Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 8: Death of Comstock Seneca Steel Death of Seneca John Coonstick, 1880

TRIAL AND DISCHARGE OF COONSTICK JUDGE HIGGINS DECISION JUDGE BIRCHAKD S STATEMENT BENJAMIN K. WARNER HARD HICKORY AND HIS DEATH IMMIGRATION OF THE SENEGAS TO THE NEOSHO AND COWSKIN RIVERS CHARLIEU THE GIRTYS THE DEATH OF DRAKE shoulders. The doomed diii'l' looked calmh around for the last time upon tlic landscape, ami upon the rising sun. taking, evidently, a farewell vit-\v. ai.d then said to his brothers thai he was ready to die.

The brothers had brought with them another Indian warrior l>\ the name of Shane. ('oonstick and Sliane each took .John b\ tlie arm. and led him aloiiLT towards the place of his execution. Steel followed behind with his uleaminu tomahawk in his hand. The\ had advanced about ten steps from the porch \\ hen Steel struck his brother a hea\\ blo\\ with his tomahawk. upon the back of his head, lie fell to the ground, as the Mood unshed from the dreadful wound. Supposing him to be dead. the\ draped him beneath a tree near b\ . Tliere. percei\ int;' si^'iis of life. Steel dre\v his knife and cut his brother's throat from ear to ear. The next da\ the corpse was buried with the ciistoinarx Indian ceremonies.

Tlii-> horrible scene occurred in Seneca count) in the year iSjN. Steel was arrested and tried in Sandnsky < onntv. and was acquitted. Sn tar. Abb.

Supposing this blow siitlicient to kill him. the\ draped him under a peach tree near b\ . In a short time. ho\\e\er. he revi\ed. the blow having bet-n liroken li\ the ureat mass of his hair. Knowing that it was Steel who had ^triick the blou . .lolm. as he lay. t n rued his head towards ( 'nonstick and said : "Now. bi'ot hei1. do yon take \ our rc\ en^e."

This si i opera led upon the feelings of ( 'ooiist ick. that he interfered to save him: but it enraged Steel to Mich an extent, that he drew his knife and cut John"., i hi'oat fn >m eai' to car.

I sa\\ t'oon-tick and Steel renioxe the fence and le\el the ground, so that no \eMJL:c of the '_;]'a\e reinaMied. .lohn clio^e the place for hi^ execution near

I 1 ard I i ickor\ "> lod^c because he d id not wish to be killed in t he jiresence of !::-> \\ ife. and because, also, he u anted I lard 1 1 ic|\or\ to \\ it nc» that he "d icd like a man."

The principal head men or chiefs of the Senecus. were (loud Hunter. Hard Hickory and Tall Chief': there were also some half- chiefs. Among those most noted was Benjamin I1'. Warner, a white man. who had previously been a fireman on a steamboat. He had eloped with an Indian woman and settled down among the Senecas.

Hard Hickory was the leading mind among them. He was a leader of no ordinarv grade. He was possessed of polished manners, seldom seen in an Indian. He spoke the 1'Ycnch language fluently, and the I'.nglish intelligibly. Scrupulously adhering to the costume of his people, and retaining many of their habits, this chief was much endeared to them. His urbanitx . his intelligence and ardent attach ment to the whites, and. above all. his strict integrity in business transactions, obtained for him - and deservedly - the respect and confidence of all with whom he traded. The merchants of Lower Sandiisky reposed such trust in him. that when some poor Indian came to ask for goods on credit, it Hard Hickory would sav that he would see them paid tor. no more was required. Thus his word passed current with, and for. the whole tribe. Mr. ( )bed Dickinson was a particular friend of Hard Hickory.

Hard Hickory fell from his high station as an honest man. Tempted by money, he became first a thief and then a liar. How many of our own people- - some. even, in our own town of Tittin-- -who. tor a Iontime in their business lite, were' regarded and esteemed as men of profound integrity and honesty, who had stood aloof tor a long time from all manner of (rime, and had enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all \\lio knew them, and while at the height of their glory, became di//v and weak: and as they fell, took down with them, not onlv the monev of the men whose confidence thev had secured, but the general condemnation of all honest men in the communitx! How often we are deceived in our fellows! \\ e often let men of tried and acknowl i iliicd honesty stand aside, and take obscure men who had no record tor untliin hiuu honor, put them in places of honor and trust, and about the time we be-in to think they are lire proof, they tall down deep and take our moiic\ \\ith them. Alter the tall ue < ompromise- with some In ihief. and secure as much ot the money that was stolen the gentleinanU thief" go perhaps to run an-- don't understand etiquette in that wa\.

their reimn al. at I heir « >!il home on the S.un!u-k\ . l-\ an arrangement with tin- general :;o\ eminent in their treats at \\ a>hin_'t'>n, that annuity uas in i-c lorwarded to tin in at their new home on the Neosho, through tin- hands o| tin- L;O\ eminent agents.

^o oil thev ^tarted to NVa^hin^ton. |-'or ni'>re than a month the\ re\e!ed in all the luxury and di-^ipation oi' the < ity. until they \\ere tired ol them. Now thes determined to _;o hoiiu-, an«i re.jue-.ted the ( 'ornin i-.-<;i i tier o! Indian A il air-, to re;mliur>i- them, and, t::nii^h nu-an^ to return uith. l'hi>. o[ i oiii'-e. wa-, ri'lu-^ed.

i >n arm in_; home, their mone\ wa> iiear!\ uone. 1 1 i< kory u a-> then i ailed Seti >re hi-> people ti i _;;\ e an :-.< count ol' him-elt". lie stated tfiat lliere \\.is -omethin.4 \\roiii; ahont tin- drat;, and he had to _i. t.i Wa^h iti^ton to arrange it; that the I're-iden; said it -.h>)'a!'i all !>e made ri.ht. and the\ \\oulil ^et the im>ne\ soon, ali in sil\er.

the truth ot' the matter - in other words - had not lied about it. he would have saved his lite and honor. "And from my knowledge ot the tribe." says (leu. Ilrish, "that would have been the result."

In hnpes that he would yet be spared, and that no one would attempt to kill him in the presence ot his wite. who was much respected, he confined hinisell to his house, heavily armed. For several days and niuhts his house was surrounded. At length, the notorious Shane, who helped to murder Seneca John, volunteered to kill him in his house. Shane, having just returned trom the ('hero'kee < ountrv, went to the house in the night and rap]>ed at the door. Hickory rerogni/ed his voice, and naturally supposed that he had at least one friend who would try to save him. Hard Hickory was the uncle ot Shane.

On being assured that Shane was alone. Hickory directed his wite to unbar the door and let him in. which she did. Shane wore a blanket, and approached Hickory in the middle ot the room, holding out his left hand, while his right was under the blanket, holding the handle of a long knife. Hickory held out his right hand to Shane, and as soon as their hands were grasped. Shane drew his knite and stabbed Hickory through the body, and then dragged him out ot doors, where several Indians stabbed ;md tomahawked him. Thus perished the renowned chief I lard Hickorv. with the seal of falsehood stamped upon his hitherto fair < haracter.

'This Benjamin I-'. Warner had become entirel\ Indian in his habits, and associated with Hard Hickorv and oilier cliiets. Those who described him as part Indian, were simply mistaken. He was a Yankee - b\ birth, but he< ame .in Indian by choice. His wile's name was Kon ke pot: she was trom (liven l!a\. and a Mohican. The Senecas adopted the tamilv. \\arner Itecame a sort ot maior domo ot the t ribe. and in < ommon with them, drew a portion ol their annuities fr< mi the government. lie transacted _a great deal ot business fur tln- Seii eras. It a horse was missing. \\ a rner woidd lie sure to track and find him. He < ould s|o< k a mm or a plow, build a house, tan a skin, ami was always ie;>d\ tor either \\ork or sport, but sober.

Mr emigrated with the Senecas to the west. His wile died on tin lourney. soon alter < rossing the Mississippi. ,md Hen. with his < hild. K i oiii pan led the tribe to the ne\\ reser\ e on the Neosho. \\ arner had ,1 c ow. whi< h he gave to a poor t.miilv who had buried their lather and husband near the door ot their < abin. near the \\est line of Missouri.

hmise. and called his attention to the fact. His n-ph was: -I put h» -\- tin i.- mysHf: tfiirss the woman Tl \\ant her \\oise than I shall.' Benjamin Franklin Warner proved that In- carried a nnMi- In-art iimlt-i ,t rmi^h exterior."

Their new home is a beautiful country, and at this time probably owned by the whites. On the j(>th day ol April, they all met above St. I.oui». and arrived on the Neosho on the .ph day ot July, following. ( >n the j')th da\ of August. iKj:;, they had been reduced down to the number of one hundred and forty three. It is to be presumed that at this time there i- nothing left ot that once powerful tribe ot savages but their name.

Simon (iirty. the most infamous ot all the white savages amongst the red skills, was adopted by the Senecas. and became not only a great M out. but also an expert hunter. lie was trom Pennsylvania, to which -tale his father had emigrated trom Ireland. The old man was beastly intemperate, and whisky was his great delight. "(irog was his song, and grog he would have." 1 1 is soltishness turned his wile's affection. Her paramour knocked the old man on the head and won the price.

This couple lett lour sons - Thomas. Simon, (ieorge and James. The three latter were taken prisoners, in Hraddock's war. by the Indian-. (ieorge was adopted bv the 1 'clawares. became a terocious monster, and died in a drunken tit. lames was adopted by the Shaw nee--, and became as depraved as his brother. It is said that he often visited Kentucky, at the time ot its first settlement, and inflicted most barbarou^ tortures upon all captive women who came within his reach. Yerv many acts of cruelty are charged to him. and yet I'roctor and Klliott petted him. In Kentucky and Ohio. Simon sustained the char a< ter of a most brutal barbarian: evervthing cruel and licnd like was associated with his name. Indian lite and brutality suited his nature. and with all his cruelties, that stamped him as a hyena more than anv other beast, it wa- said ot him that lie saved many prisoners trom death. His inlluencc was great, and whenever he chost. to do so could --a\ e man\ p< tor captix es.

but it was generally believed that he had been killed in battle. Some time after that, on a clear, bright day in the mouth of June. ls:;<>. when the prairies were covered with wild (lowers and the farmers busy with their work, dirty passed along the road to Princeton. Here he found a group of buildings, where a few years before not a house could be seen. He carried on his back all his camp equipage blankets, gun. kettles and provisions. Ilis once straight, maul) form was now bent, not from age. but from disease and great fatigue. His head was without a covering, and coarse, black hair \\ as hanging down to hrs shoulders in confused masses. The) said that "lie uas undoubted!) the last of the Mohigans." He was not inclined to answer any questions, but passing up the street and looking at a painted building, he said: "That big wigwam: great chief live there. I speck." When lie was told that it was a church he passed on. not knowing what that was. He said as he started on. " Big warrior : great brave." He directed his steps towards Indiantown. Htye he found everything had changed. At the foot of the hill, near a spring outside of town, dirt) camped for the night, being overcome b\ sickness and fatigue. Here he gave himself up to feelings of despair. The smoke of his camp lire, and his loud coughing, attracted the attention of Dr. Langworthy. who visited the camp and offered his assistance ; but dirt) appeared sullen, and would only shake his head. On the third day after his arrival at Indiantown. he started west. About one week thereafter, a man traveling on the old Sac and Fox trail, saw on the prairie north of Barren drove, two wolves eating a carcass. Out of ciiriosit) . he rode up to see what it was they were eating, and found it to be the carcass of an Indian parti) devoured. Near the remains lay a gun. knife, tomahawk, blankets, a copper kettle and a pot. Around the neck was a buckskin cord, to which was attached a silver medal with this inscription : "A Token iif Friendship. Lewis < 'ass. I'.S. I. A." Thus ended that out-law.

Oakley was the first post-office in Seneca count). At the time this was established there uas but one mail route in the count)-, and this led through the count). Irom Lower Sandiisky to Columbus. Soon alter the time the Seiiecas settled upon their reser\ atiou. or about that timr. thr mail was carried on horseback bv a voung man named I rich I)rakr. who was a son of Judge I >rakr. of Marion count). Young 1 trake uas killed, by an Indian, as it uas supposed at that time. lie uas found, torn 1>\ the wolves, and marks of a knife were also disc o\ ered oil his bod v.

lu i N vc J udge I trake came to this count) to hud out. if possible, who it was ilia; murdered his son: and it it should be ascertained that the murderer was an Indian, then also to find the tribe he belonged to. He < ailed upon Mr. I'.rish. then agent of the Seiiecas. and in companv -A'th him proceeded to the residence of "The ('row." Martin Lane -ic ted as interpreter. ( 'row said that the son of I udge I ) rake uas killed b\ an Indian whose name was'1 Big Kittles." and that he had lied to (\inada soon after the murder. The fudge returned home, fullv satismi i)i, \ i H i>i nk.vKK. 141