Carroll County, Indiana - Sk|;t'( Lles of Tjik Puincipai. Chieks of Tiik Mlami.so.n Tiik Wa, 1882

Sk|;t'( Lles of Tjik Puincipai. Chieks of Tiik Mlami.so.n Tiik Wa

.SK|;T'( llES OF TJIK PUINCIPAI. CHIEKS OF TIIK MlAMI.SO.N TIIK Wa- HASII - i.lTTI.K Tri!TI.E - KuilKVILLli - La FONTAINK-SOMK INTKKK.STING PeKSONAL RkJIINI.sCEXCES I.\ THE HlSTOHV OF THOSE

Rei'hesentatives of the Miajii Nation. OOMETHING of the general character of the warrior chieftain, '^ Aqne-naek-que, who signed the treaty of peace and alliance . with the English at Lanciister, Penn., in 1748, in behalf and as one of the representatives of his nation, has been already given in the tribal histoiy. Beyond the commencement of his chieftaincy we have now no means of ascertaining, in connected line, his predecessors.

Tliis cliief was the successor in direct line of A(pie-nack que, his father, the great war chief of the Twigh-tweos (Miamis), who flourished for many years preceding and subsequent to the middle of the eighteenth century, and was one of the thi-ee, the principal, of the deputies, who, on behalf of their nation, signed the treaty at Lancaster, Peau., on the 23cl of July, 1748. His mother was of the tribe of the Mohegans, and is reputed to have been a superior woman, transmitting many of her best qualities to her son. Aque-nack-que, his father, however, was of the Turtle branch of the Miamis, and lived in the Turtle village on Eel Kiver, some sixteen miles northwest of Fort Wayne, Ind. At this village. Little Turtle was born about the year 1747, and was the senior, by less than two yeai's, of his sister, Algo-ma-qua, wife of Capt. Holmes, who was a victim of the conspiracy among the Indian tribes of the Northwest that resulted in the destruction of the English garrison at Fort Miami, in March, 1703.

Me-chequin-no-qua, after the death of his father, became the chief of his tribe, at an early age - not on account of any right by inheritance, since the condition of the offspring follows the mother, and not the father, and his mother not standing in the line of descent from hereditary chiefs, the child stood in the same category - but because of his extraordinary talents and adaptation to the position, noticeable from early boyhood. Upon the death of his father, therefore, he became the principal chief of the Miamis by selection. His first eminent services were those of a warrior, in which he distinguished himself above all competitors. His courage and sagacity, m the estimation of his people, were proverbial, and his example insj^ired others to unwimted achievements in council and in the field. Neighboring consanguineous tribes, in their operations against the whites, drew courage from his presence and achieved success under his leadership. He was in himself a host on the battle-field, and his counsel always commanded respect.

At the time of St. Clair's expedition against the Wabash Indians, Little Turtle was the acknowledged leader, directing the movements of his braves, which resulted in the defeat of the former, as he had previously done in several actions in the campaign of Gen. Hannar. In comparison with Gen. St. Clair as a director of the fore?s at Fort Keoovery, his exhibitions of skill and tact in the management of the assault upon the white troops were more those of the expert tactician. His loss in that eng;.ge- : ment was slight, while that of Gen. St. Clair was very great "Again, he commanded a body of Indians, in November, 1792, who made a violent attack on a detachment of Kentucky volun- [ teers under Maj. Adair, under the walls of Fort St. Clair, near J Eaton, Ohio, but the savages were repulsed with loss. He was also at the action of Fort Recovery, in Jime, 1794. The campaign of Gen. Wayne, in August of the same year, proved too successful for the Tiurtle, and superior to_the combined forces. Prior to the battle of Fort Miami, two miles below Maumee City, a council was held, when Little Tiu-tle showed his sagacity and prudence by refusing to attack the forces of Gen. Wayne. '

Having satisfied himself of the impracticability of further op- | position to the white people, Little Tui-tle lent his influence toward j the maintenance of peace, and, in pai-t consideration for his services I in this respect, the American Government erected a house for 1 him, at his village on Eel River, in which to live, and in which 1 he did live for many yeai-s afterward. The era of his warlike exploits being past, he devoted himself to civil pursuits. " His habits were those of the whites, and he had black servants to at- I tend to his household wants and duties. He was true to the in- j terests of his race, and deplored their habits of diimkenness. In | 1802, he went before the Legislatiu'a, and, through his interpreter, made an appeal in person for a law preventing the sale of ai-dent | spirits to the Indians. The like mission he performed before the [

Legislature of Ohio, but without success. He described the Indian bfaders to life, viz. : " They stripped the poor Indians of skins, guns, blaQkets-ever.vthiug - while his squaws and children, dependent upon him, lay starving and shivering in his wigwam. He was the first to introduce among the savage tribes the practice of vaccination for preventing the small-pox. and did much to prevent human sacrifice."

From the first appearance of Tecumseh and the Proph'^t. in their attitude of manipulators of opinions directed toward the formation of an Indian confederacy, he opposed their movements with aa earnest zeal for the best interests of his race. A consequence of the influence thus exerted by him was that little was accomplished by them for a long time. In a communication bearing his own signature, dated at Fort Wayne, January 25, 1812, and addressed to Gen. Harrison, he expressed himself as anxious to do all in his power to preserve peaceful relations between the white and red people. He was destined, however, to take no part in the pending conflict. He died on the 14th of July of the same year. The following account of his sickness and death will be read with interest:

" He came to this city (Fort Wayne) in 1812, from his residence, to procure medical aid, and was under the treatment of the United States Surgeon, and in the family of his brother-in-law, Capt. Wells, at the Old Orcnai-d, or rather, was eared for by Capt. Wells' family at his own tent, a few rods distant, preferring it to the more civilized mode of living in-doors. His disease was the gout, of which he died in the open air, at the place (Old Orchard) above described, July 14, 1812, having the universal respect of all who knew him. The commandant of the fort at that time, Capt. Ray, the friend of Little Turtle, buried the remains of the chief with the honors of war." A writer says; "His body was borne to the grave with the highest honors, by his great enemy, the white man. The mufiled drum, the solemn march, the funeral salute, announced that a great soldier had fallen, and even enemies paid the moui-nful tribute to his memory." The place of his biiyial is near the center of the "Old Orchard," and his Indian ornaments and accouterments of war, a sword presented to him by Gen. Washington, and a medal, with Gen. Washington's likeness thereon, were buried with him.

Some years ago, Coesse. a nephew and real chief, since dead, came to Fort Wayne and pronounced a funeral oration over the remains of his unele, full of eloquent pathos, which was listened to with profound respect by many of the old citizens of that period.

" A distinguishing trait in the character of this justly celebrated chief," says Mr. Dawson, in his notes of the early history of Fort Wayne, " was his ardent desire to be informed of all that relates to om- institutions; and he seemed to possess a mind capable of understanding and valuing the advantages of civilized life in a degree far superior to any other Indian of his time."

Pe-che-wa, or. as he was generally known, John B. Richardville, was the son of Joseph Drouet de Riclieville, of French extraction, a trader at Ke-ki-ong-a before and after the disastrous ! expedition of La Balm, in 1780, by Taw-cum-wah, a daughter of i Aque-nack-que, principal chief of the Miamis, and a sister of Little Turtle. He was born, as tradition has it, and as he himself often stated, near the " Old Apple Tree," in the midst of the Miami village, at the junction of the St. Joseph's with the Maumee, about the year 1761. The associations clustering ai-ound this old apple tree during his childhood days gave the chief ever afterward a profound regard, approaching almost to reverence, for its continued renewal of the joyous scenes so intimately blended with the recollections of his early life; hence, he was instrumental in its preservation as one of the sacred relics of the past.

In connection, also, with his early history, are many incidents of thrilling interest, a recital of which would not fail to command attention. One of these, referring to an occasion which determined his election to the chieftaincy of his tribe, is here repeated;

It was less than a hundi"ed years ago when the prevailing customs of the Indian race were generally observed by the Miamis. A white captive had just been broiTght-in, and the question was about to be submitted to the council whether the young man should die. The council was held, and its mandate had gone forth that he must be burnt at the stake. All was confusion and bustle in the village, and the features of all save the hapless victim bespoke the anxiety with which they looked forward to the coming sacrifice. Already the prisoner was bouud to the stake, and the fagots were being placed in position, while the torch which was to ignite the inflammable mass was in the hands of the brave who had been commissioned to apjjly it. But hold! the time was not yet come when the fates had decreed that the mandate of the council was to be "executed. A chief was to be chosen to rule over the tribe, and there were many candidates, apparently alike entitled to recognition. Again, the question of eligibility is mooted, and the usages of the ages must be observed - he must be from the line of royal ancestor-? - yet an exhibition of his prowess will tend to hasten the issue. An anxious mother, herself the accepted chiefess and successful ruler of the mighty nation for many years, stood not far away, observing, with apparently calm indifference, the progress of preparation for the sacrifice. Her son, the cherished idol of her household, was near her side, a quiet observer of the prospective torture, yet solicitous. He would save the young man from his fearful doom, but hesitated, for the opportune moment had not arrived. Then, as the torch was being extended to fii'e the combustible material - all attention was directed toward the spot - and the tu-e was kindling into a scorching flame, ready to wreathe itself ai-ound the almost uuconscioua form pinioned to the stake. At a signal from his mother, young Pe-che-wah sprang from her side and bounded forward, knife in hand, to assert his chieftaincy by the captive's rescue. Electrified by the magnetic force of his mother's desire, he dashed through the wild crowd, cut the cords that bound him, and bade the captive go free. Siu'prise and astonishment, not unmingk'd with displeasm-e, was visible in every countenance at the unexpected denouement. Yet this daring feat of voluntary heroism was the theme of universal exultation, and he was at once accepted as the futm'e chief of his Iribe. In the meantime, the thoughtful mother, to make the rescue complete, placed the man in a canoe, covered him with fm-s and [icltries. ])nt him in charge of fi'iendly hands and sent him down the Miami of Lake Krie to a place of safety.

Many years after this occmTence. while on his way to Washington City, passing thi'ough the State of Ohio, he was recognized by the rescued captive, who manifested his gratitude with all the warmth of filial affection. It is needless to say, those manifested by the rescued were as fully reciprocated by the hero who rescued him under such critical circumstances. The meeting was a most happy one on the part of both, and was the occasion of many joyous recurrences to the singular meeting and equally singular recognition.

Pe-che-wah was present and participated in the defeat of Gen. Harmar, in October, 1790, but was not characteristically wai-like, being more disposed to exert his executive ability in otlier directions better calculated to result in the improvement of his opportunities in after life.

At the treaty of St. Mary's, on the 6th of October, 1818, he was there in behalf of his people as the leading chief and representative of his tribe, and as such, signed the treaty for the cession of certain territory to the United States, a description of which is elsewhere given. Twenty three years prior to that time, however, he appeared also as the representative of his tribe and signed the treaty of Greenville, concluded on the 3d of August, 1795. The same act he performed, on the part of his people, at the treaty of Fort "Wayne, in June. 1803, and at Vincennes in 1805.

the year 1827," says Mr. Dawson in his notes, "five himdred dollars were appropriated by Congress to each chief to build a residence. Richardville appropriated more and built a substantial house, five miles from here (Fort Wayne), on the south bank of the St. Mary's, on one of the reservations referred to. A part of this building was standing in 1859, owned by his gi-anddaughter (the daughter of La Blonde), who married James Godfrey. For many years, he kept an extensive trading-house in this city, on Coliunbia street, and in person lived there most of the time; but, about 1836. he moved the goods to the forks of the Wabash and continued business there for many years- -his squaw and younger members of his family at all times remaining, till her death, at home on the St. Mary's. His housekeeper at the forks of the Wabash was Madam Mai-garet La Folia, a French woman, in person graceful and prepossessing."

In the management of the affairs of his tribe, he was judicious and painstaking, adjusting all matters of business appertaining to them with the most exact discrimination and prudence. As a consequence, he was held in highest esteem, not only by his own people, but by the Indians generally throughout the Northwest. "He was honored'and trusted as their law-giver, with the most unsuspecting confidence and implicit obedience" - always adjusting que.stions of dispute without resort to bloodshed. He was a patient and attentive listener, always reaching his conclusions by deliberate consideration; hence, he seldom had occasion to change them. "Averse to bloodshed, except against armed resistance, he was ever the strong and consistent fi'iend of ]ieace and good will."

In stature, he was about five feet ten inches; in weight, about one hundred and eighty pounds; in disposition, taci hu-n ; in manner, modest and retiring; and, in his intercom-se with the white people, he was att'aljle, yet dignified. He died at his family residence, on the St Mai'y's, August 13, 1841, aged about eighty years. He was bm-ied on the following day, after services by Rev. Mr. Clark. Irish Catholic priest, of Peru, held at the church of St. Augustine, in Fort Wayne. His body was fu'st interred on the site of the cathedral in that city, subsequently erected. Afterward, however, when it became necessary to make room for the building, the remains were removed, and now rest in the Catholic bwying-ground. south of the city. A fine mai'ble moniunent marks the spot. >ipon which is the following inscription:

East side- "Here rest the remains of Chief Richardville. principal chief of the Miami tribe of Indians. He was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., about the year 1760. Died August, A. D. 1841." West side - "This monument has been erected liy La Blonde, Susan and Catherine, daughters of the deceased."

Frascis La Fontaine

Francis La Fontaine, whose Indian name was To-pe-ah - perhaps a contraction of the Pottawatomie name, To-pe-na-bin - was the immediate successor of Pe-che-wah (Richeville), as the principal chief of the Miamis. He was the lineal descendant of the family of that name who mingled extensively in the political affairs of Canada in the latter part of the eighteenth centiu-y. sent out by the French Government in connection with the provincial management of New France. His father was of French extraction, and was Si one time a resident of the city of Detroit. His mother was a Miami woman, whose name does not appeiu- very fi-equently in the history of the tribe: nevertheless, a woman of considerable force of charactei', which was transmitted to and strikingly manifested in the distinctive qualities of her son. He was born near Fort "Wayne in 1820, and spent the greater portion of his life in the immediate vicinity. In his yuunger days, he was noted for his great strength and activity; indeed, his character as an athlete was quite conspicuous, being probably the most fleet of f'jot of any man in his tribe - a quality highly appreciated by his race.

For some yeai's after his marriage, his residence was on the south side of the prairie, between Huntington and Fort Wayne, on lands granted to him by the treaties of October 23, 1834, and November 6, 1838. Manifesting great interest in the welfare of his tribe, he became very popular, and, after the death of Chief Richeville, in 1841, he was selected jirincipal chief of the Miamis. Subsequentlj', " he moved to the forks of the Wabash and resided in the frame building near the road, a few rods west of the fair grounds, the place belonging to his wife, who inherited it from her father."

When, imder the provisions of their final treaty with the United States, the Miamis, in the fall of 1846, moved to the ri'servation set apart to them west of the Mississippi, he went with them, and remained there during the succeeding winter. The following spring, he stai'ted homeward. "At that time, the route of travel was from the Kansas Landing (now Kansas City) down the Missom-i and Mississippi to the mouth of the Ohio, up the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, and thence up the latter sti-eam to La Fayette - all the way by steamboat. At St. Louis he was taken sick, and his disease had made such jirogi'ess that, upon his arrival at La Fayette, he was imable to proceed further, and died there on the 13th of April. 1S47. at the age of thirty-seven

He was embalmed at La Fayette, and his remains were brought to Huntington, where he was buried in the grounds now occujiied by the Catholic Chm-ch. His body was subsequently removed to the new cemetery, kt the tini body, so perfect had been the emlialming of decay was manifested.

He w!is a tall, robust and corpulent about three himdred and fifty pounds, and generally dressed in the Indian costume. There are two portraits of him remaining, one painted by Freeman, and one by R. B. Croft. About twenty months after his death, his widow married F. D. Lasselle, of Fort Wayne, but lived only a short time. Of her seven children by La Fontaine, but two are now living - Mrs. Ai'changel Engleman, in Huntington, and Mrs. Esther Washington, who resides in nnHE Pottawatomies, or Poux, as they appear to have been an- ciently known, are of the family of the Algonquins, or Montagues, as they were iu-st called, and ai'e a branch of the Chippewas, sometimes written Ojibways, having a common origin with them. The Algonquins, as we have seen. " traced their origin to the high and mountainous tracts of lakes and cliffs stretching fi-om the soiu-ces of the Utawas River to the entrance of the Saguenay at Tadousac." Thence they spread throughout the entire area of the upper lakes, throwing off branches, in the course of time, which, as they established an individuality determined by the locality or its siu-roundings, came to be known and recognized as sepai-ate tribes, retaining all of the essential elements of the family language, modified, however, by the dialects which were the outgi-owth of influences consequent upon changes of situation. Among those offshoots of the parent stock, the Ottawas and Chippewas were, perhaps, the most notable of the branches with whose history we ai'e now more particularly interested. These two branches appear to have been cotemporaneous with that now under consideration. It is represented, also, as a part of the family history that the separation of these into distinct bands took place in the vicinity of Michilimackinaek, not far from the middle of the seventeenth oentuiy - as early, probably, as 1641. At the. time of the separation, or immediately after, the Poux having located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, the Ottawas went : to live with them. After a time, the Ottawas, becoming dissatisi fled with the situation, determined to withdraw from their former ] allies and seek a home elsewhere. The Poux, being informed of this determination, told the Ottawas they might go back to the j North if they did not like their association; that they, the Pons, had made a fire for themselves, and were capable of assuming and maintaining a separate and independent sovereignty, and of building their own council fires. From this circumstance, it is said, the name of the Pottawatomies was derived, EtjTnologically, the woi'd is a compound of put-ta-wa, signifying a blowing-out or expansion of the cheeks, as in the act of blowing a fire, and me, a nation, which, being interpreted, means a nation of fire-blowers - a people, as intimated to the Ottawas, able to build their own council fires and exercise the prerogatives of independent or selfgovernment.

The first historical reference we have to them was in 164], when it was stated that they had abandoned their own country (Green Bay), and taken refuge from among the Chippewas, so as to sectu'e themselves from their enemies, the Sioux, who, it would seem, having been at wai- with, had well nigh overcome them. In 1660, Father Allouez, a French missiouaiy, speaks of the Pottawatomies as occupying territory that extended from Green Bay to the head of Lake Superior, and southward to the country of the Sacs and Foxes, and the Miamis, and that traders had preceded him to their country. Ten years later, they retm-ned to Green Bay and occupied the borders of Lake Michigan on the north. Subsequently, about the beginning of the eighteenth century, they had traversed the eastern coast of Lake Michigan to the mouth of the Kiver St. Joseph's, where, and to the southward of Lake Michigan, a large body of th<jm held possession until- near the middle of the nineteenth centnry. The occupancy of this territory was at first permissive only on the part of the Miamis, who had before possessed the imdisputed right to occupy and enjoy; but, in the coiu'se of time, their right was acknowledged by giving them a voice in the making of treaties, which also included the right of cession and conveyance.

Being somewhat migratory in character, they have, as a consequence, been detennined to be aggressive also, since they have frequently taken possession of territory without permission from the rightful owners, and then, by sufferance, occupied it until a quasi right was acknowledged. And, while it is true that they have thus occupied territory, it is true, also, that such occupancy has been, as a rule, an unavoidable alternative after being forcibl}' ejected or retired from their own country, as was the fact when they first removed fi'om Green Bay.

Dm'ing the progi'ess of the Nicholas conspiracy, in 1747, the Pottawatomies were generally on the side of the French, against the English, as were also the Ottawas. In a communication from M. de Longneuil, commandant at Detroit, to the Canadian Governor, giving in review the situation of atl'airs, civil and military, in Canada, in 1747, the statement is made that "the Pottawatomies are, as M. de Longueuil believes, the best disposed; in fact^ that he has no fault to find; that they are consequently the only persons he can confide in." This relation was generally, though not always, maintained between them: the Pottawatomies, like most other of the Indian tribes, were susceptible, and liable to be influenced by gifts or the promise of them; hence, sometimes they were temporarily under the conti'ol of the English, through the agency of belts presented by them. While the conspiracy of Pontiac was in jn'ogi-ess, the Pottawatomies, with other tribes heretofore sustaining amicable relations with the French, were visited by the agents of Pontiac or by the chief in person, to seciu'e their influence in the fiu-therance of his plans. It required but little diplomacy to arouse the feelings of these peoples in favor of their common ally, the French, and command the deepest interest, growing out of the former pleasant relations existing between them. A fresh imjietus was given to the current of sentiment prevailing amongst them by the act of the surrender of the French garrison at Detroit to the English, which occm'red on the 10th of November, 1700. At that time, the Pottawatomies and Wyandots were encamped before Detroit, on the opposite side of the river, and seemingly witnessed the transfer with indifference, preferring to await the issue of events speedily to follow. The mutterings of the impending storm were distinctly heard in the early summer of 1761.

In the spring of 1763, after the garrison of Fort Miami on the Maumee had been siirrendered to the English, the commandant was warned of the contemplated uprising of the Indians. A conference of the adjacent chiefs, held at his suggestion, developed the true situation, an accoimt of which was commimicated to the English commandant at Detroit. The latter officer, resting in confidence upon the (juiet demeanor of the Pottawatomies surrounding the post, discredited the report. He was soon, however, made only too conscious of his criminal disbelief. In the gatherings of the tribes which followed, the Pottawatomies were in the fnint rank, anxious to participate in the conflict. On the '2r)th of May of that year, the old post at St. Joseph's fell into the hands of the conspirators, the Pottawatomies bearing Pontiae's order for the sacrifice of the garrison. No further impulse was needed to insui'e the prompt execution of the order. Two days later, the same determined band, in the further execution of orders received or in possession, captm-ed the fort at Ke-ki-ong-a, by the methods usual in Indian warfare - treachery, with the accompaniments of indiscriminate human slaughter.

Passing the results of the expedition of Gen. Wayne in 1704, the Pottawatomies followed the course of events participated in the conference at the treaty of Greenville in August, 1795, and allied themselves with the promoters of peace along the frontiers of the Northwest. They maintained that relation, with few exceptions, until the period of Tecumseh's efforts at confederating the adjacent Indian ti-ibes and his subsequent alliance with. Great Britain, in 1812, during which time their peace propensities were conveniently laid aside, while they succumbed to his influence and participated in the expeditions that followed. After the close of that war, amicable relations were again assumed, and, on the 18th of July, 1818, the Pottawatomies concluded a treaty of peace with the United States, which, by its terms, was to be ]ierpetual.

By the provisions of a treaty made and concluded at St. Mary's, on the 2d day of October of the same year (1818), they ceded to the United States all the country comprised within the following limits: "Beginning at the mouth of the Tippecanoe River, and running up the same to a point twenty-five miles, in a direct line, from the Wabash River; thence, on a line as neai'ly parallel to the general coiu'se of the Wabash River as practicable, to a point on the Vermillion River twenty -five miles from the Wabash River; thence do\vn the Vermillion River to its mouth, and thence up the Wabash River to the place of beginning. The Pottawatomies also cede to the United States all their claim to the country south of the Wabash River."

The treaty of most importance to this locality, to which the Pottawatomies were a party, was that considered at Paradise Sj^rings, near the mouth of the Mississinewa, upon the Wabash, on the 10th of October, 1820, by the provisions of which the United States acquired the right to all the lands within tlie following limits: "Beginning on the Tippecanoe River where the northern boundary of the tract ceded by the Pottawatomies to the United States by the treaty of St. Mary's, in the year 1.M8, intersects the same; thence, in a direct line, to a point on Eel River, half way between the mouth of the said river and Pierish's village; thence up Eel River to Seek's village, neai- the head thereof; thence in a direct line to the mouth of a creek entering into the St. Joseph's of the Miami, near Metea's village ; thence up the St Joseph's to the boundary line between the States of Indiana and Ohio; thence south to the Miami; thence up the same to the leservation at Fort Wayne; thence with the lines of said reservation to the boundary established by the treaty with the Miamis in 1818; thence with the said line to the ^Vabash River; thence with the same river to the mouth of the Tippecanoe River; and thence with the said Tippecanoe River to the place of beginning. And the said tribe also cede to the United States nil their right to the land within the following limits: Beginning at a point on Lake Michigan ten miles due north of the southern extreme thereof; running thence duo east to the land ceded by the Indians to the United States by the h-eaty of Chicago ; thence south with the boundary thereof ten miles; thence west to the southera exb'eme of Lake Michigan; thence with the shore thereof to the place of beginning." By a further provision of the same treaty, for the purpose of building the Michigan road, they made an additional cession " of a strip of land commencing at Lake Michigan, and running thence to the Wabash River, 100 feet wide, for a ro;uJ. and also one section of good land contiguous to the said road for each mile of the same, and also, for each mile of a road from the tennination thereof, through Indianapolis, to the Ohio River, for the pm-pose of making a road " connecting those extreme and the intermediate points.

In addition to the treaties already refen-ed to, the Pottawatomies concluded nineteen other treaties with the United States, ceding certain reserved interests from time to time withheld, until, by the provisions of the tinal treaty concluded by them on the 11th of February, 1837, with John T. Dougl-ass, a Commissioner on the part of the United States, at the city of Washington, they ceded all their remaining interests in the lands before held by them in the State of Indiana, and agreed to remove to the country provided for them by the President of the United States, southwest of the Missom-i River, within two years from the ratilication of said treaty. The treaty was ratified at the end of one week from the date .of its conclusion, and the Indians took their departure for. and were removed to, their new reservation, in accordance with the stipulated provisions of the new treaty, in the fall of the year 1S38 and the succeeding fall of lS3f).

How A Treaty Was Made

The following incident, related by one of the parties connected with it, well illustrates the method by which, no doubt, many of the treaties with the Indians, during the last three-quarters of a centm-y, have been made. Says om- informant, speaking of the treaty with the Pottawatomies, made October 26. 1832, on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, near Rochester. Ind. : " The Commissioners - Jonathan Jennings, John W. Davis and Marks Crame. on the part of the United States, on the one hand, and the various Indian chiefs and principal men of the tribe represented, on the other - had been several days planning, consulting and proposing, endeavoring thus to arrive at some definite plan of operations that would be mutually satisfactor}' and conclusive, but, up to the time referred to, had been wholly unsuccessful. To work up an agreement with the Indians to treat upon terms satisfactoiy to all the parties thereto, was the thing most to be desired.

" A large number of prominent and influential chiefs were present, among whom were A?ah-she-o-nas, Wah-ban-che, Aub-beenaub-bee; and others, with Capt. Bourie. The Indians generally were not satisfied with the outlook, and hence were unwilling to enter into the proposed negotiations with the combined interest and zeal necessary to insure an early agreement It seems that, from some cause not then inanifest, an ill feeling existed in the minds of many of the Indians toward Mi'. Barron, the interpreter, which had, among other things, a tendency to delay the proceedings. As a consequence, these malcontents refused to listen to any propositions made by the Commissioners thi'ough his interpretation.

" The delay was growing tiresome and tedious, and the success of the negotiations came to be a question of serious doubt. Finally, it was agi-eed on all hands that Mr. Ban-on should act as the intrepreter. The speech on behalf of the Commissioners that day was to be made by Gov. Jennings, who, as was his wont, had imbibed quite freely of the ' tire-water,' and was therefore excessively wordy. He commenced by saying : ' I am most happy to meet you, my red brothers, under this clear, blue sky, so auspiciously' expanded above us, beside the crystal watei-s of your own beautiful Tippecanoe, on this green sward beneath our feet. In the midst of all these cheerful surroundings, with natm'e's imageiy nodding assent to the piu-poses of our mission, I feel but too happy in the consciousness that the prospect is most propitious, in that om- anticipations of a speedy conclusion of om- labors will be shortly realized.' Having uttered two or three similar sentences of his wordy introdiictory. Mi-. Barron was proceeding to interpret it but failed to develop any point or fitness in the discourse. At this point, dissatisfaction began again to manifest itself, and AVah-she-o-uas interposed, saying that he did not want to hear that kind of talk: it was not what he wanted to hear; it was nothing. Mr. Barron was compelled to desist, and the conference at that time closed peremptorily, the chiefs scattering in all directions, with manifestations of gi-eat dissatisfaction, and a determination to break up the conference. The guards, however, soon checked the progress of these hotheads and brought them again into camp.

"Everything was confusion, and all prospect of further negotiation seemed at an end. The sequel, however, showed otherwise. Under an order that intoxicating liquor should not be allowed ujion the grounds, some fine wines and brandies brought in by ' Jack Douglass ' had been confiscated and for safety had been stored away i.\ the Agent's department of the council house. To the door of this room there was no other fastening than a heavy wooden latch and catch on the inside, accordingt to the usage of those days, with a string fastened to the latch and passed through a small hole in the door to the outside.

" One day, Capt. Bom-ie came into the room and said to the Agent that he had a great secret to tell him, and, wishing to have the door closed, asked whether it could be locked. He was informed that to pull the latch-string inside was all the locking necessary. This done, Aub-bee-naub-bee, who came in with Capt. Bourie, said to the Agent that, before he could communicate his secret, the latter must pom- out three glasses of wine, one for each of them, before he would tell it. The request was complied with, and then Aub-bee-naub-bee stated that he would bring about an agreement to go into the treaty within an hour. This seemed incredible; but he went out, and in a short time the chiefs and head men were seen seated all round the council fire. Soon Aub-bee-naub-bee rose to speak. Before he had uttered many words, Wah-ban-che, a big chief, and considerably fi-aetious, commanded him to stop his talk and sit down; that they did not want to hear him. Not daimted at this, Aub-bee-naub-bee deliberately stopped, but only for an instant. Straightening himself up to his full height, his commanding figure and stern demeanor exhibited a firmness of purpose not safe to be trifled with. Displaying conspicuously two long knives in his belt on the left side, and bringing the two horse pistols on his right side to the front, he took out one of the knives, with a blade some fifteen inches long, in his left hand. Thus, bristling with arms, his e.ves flashing lire and his features rigid from Uie coolness of his determination, he turned round defiantly, facing Wah-ban-che, Wa-she-o-nas and the other fractious spirits, and, in language not to be misunderstood, thus addi-essed them: 'Now show me the Indian that will tell me to sit down until I get thi-ough.' That was enough. Quailing under his fierce gaze, they said not a word, nor again attempted to interrupt him. Having spoken a few minutes, explaining in detail the purposes and plan of the proposed treaty, he closed. In a little while, all the ju-ovisions contemplated were agreed upon, and all the extensive domain around Chicago, down to the borders of the Tippecanoe River, as designated in the treaty of that date, were sold and transfen-ed to the United States, and the treaty satisfactorily concluded."