished in regard to Indian affairs, for the j»urj>ose of exonerating the government of the United States from the undeserved re{)roach \\ hi( h had heen cast upon it through several suc- cessive administrations. His elucidation of the subject, succinctly and fairly stating the uniform policy of the government, is deemed a fitting conclusion to this narrative. This pcjlicy never contemplated the use of force in the removal of the Indians, and it is to be regretted that the (iovernor of Indiana deemed it necessary to use soldiers in removing the Pottawattomies from Marshall county, the only case of the kiiul, so far as is known, m the entire history of our perjdexing Indian alTairs. I'resident \'an Hnren said: '■ That a mixed occupancy of the same territory Ity the white and red man is incomjjatihle with the safety or haj)))iness of either, is a po- sition in respect to which there has long since ceased to he room for difference of opinion, lieason and experience have alike demonstrated its ini])racticalnlity. The hitter fruits of every attempt heretofore to overtM)nie the harriers interposed hy nature have onlv been destructive. liotli physically and mor'illy, to the Indian; dangerous coiiHicts of authority between the federal and state governments, and detrimental to the individual prosperity of th(> citizen, as well as to the general im- provement of the country. 'I'lie reiuedial policv, the principles of which Were settled more than thirty years ago under the administration of Mr. JeiTerson, consists of an extinction, for a fair consideration, of the titles to all the lands still occupied bv the Indians within the states and ter- ritories of the I'nited States, their removal to a country west of the Mississippi much more extensive and betti^ adapted to their condition than tiiat in which they then resided; the guarantee to them l)\ the I iiited States of their exclusive possession of that country forever, ex- em|)l from all intrusions bv wliite men, with ample provision against external violence ami internal dissent ioii^. mid the extension to them of suitable facilities for their advancement in civilization. 'Ihis has not Iteeii the policy of particular administrations only, l)ut of each in suc- cession, since the lirst attempt to rarry it out under that ol Mr. .Mmiroe. All have labored fnr its acconiplishiiieiit. onlv with ilitl'erent success. R D 1.48 THE RKMOVAl, OF THK I'OTTA W \ TTOM I K IXDI.WS. 59 The manner ol its execution has. it is true, from time to time given rise to conflicts of opinion and unjust imputation; but in respect to the wis- dom and necessity of tlie policy itself, there has not from the beginning existed a doubt in the mind of any calm, judicious, disinterested friend of the Indian race accustomed to ref1 'b V'' 'bV" ,'^'^. ^0 ,0 %> o •7- sV .^ xV^ •^ c» vO' V* »!.: >5 y ■» '^ )• -U <> ■ 0^ 0^ *l'f' ^ ^^•^^. ^ '^^. '•:-:-:'v-':5;:-:-vY ^-o^^^' .V^. " ^^% \<^' •^^: \-/ •#& %.^' •^^^"- 0" "b^. lV^. ^•^ v" "o V" ^^'^'^. 'o . . " .A. DOBBS BROS. c ° " ° « -^ -iv^ / uaK??snJSwa /^^<, -^ _^c" .^:f^^^ ^.,. ^-.^'^ ,-^^^\ GT. AUGUSTINE ,^ c '-^ti^-^.