Putnam County, Ohio - Chapter 3: Indians in Putnam County, 1915

Indian Mounds

The artificial mounds in Putnam county are few in number and much smaller than those in the counties in the southern part of the state, where such mounds are numerous, large in circumference and much greater in height. In fact, throughout the northern part of the state there are no mounds of great altitude. The reason of this may be explained by the fact that the surface of the ground is level and the purposes for which the mounds were built did not exist to an extent requiring greater height in their construction. While this difference exists between the northern and southern parts of this state, there are many features connected with them which are very similar in the matter of construction, location and the contents unearthed by excavation. In this county only five of these mounds are known to be in existence and in investigating the contents, obtained by tunneling and digging to their base, the same features are demonstrated as have characterized such investigations of many of the larger and smaller mounds in the southern half of the state. Here, as well as in southern Ohio, the mounds were not all constructed of the same soil as immediately surrounds them. The soil constituting the interior of these mounds is usually of an alluvial nature and was in some manner conveyed to the place at which the mound was erected. In some instances the soil used was the same as only to be found a thousand feet from the mound. The inside of these mounds was usually constructed of sand and loam, while the outside was covered with clay to the depth of nearly two feet. This clay was so impervious to frost and water that the elements, for ages, have made but little impression on the clay soil. In tunneling these mounds the same features existed in all of them. In the center of each mound, about eighteen inches deeper than the surrounding surface of the ground, there was found charred wood, fragments of calcined stone and bones of animals, all of which had been subject to fire upon being placed there. In no instance were human bones found in the mounds at this depth below what is now the natural surface of the ground surrounding. The only perceptible rise of the ground for several feet from these mounds may be attributed to the natural wash of rains following the frozen and thawing conditions of the soil. The fact of finding charred wood, animal bones, etc., at such a depth below the surrounding surface may also be explained lay the accumulation of soil for ages past. The finding of charred wood, bones, etc., in the center, may be explained by the supposition that, before constructed, a sacrifice or burned offering was a part of a ceremony connected with their building. Another feature connected with these mounds is that in the vicinity where they exist many pieces of broken pottery, arrow heads, stone axes, etc., have been found, and nearly every year now the earth gives up many such things.

Numerous theories have been advanced in regard to these artificial mounds - who built them, for what purposes were they built and as to the period of time at which they were built, but these questions yet remain as a sealed book and may never be satisfactorily answered. While it is conceded that the race of people who constructed these mounds were numerous, intelligent and industrious, yet where these people came from and the time of their activities on earth are also unsolved questions.

If these mounds were built in commemoration of religious events, then their builders were a people who had a religion. If they were built, as some writers claim, for military purposes, then their builders were warriors. If for the latter purpose, then who were the foes they were protecting themselves against? At what period of time did they occupy this portion of the earth or at what time they disappeared from it, no historian has yet attempted to fix, but students who have given the matter consideration agree that the period of time was after the Glacial period or Ice Age. The riddle of the Sphinx still remains unsolved, so does that of the artificial mounds, which exist in about every state of our Union, and in almost every county of Ohio.

While these mounds are commonly designated as "Indian mounds," there is nothing to confirm such designation. It is well known that our American Indians, as a class of people, were indolent and lazy and would never do manual labor except by compulsion, and that they possibly never deviated from their habits in this respect by carrying the dirt from the distance required.

Many writers have expressed opinions about the builders of these mounds, and plausible theories have been advanced, yet these theories are but conjectures and unsustained by absolute facts. Some writers claim that the people who built them came from southern countries, and that at one tiine they were inhabitants of Phoenicia, and worked their way northward. Other writers, in trying to explain the disappearance of these people from this country, state that they were destroyed or driven from here by a race of Asiatic Indians, who came to this country by the way of Bering Strait. It is also stated by writers on the subject that when this continent was first discovered the Indians were its only inhabitants and that these Indians had no tradition as to any other people or any wars with any other race of people. But, as we are not an archaeologist, we will not attempt to solve such problems. Yet, in time to come, research by students of the question may result in something tangible in regard to the matter.

Of the five artificial mounds that existed in Putnam county, but one or two now remain, the others having been leveled to the earth by the encroachment of agriculture or for the construction of roads and other purposes for the benefit of mankind today. The artificial mounds of Putnam county - were located as follows : The largest one in Perry township, which was possibly fifteen feet high and fifty feet in diameter, but now only about eight feet high. One mile north of this mound was another, located on the banks of the Auglaize river. Scarcely a trace of this mound now exists, nearly all of it being washed away by the encroachment of the river. The third mound was on the Blanchard river, in Greensburg township. Another was on Hog creek, in Union township. Another was located a mile east of Ottawa on what is now the Powell farm. This latter mound is now almost obliterated.

Axes And Arrow Heads

In the vicinity of all these mounds, broken pottery, stone axes, arrow heads, etc., are still to be found. The arrow heads are of different colors of flint and of various sizes, from an inch and a half to six inches in length and of geometrical proportions. The stone axes are also of different sizes and of different stone. While nearly all varieties of stone are in evidenpe, that of limestone does not exist. The shapes of these axes indicate skill in their formation and knowledge of proportion. That the stone was put through a process of hardening or tempering we have no doubt, as in our boyhood days, in southwestern Ohio, we frequently visited a spot of ground upon which were a mass of pieces of stone blocked in shapes and sizes, the locality being no doubt a place where this process was practiced. As to the arrow heads, the manner of their construction has not yet been re-discovered. -Several theories have been presented, yet, on trying to work them out, they have all proved a failure. The problem still remains to be solved. Whileall these axes are commonly called "Indian axes," the term is a misnomer, so far as the masses of those found is concerned. The only kind of an axe that the Indians were ever known to have made is one made out of blueclay and dried in the air. It is but a crude imitation of the real storte axeand is deficient in proportion and finish and a poor imitation of the real stone axe.

Prior to the year 1763, the Indians had peaceable possession of the lands in this part of Ohio, under the claims of France. During the year 1763, France ceded all its rights to the British government. In 1774, Great Britain, by its Parliament, passed an act declaring ownership of all the territory as far south as the Ohio river, and attached the territory to the province of Quebec.

Great Britain maintained its right to the territory for a period of twenty years, when, in 1783, by the treaty of Paris, it surrendered all claims and the territory became a part of the United States.

The Ottawa Reservation

By a treaty consummated by our government on September 29, 1777, at "The Foot of the Rapids of the Maumee of the Lakes," the Ottawa Reservation was ceded to the Indians. This treaty stipulates that "Thereshall be reserved for the use of Ottawa Indians, but not granted to them, a tract of land on Blanchard's fork, of the Great Auglaize river, to contain five scjuare miles, the center of which tract is to be where the old trace crosses the said fork," and "one other tract to contain three square miles, on. the Little Auglaize, to include Oc-que-nox-ie village." The reservation given to Oc-que-nox-ie was where the village of Charloe is now located in Paulding county.

The Ottawa Indians were permitted to occupy these reservations until the year 1833, when the United States bought them from the Indians. In the year 1833 our government placed on sale the lands constituting the reservation. The sale was made at Wapakoneta in the fall of that year.

Thus, after occupying the lands, under the United States government, for a period of nineteen years, and possibly for over a hundred years previously by right of possession, the last ownership of the lands by the Indiansexpired.

During the pending of the treaty granting this reservation there was much contention among tlie Indians as to whether they would accept the terms of the treaty, claiming that the five square miles did not contain enough land. The advocates of accepting the treaty and those opposing were about equally divided and much bad blood was engendered over the matter. So bitter had the strife become that frecjuent murders occurred among those favoring and those opposing the treaty. Yet the matter was eventually settled and peace reigned during the after years so long as they occupied the reservation. Many of the chiefs of the tribes located throughout this part of the state were' opposed to the provisions of the treaty and only about three hundred of the great number of Ottawa Indians attended the great meeting at which this and other treaties were made at that time. One of the most bitter opponents of the treaty was Oc-que-nox-ie, yet, as he succeeded in getting a reservation of his own, he finally accepted the conditions of the treaty and peace prevailed afterward.

After the purchase of the lands by our government, in 1833, the Indians remained here until about the year 1835-6, when nearly all of them were deported to their new reservation in Missouri, now a part of Kansas- A few stragglers, however, remained here and in the vicinity of Fort Jennings as late as 1839, when the last red man disappeared from Putnam county.

They were unfortunate after leaving their village here. On their way to their new reservation, an epidemic of small-pox visited them and a large number of the tribe died from the disease.

The worst enemy that the Indians had while occupying their Ottawareservation, was the "fire water" furnished them by traders, who were the worst species of the "boot-legger," and who were the cause of most of the crime that prevailed among the red men at that period. The disease of small-pox was also a great foe among them. It is said that every winter itprevailed among them and caused a great many deaths ; in fact, nearly all the deaths by disease were from this cause.

The Ottawa Indians were loath to leave their reservation here. It was an ideal place for making maple sugar, fish were plenty in the river and the territory abounded in game. Ten years after their departure a few of the braves visited this place and remained here for a number of days looking over the land which for so long had been their "happy hunting grounds."

During their occupancy of this reservation, these Indians recognized Pe-ton-i-quet as their chief, yet, in their conversations with the first white settlers, they invariably spoke of him as their "half-chief." On being interrogaiied as to why they called him their "half-chief," their answer was that

Pe-ton-i-quet had a twin-brother who was a chief, and, as the twin brother had been killed, Pe-ton-i-quet could only be a "half-chief" and not a "fullchief." This was the only reason given by them for their designation. However, all mention of Pe-ton-i-quet by the white men who came here from 1833 to 1836 was favorable to him and all these pioneers agreed upon the fact that he was sober in his habits, honest in his dealings and kind in disposition.

The Tauwas Indian Village

The original name of the Indian village located on this reservation was spelled Tauwas, and it so appears in the earliest histories of this part of the state. The name of the village was called Tawa by the early settlers. It is now a part of the town of Ottawa. The village of the Tauwas is known to have been in existence as far back as the year 1750, and was visited by the French missionaries and fur traders from that period as late as 1812, and, in fact, until the year 1832. The village was located on the Indian trace from Wapakoneta to the foot of the Rapids on the Maumee river. This trace crossed the Blanchard river at a point where the river bridge, on the road to Columbus Grove, now stands. The village was supposed to be on this trace and the center of the reservation of five miles square. The village, as it existed in 1830, embraced the territory now north of the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western railroad, west of the Chicago, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, north as far as the Defiance pike and west to the river. The most pretentious cabin at that time was the council house, constructed of logs and located on what is now Walnut street, on the west side of the street a short distance beyond Tawa run. The trading cabin of Deardorf & Freede, fur traders, was the next cabin of large size. It was located on the rear of the lot now occupied by Mrs. James Ford, and was used by the early French missionaries in which to hold religious services. A crude altar occupied the east part of the building, and at a window in the east end of which, for years, a lamp was kept burning at all hours. This building was designated as "the light house" by persons traveling the trail from east to west. The Indians had "brushed" about five acres of land, in the river bottom immediately west of their village, which they used to raise corn. This cornfield, with another acre, on what is now the Powell farm, was about all the land they cultivated. During the occupancy of the village two or three families of Indians lived on what is now the Powell farm and an Indian burying ^ground was also on the farm.

fur traders, to whom the Indians sold their furs for a mere pittance. For years previous to their departure, Pe-ton-i-quet was the only "store-keeper" in the village. His stock in trade consisted of powder, lead, fish-hooks and lines, together with a stock of beads.

Fair Treatment By The Government

In our examination of the various treaties made by our government with the Indians who occupied this part of Ohio, we are impressed with the truth -that our government in every instance acted in good faith with the Indians. They paid them a big price for their lands, under existing circumstances, and gave them big annuities in money and large tracts of land for Avhat the government received. If "Lo the poor Indian" was ever cheated or robbed, it was by the individual "pale-face" and not by our government.

From time to time during the past forty years many skeletons of Indians have been unearthed in various parts of Putnam county, in taking gravel and earth from the various moraines which traverse this county. While a majority of these skeletons are found buried in the usual manner, some differ in this respect. In two or three instances, the bodies unearthed have been found to have been buried in a sitting posture, with face toward the east and with a piece of ancient pottery placed upon the top of the head and various trinkets made of stone and copper placed upon the thigh bones of the bodies. The skeletons of the three found showed that they were of larger proportions than those buried differently. The query presents itself as to whether these few skeletons were those of Indians or of a race -of people which preceded them. These three skeletons were found near where an artificial mound exists, and where many fragments of pottery have been found.

While the skeletons of Indians have frequently been found in the various moraines, it is evident that they had no regular burying grounds in this county prior to at least the year 1750. From this date regular burying grounds are known to have been in existence here, the fact being established by silver ornaments made prior to that date being found in the old Indian burying ground in Ottawa.

The best known and largest burying ground of the Indians in Putnam county, is that of the Ottawas, and especially that of the tribe which made this their abiding place for possibly a century of time, or up to the year 1836. The territory embraced in this ancient burying ground is located south of what is now known as Second street, between the old armory building and the Cincinnati, Hamilton &. Dayton railroad, and further south to the old bed of the river.

Another burying ground, probably used prior to the one at Ottawa, was on the Powell farm, a mile east of this place, yet the number of Indians buried there is but small in comparison to those buried at Ottawa, as the latter was used until the departure of the Indians from this county.

In digging trenches and in the cultivation of this latter burying ground several skeletons have been unearthed, and in two instances silver ornaments and brooches have been found. A number of years ago, in making a garden, Reverend Miller unearthed a skeleton, on the head of which was a large and beautiful silver crown, upon which was artistically engraved a picture of a deer and buffalo, together with etchings, showing a high state of the engraver's art. Recently a couple of skeletons were unearthed, and upon one was found a silver ornament, in the shape of a saucer. On this ornament was engraved a deer, and the figure also showed a high state of art. At the same time a perfect skull of an Indian was found. The skull was very large, well proportioned and typical of the early Indian.

The ornaments here mentioned were undoubtedly made in France, during the French occupancy of this territory, prior to the Indian-French war against Great Britain in the year 1756. At that period of time the French and Indians were close friends, and quite a number of Frenchmen lived with the Indians, sympathized with them and gave them many presents. It is stated in history that during the same period they were frequently visited by Jesuit missionaries, sent from France to this country, and who did great work in Christianizing and civilizing the Indians for years afterward. In fact, these missionaries and French fur traders were frequent visitors here up to the time our government came in control of this part of the country.

As the finding of these silver ornaments was accidental, these burying grounds no doubt contain a great many more such ornaments, which may some day be brought to light.

The last Indian who made his home in Tawa village was buried here in the year 1835. One was buried near Ft. Jennings, this county, as late as the year 1838-9.

brooch is found. Dwelling houses have been erected and time, to all outside appearances, has obliterated every vestige showing that it was once the burial place of members of a great nation of people of whom Pontiac was a great chief.

W^ill the time ever come when another race of people can thus write of the burial place of those who now occupy the territory once an abiding place the Ottawa Indians?

The Ottawa Indian Reservation And Tawa Village

While the Maumee valley was the scene of many stirring events over 3. century ago, and while the many histories of the state are prolific in reference to the most important of these events, there are many incidents of lesser importance, pertaining to immediate vicinities, which interest those who now have an abode in the particular vicinity in which the events occurred. This is especially true with the descendants of the early pioneers whose ancestors were familiar with the local events, either by participation in or by traditions obtained from the remnant of a great tribe of red men, who at the time were occupants, if not owners, of the country now possessed by the white man.

On the 29th day of September, 1817, our government, through its commissioners, Gen. Lewis Cass and Gen. Duncan McArthur, negotiated a treaty with the remnant of the Ottawa tribes m this part of the country. This treaty, in article six, stipulates that "there shall also be reserved for the use ' of the Ottawa Indians, but not granted to them, a tract of land on Blanchard's fork of the great Auglaize river, to contain five miles square, the center of which tract is to be where the old trail crosses the said fork, and one other tract to contain three miles scjuare on the little Auglaize river, to include Ockquenoxy's village."

As usual, this seemingly generous gift to the "noble red man" had a "string" to it and he could only possess the broad acres for such a time as the government might decree. The more intelligent of the Indians, of course, did not like the treaty, but as they rendered but little or no service to our government during the War of 1812, they were not in position to ask more, and therefore sullenly acquiesced in the treaty.

Prior to 1812, Tawa village consisted of some twenty-five "shacks" or cabins, very few of which possessed the dignity of a cabin, the most being constructed of a few poles set in the ground and covered with bark. This Tillage was located on both banks of Tawa run and extended from the Gin- cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad to the mouth of the run. These, with a few "shacks" located near what is now known as "Gypsy Lane," constituted the abode of all the Ottawa Indians in this immediate vicinity.

During the period from 1812 to 181 7, we cannot furnish the names of the chiefs who headed the tribe, but have been informed that there were several and that considerable jealousy existed among them in regard to this matter, and that two of the chiefs were killed by members of their own tribe on account of these jealousies.

When Colonel HoUister, as commissioner, deported the remnants of all the tribes, it was difficult to get them to go to their new home, now in Franklin county, Kansas. Some forty of those located here and on the Auglaize refused to go, among whom were Pe-ton-i-quet, Tom Kinzie Mino, Black /onathan and the vagabond, Tom. However, these, with the remainder of the forty, were, a year or two afterward, gathered together and taken to their new reservation beyond 'the Mississippi, so that in the year 1840 not a single man of the tribe was to be found within the confines of this county.

Other Indians of the Ottawa tribe, under the chiefs No-wah, Ockquenoxy, Charloe, Ottaca, also disappeared from this part of the state, and this was the "last of the Ottawas" so far as northwestern Ohio is concerned. Among these chiefs, Ockquenoxy was possibly the greatest warrior. He was brave, and as cruel as he was brave, and dissipation in the end made him a very bad Indian. He was hard to conciliate, and it took three miles square of very good land to square him with the government. About the year 1827 he killed his son-in-law and grandson, for which crime he was tried by a council of chiefs and sentenced to be beheaded. However, instead of carrying out this sentence, one of deposition was substituted.

Fort Jennings

In 1812-13, during the war of this period, General Harrison erected a fort on the .Vuglaize river and named it Ft. Jennings, in honor of Colonel Jennings. The location of this fort is where the village of Ft. Jennings now stands. It was established as a base for supplies and as intermediate between Ft. Recovery and Ft. Defiance. Colonel Jennings, with three regiments of militia, was stationed for some time at the fort awaiting the arri\'al of troops who were detained by high water. While there, detachments from the regiments were sent down the Auglaize and up the Blanchard and Flog creek, to ascertain the situation among the Indians, the Ottawas not being regarded as very friendly to our government.

On one of these expeditions a detachment of mihtia came to Tawa village and camped on the south bank of the river, where the ice house of Mr. Myers is now located. The militia remained for about a week, and while there, burned the village, the Indians having left, taking with them all the camp equipage they could conveniently carry, hiding the remainder and burying their grain before leaving. The troops also destroyed the "shacks" east of Ottawa, on the Agner farm.

At the close of the war the Indians again made Tawa village their home. They built a number of "shacks" and several cabins. They were here but a short portion of their time, being frequently away on hunting expeditions. For a number of years they led a dissolute life and did nothing in particular to attract more than passing notice.

About the year 1816-17, they selected Pe-ton-i-quet as their chief. Peton-i-quet was not a full-blooded Indian, his father being a Frenchman and his mother an Ottawa squaw. In intelligence he was far ahead of his tribe, the greater part of which were not a very high type of even the red man. He was a man of integrity, an honest trader and humane in his relations with the Indian and white man, both of whom had confidence in his honesty.

From 181 7 to the time when the tribes were deported to Kansas, they lived a dissolute life. "Fire water" had been introduced among them to such an extent that dissipation had made them physical wrecks. This, with disease, had greatly reduced their number, deaths being double that of births.

A Bit Of Squaw Justice

Among the Ottawa Indians of this reservation was one called Tom. Tom was the most worthless vagabond known to exist among all the tribes of the Ottawas. He was a thief and an habitual drunkard, too lazy even to hunt or fish. He had a wonderful thirst for strong liquor; being drunk was his normal condition, being sober the exception. Tom, when on an extra big drunk, celebrated the occasion by whipping his squaw. The squaws, to even up with him, furnished him an extra amount of "red liquor," which made him helplessly drunk. While in this condition they caught him, took him down along the river bank and, after divesting him of all his clothing, tied him to a log and left him all night to the mercy of the mosquitoes. It is said that next morning Tom was scarcely recognizable by any of his companions. This bit of squaw justice worked to the full satisfaction of the squaws, and ever afterward, when Tom became abusive, all they had to do was to "buzz" like a mosquito and he fully understood their meaning. Tom

A Tough Citizen Of The Reservation

While Tom was a very worthless Indian, he was a saint in comparison with a vagabond Englishman who came to the reservation about the year 1820. His name was John Race and his wife was a half-breed Indian squaw. They lived in a cabin located on the southeast corner of what is now the county fair grounds. Race was supposed to have been a refugee who sought seclusion among the Indians to avoid punishment for some ^rime he had committed elsewhere. He was of vicious temper and was always scheming to make trouble between the Indians and the early white settlers who came here some years later. He resorted to the most contemptible means to foment discord. An incident is related wherein he almost succeeded in causing serious trouble. He had a daughter aged about eleven years. One day the daughter was found dead along the river bank near his cabin. She had been shot, the bullet passing through her head. Race said that the girl had been killed by a certain white settler with whom he had had some difficulty. The fact of his having an Indian wife and he being intimate with the Indians, caused a number of them to believe his statement and for a short time considerable anxiety existed among the earlier settlers. Some years later, Race severely chastized his wife and she, in retaliation, stated that it was he who had killed his own child because the girl refused to do some trifling thing he had commanded. It was said that the little girl was very pretty and that she was white and possessed no marks of the Indian, notwithstanding her mother was a scjuaw. The little girl was the first white child buried on the reservation. She was laid to rest a few rods from Tvhere the grand stand on the fair grounds now stands. Otho Crawfis, Sr., and George Agner, Sr., from whom the writer of this article obtained his information, were i^resent at the burial.

Perhaps there may be a difference of opinion among the descendants of the early pioneers of this locality as to where, when and by whom, the first hewed log house or cabin was built on grounds now a part of Ottawa. The writer is almost convinced that the first hewn log cabin built by a white man on the reservation was one built, about the year 181 7-18, by French fur traders who came here to trade with the Indians. This was a hewed log cabin and the only one of the kind found here in 1833-4, --.vhen the first settlers came. This cabin was then in such a decayed condition that it was not fit for occupancy. The roof had tumbled in and weeds had grown up inside and outside of it. This cabin was located on the lot now owned and occupied by Mrs. James Ford. William Galbreath later took the logs to his farm along the river. The Indfans called it the "Light House," possibly from the fact that the fur traders kept a light burning in the cabin throughout the night. The cabin was also used by the early missionaries, who made it their home while here on their labors among the Indians. There is a tradition connected with this cabin to the effect that it was built by the traders prior to the year 18 12, and that when Tawa village was burned the cabin was not disturbed, from the fact that evidence existed that it was used by the missionaries as a place of worship. However there is no reliable information to substantiate this tradition. The only thing confirmatory is the dilapidated condition of the cabin at the time when the first settlers came as it was then in ruins, the ravages of time and the elements having produced the decay. It may have been built as tradition states. However, when the first settlers came here there was a large cabin still standing. It was sided with slabs cut from logs, and was occupied by a fur trader named Fredee, who was a Frenchman. A man named Deardoff, also a Frenchman, occupied the cabin after Fredee. This cabin was the most pretentious in the village at that time.

The Sugar Camps Of The Indians

About the only industry, outside of hunting and fishing, indulged in by the Indians of this reservation, was that of making sugar from the sap of the sugar maple tree. That this industry was carried on by the Ottawa Indians at a very early date, there is much evidence available. The principal sugar camps in the reservation were located but a short distance east and west of Tawa village. The one at the east was the most extensive and was located in the bend of the river east of the county fair grounds, while that on the west was located south of the Defiance road on what is known as the Galbreath farm, where yet remain quite a number of very old sugar trees. The trees constituting the larger camp, that east of the village, were tapped for sap as late as the year 1870 by the owners of the land. , In that year the ground was clfeared of the trees by David Cox,, who owned the land at that time. In converting the trees into firewood the Indian process of tapping was plainly to be seen, although the trees had grown to much greater dimensions during nearly the half century which had passed since the Indians had utilized them.