Preble County, Ohio - Chapter 3: Indian Occupation, 1881

Chapter 3: Indian Occupation

'THE principal tribes of Indians within the bounds of Ohio at the earliest period at which definite knowledge was received regarding them, were the Wyandots, called by the French Hurons, the Mingoes, an offshoot from the Iroquois, the Ottawas or Tawas, the Chippewas, Delawares, the Miamis, and the Shawmees. "The Wyandots occupied the country about the Sandusky river; the Delawares the valleys of the Tuscarawas and Muskingm3 um, and the Upper Scioto; and the Miamis the valleys of the two rivers that bear their name with the country between. 'The Shawnees had the greatest strength upon the Scioto at the earliest period that the whites went among them, and afterward were most numerous upon the Great and Little Miami. The Mingoes were in greatest numbers on the Ohio river, about Mingo bottom, below Steubenville, and also on the Scioto. The Ottawas had their headquarters in the valleys of the Maumee and Sahdusky, and the Chippewas were confined principally to the south shore of Lake Erie. All of the tribes, however, frequented more or less, lands lying outside of their regular divisions of territory, and at different periods their locations varied. Different tribes commingled, too, to some extent.

The Wyandots, according to the best authorities upon aboriginal occupation, were among the earliest red men who dwelt within the territory now included in Ohio. Then came the De/awares, who claimed to be the elder branch of the Zenwz-Lenape, and called themselves the grancfathers of the kindred tribes, recognizing only the priority and superiority of the Wyandots. This division has been awarded a high rank by nearly all writers upon the Indians. The Ostawas dwelt originally upon the banks of the. Canadian river, remaining there until driven away by the /roguois; they were then scattered through Canada and Ohio, along the shores of Lake Erie.

As a rule the Ohio Indians were fine specimens of their race - none were superior to the Shawnees and Miamis, between which tribes there existed a long-abiding and warm fecling of friendship. Little Turtle and Tecumseh were the representative chiefs of these tribes, the former of the Miamis and the latter of

According to the best traditional authorities the dominion of the Miami confederacy extended for a long period of time over that part of the State of Ohio which lies west of the Scioto river, over the whole of Indiana, the southern part of Michigan and over a large portion of the territory now included in Illinois. 'The large territory claimed by the Miamis may be regarded as some evidence of the high degree of importance which they maintained as a nation among the Indian tribes of the northwest. The Miami nation or confederacy was composed of four tribes, viz: The Zzghhwees or Miamis proper, the Weas or Quiatenous, Pinkeshaws and Shockeys. The Miamis proper dwelt where knowledge was first obtained concerning them, almost entirely in the territory now included in southwestern Ohio and southeastern and eastern Indiana. This division was the largest and most powerful one in the confederacy. In the year 1765 the number of the warriors of this tribe was estimated at one thousand and fifty.

They were dwelling at that time in small villages. upon the Scioto, the Miami, the Maumee, on the St. Joseph, of Lake Michigan, and upon the Wabash and its tributaries. Branches of the Shawnees, Delawares, Pottawatomies, and other tribes were at various periods permitted to enter and reside at various places within the boundaries of the large territory claimed by the Indians, and hence the presence of the Shawmees in. great numbers upon the headwaters of the Miamis. 'The Skawnees were the strongest and truest allies of the 5, They were intimately associated for a long period, and in each of the later Indian wars on the soil of Ohio, those of St. Clair and Wayne, as well as in the war of 1812, they bore together the brunt of the struggle. Although thereis considerable conflicting testimony in regard to the early history of the Shawmees, it is generally concluded that they separated from the other Lenape tribes and led for many years a nomadic life in the south, the main body of them finally pushing northward, and encouraged by the Miamis, crossing the Ohio and locating in the Scioto country. Here they lived until dispersed by the conquering in 1672, when they again became scattered wanderers.

Returning in 1740, or soon after, a reunited race, they again took up their residence in the Scioto.valley and contiguous territory, the De/awares - for that tribe was then occupying the valley - allowing them to take peaceable possession. From the Scioto country they gradually passed westward to the Miami, attracted on the one hand by their old time friends and repelled upon the other by the frequent incursions of the whites, and finally by the advancement of civilization.

The Shawmees like the Miamis were divided into four tribes - the Pigua, Kiskopocke, Mequachuke and Chillicothe. Owing to their extensive wanderings this nation has been designated "the Bedouins of the American Wilderness," - a term which is certainly not inappropriate when we consider that of all the tribes of the northwest this was the most nomadic in its habits (and indeed, has continued so down to the present time). The Shawmnees were implacable enemies of the whites. They were fine specimens of physical manhood, and this fact coupled with their constancy in braving danger and stoicism in enduring the consequences of defeat won for them the appellation "Spartans of the Race." The Miamis were not behind them in powers or other admirable elements of Indian character. To the former nation, however, belonged Tecumseh, who undoubtedly exerted a wider influence than any warrior among the western Indians. "The Little Turtle" of the 5 was much like the great Shawnee chief, excellent both as battle leader and in the councils of peace ; but students of Indian character have united in giving him a lower rank than 'Tecumseh.

Preble county appeared to have been neutral ground for several tribes in the latter years of the eighteenth century. As has been shown, it was within the domain of the Miamis, but so far as is known they never had a village of any importance within it, and, for that matter, neither did the Shawmnees or any other tribe. Most of the Indians who traversed this portion of territory were Miamis, Shawnees, and Delawares, but it also served asa hunting ground for small parties of Wyandots, Mingoes, and other tribes. Well defined paths traversed the lands of Preble county, from' the White waters to the Miamis, and in many places their trails could be easily distinguished several years after the white settlers came into the country. The last time that Indians were known to have camped within the limits of the county was in the winter of 1813-14. Five families of Delawares were located for nearly the whole of that season on section sixteen of Dixon township, on Four Mile creek, south of the Concord road. They were friendly to the whites and their presence was liked by them. They' were looked upon as a safeguard against hostile Indians, who at that time were known to be skulking through. the country.

Little Turtle, The War Chief Of-The Miamis

This celebrated chief, who was known in his tribe and to the Indians of the Western Confederacy as Meshekeuoghqua, has been mentioned several times in. this chapter, and as his name will occur in the chapter following, upon St. Clair's campaign and Wayne's war, we take advantage of this opportunity to present the reader with such facts as are known concerning him. He led the Indians in that terrible battle known as the St. Clair defeat, and doubtless would have commanded the allied tribes who met Wayne had he not counseled peace. He is known to have been the chief of the party who attacked Adair at Fort St. Clair in 1792, and it is supposed i that he led the company against which the brave Lieutenant Lowery made the gallant but forlorn fight near the Forty-foot pitch. Little Turtle lived many years after the wars in which he took so prominent a part, and was held in high esteem by many eminent men who became acquainted with him. When the famous traveler and philosopher, Volney, was in America, in 1797, Little Turtle went to Philadelphia, and the great scholar immediately sought acquaintance with the savage. Little Turtle had become convinced that opposition to the whites was useless, and used all of his influence over his nation to secure peace and the adoption of agricultural pursuits. It was to further this end that he went to Philadelphia. His errand was to solicit Congress and the Society of Friends for assistance to carry out his cherished plan, and to make his people an agricultural community. Schoolcraft says of this chief: "He was at once courageous and humane. There have been few individuals among the aboriginees who have done so much to abolish the rights of human sacrifice." On the approach of the war of 1812 Little Turtle communicated with William Henry Harrison, then governor of Indiana, expressing his willingness to aid the United States and asserting the friendship of his people. He afterward rendered important service. This celebrated chief is buried at Fort Wayne.