Shelby County, Indiana - Chapter 2, 1887

Chapter 2

PON the first introduction of Europeans among the primitive inhabitants of this country, it was the prevailing opinion among the white people that the vast domain since designated as the American Continent, was peopled by one common family', of like habits, and speaking the same language. The error, however, was soon dispelled bv observation, ^^-hich at the same time established the fact of great diversity in characteristics, language and physical delopment, the diversity arising sometimes from one cause and sometimes from another.

The principal division known at this period is the Algonquin, embracing among other powerful tribes, the Miamis recognized as one of the most perfect tvpes, and one of the most extensive on the continent. Next in rank to the Miamis, if, indeed, they are not entitled to precedence, are the Delaw^ares.

The Delawares, the tribe with which the history of this county has to deal, had their homes originallv, savs Schoolcraft, on the shore of the Atlantic, on the Delaware and Susquehanna and their tributaries. Here it was that that peaceful hero, William Penn, found them and made his first treaty wuth them in 1682. They w^ere a powerful nation, and during the lifetime of Penn lived on terms of peace with the w^hites. After his death things changed. Prior to 1736, the pow^erful confederacy of the Six Nations had waged successful war against one of the divisions of the Delaware tribe, and had compelled it to acknowledge its supremacy. Claiming that by right of conquest the}' had acquired the ownership, not only of the lands belonging to the conquered portion, but of the whole territory belono-ino- to the Delaware tribe, thev made a treatv without the knowledge of the rightful owners of the soil, transferring then- pretended title to the whites.

A few years later the Delawares were driven from their homes and passing beyond the Alleghanv Mountains they built their wigwams upon the banks of the river Mahoning in Western Pennsyl- vania. Here they sojourned for awhile, but civilization kept up its westward march, and the sullen savages disdaining- the enlightenment of white men retired constanth' to the gloom and solitude of their native forests. The next stopping place was Eastern and Central Indiana and part of Ohio. Here they remained until by treaties made from time to time, they extinguished their title to all the rich domain and agreed to go beyond the Mississippi.

Articles of a treaty with the Delawares at St. Marys in the State of Ohio, between Jonathan Jennings, Lewis Cass and Benjamin Parke, commissioners of the United States, and the Delaware Indians.

Article 2. In consideration of the aforesaid cession, the United States agree to provide for the Delawares a country to reside in upon the west side of the Mississippi, and to guarantee to them the peaceable possession of the same.

Article 3. The United States also agree to pay to the Delawares the full value of their improvements in the country hereby ceded, which valuation shall be made by persons to be appointed for that purpose by the President of the United States, and to furnish the Delawares with 120 horses not to exceed in value $40 each, and a sufficient of pirogues to aid in transporting them to the west side of the Mississippi, and a quantity of provisions proportioned to their numbers, and the extent of their journey.

Article 4. The Delawares shall be allowed the use and occupation of their improvements for the term of three years from the date of this treat}' if the}' so long require it.

Article 5. The United States agree to pa}- to the Delawares a perpetual annuity of $4,000, which, together with all annuities which the United States b}- former treaty agreed to pav them, shall be paid in silver at any place to which the Delawares may remove.

Article «6. The United States agree to provide and support a blacksmith for the Delawares, after their removal to the west side of the Mississippi.

Indian History

Ahhough under the provisions of the treaty the Delawares were permitted to remain in the territory ceded, for three years, there were but few here at the expiration of that time. Those that remained were peaceable and gave the settlers no trouble. Indeed, so short a time did they remain after the lirst white settlers came, that but little mav be said of them in connection with the settlement of the county. The following reminiscences of the, venerable Isaac Wilson will serve to show some of the remarkable characteristics of the noble red man and to w^hat extent they were associated with them during their brief stay:

"By the terms of the treat}' of October, 1818, the Indians reserved the right of hunting and trapping in the New Purchase for the space of three years. And during that period there were occasional encampments of the red men in the various parts of what is now our countv. Near Marion, James Wilson established a trading-post, and exchanged coarse cloths, blankets, flints, knives, etc., for the furs they brouirht in. Sometimes as many as 100 up to 150 would come to the post in a single dav. As a general thing, thev were quiet and honest neighbors, and gave httle trouble or uneasiness. During the entire winter of 1819-20, two Indian families remained encamped wdthin half a mile of Mr. Wilson's home. Their names were Pishan Quenum and Captain Canam. Their households consisted only of themselves and their wives. The latter, having but little to do during the hunting season, often called on Mrs. Wilson. On one occasion, they and their husbands were invited to tea and to spend the evening. The ladies arrived first, mounted on handsome ponies and seated upon perfectly beautiful side-saddles. The horns of the saddles and also the neat slippers in the stirrups, were literally covered with graceful silver bands of their own w^orkmanship. Their toilets consisted of colored cahco chemise, with rufiies upon the neck, bosom and wrists, brick-cloth leggins, moccasins highly ornamented with beads and porcupine quills, together with the indispensable blanket. Their arms, both above and below the elbow, were encased in silver bracelets three-fourths of an inch wide; upon their bosoms the}^ wore brooches nearlv as large as an ordinary saucer. At the table, they and their husbands handled the tea-cups and knives and forks in a most civihzed manner. In the conversation, but one at a time took part. A little baby boy of Mrs. Wilson's was the object of much caressinfj' to the Indian ladies. When they were about to depart, after spending a pleasant evening, one of them took her husband apart, and, after talking and laughing a little, sprang toward the little babv boy, clasped her hand around the instep of his foot, then placed the heel between her thumb and forefinger, and extended her hand lengthwise of the foot, at the same time calling the attention of her husband, who gave a sort of a grunt, as if to say, 'all rio-ht!' Not lonij:- afterward, when she visited Mrs. Wilson again, she caught up the babe and put upon its tiny feet a beautiful pair of moccasins, fitting as neatly as a pair of kid cloves. This pleasant incident indicates not only the friendly relations that existed, but also a degree of refinement we do not look for among the aborigines."

An Indian Captive. - "In the last incident we saw how amiable the relations of the Indians to the first settlers were. We will now narrate a few instances of hostility. Although they were peaceable and honest generally, yet occasionally they were a little tricky and disposed to take advantage of' the new-comers. It is said that when they had been unsuccessful in the chase, the first pig that came into their way would be seized as a lawful prize. One instance of the kind is told which resulted advantageously to the w^hite settler. Richard Thornbury, who had settled on the east bank of Big Flat Rock, where Whetzell's trace crossed that stream, had a fine lot of hogs ranging in the woods on the opposite side of the river. Finding their number gradualh' decreasing, he at length suspected his red neighbors, who were encamped in the same neighborhood. He therefore concluded to keep watch over his herd of swine. In a few days his suspicions were proved well founded. While on rruard in the woods, not more than half a mile from his cabin, he suddenly heard the crack of a gun and the squeal of a hog. Approaching the spot from which the noise came as cautiously and noiselessly as he could, he found an Indian upon one of his hogs, trying to cut its throat. The hog had made such a loud noise that the Indian had not percei^'ed the approach of Thornbury until the latter had secured the Indian's gun, which was leanincy ajrainst a tree near by. The noble red man was talking to the hog when Thornbury approached. He would use the English tongue and then the Delaware in his eager efforts to persuade the hog to make less noise. The instant he found the white man near, he sprang up and would have fled; but Thornbury bade him stay, reminding him that he had both the guns. Upon this the brave hegan to beg for his gun; he assured Thornbury that this was his first offense, and that it should be his last: that he was really in want and had taken no meat for three days, or he would not have done this. " No," said Thornbur}', " 3'ou must stay until I show you how to stick a hog."* After doing this, he made the Indian take it upon his sho^klers and carry it across the river upon the ice, and place it in the dooryard of his cabin. The Indian obeyed sullenly, and then said, " Now me go." " Not yet," said Thornbury, " YOU must stay until I show you how to clean a hog without skinning it as you do." So, he had to remain and assist in the scalding and cleaning. After it was duly hung up, the red man again modestly interposed, " Now me go." " No," said the imperturbable Thornbury, " you must stay and see me cut him open." After this part of the operation had been performed, the captive again interposed, " Now me go." Again the white man replied, " Not Yet," and deliberately split the hog in two, right in the middle. He also commanded the Indian to lash the one half upon his back. He then returned his gun, and in a pleasant tone bade him go back to his camp and get his squaw to cook some pork for supper. The Indian was overcome with this kindness and presence of mind, and afterward tried to show his appreciation and gratitude."

Clirisiiini Indians. - ^ One day a settler, whose cabin was near the banks of Sugar Creek, where the Indians had come to hunt, went to them for the purpose of trading dogs. It was the morning of a beautiful Sabbath day. As he approached their camp, he was surprised to see them all collected together, sitting upon the ground in a circle, in the center of which one of their number was reading out of a book. That book proved to be a New Testament, in the Delaware language. The settler felt much rebuked when he found that thev were hallowing the Christian Sabbath bv the worship of God.

'-Their ideas of Christianity were few and simple, but they were firm and steadfast in their faith, and stated that they had been converted through the labors of a missionary by the name of McCoy.

"Sometime after the Indians had all gone a famih' of fifteen or twenty returned, and camped on Lewis' Creek, five miles below Shelbyville. My recollection is that it was in the fall of 1825; and as they were some distance from any white man's cabin, and peaceable, they were permitted to remain and trap raccoon and muskrat. While there the following occurence took place: One Lewis Buskirk who had entered and settled on what is now the Guy Johnson farm, purchased a horse at Lebanon, Ohio. The "animal escaped from its new master and returned to Lebanon, pursued by Buskirk on foot and alone. After he had been gone several day his friends became alarmed because of his continued absence, and at once concluded that the Indians had killed him. A company was at once raised consisting of John C. Walker, then

Sheriff, William George and James Goodrich, J. M. Young, William Morris, James H. Lee, Nimrod Galewood, and perhaps others, all well armed, and marched to the Indian camp on Sabbath morning. To their great surprise they found the red men engaged in religious worship. They stopped a short distance from where the worshippers were congregated, where after the services had concluded the}^ were greeted by the aboriginal minister who inquired of them why they carried their arms on Sunday.

"The white men told the Indians there was a man missincr, and that it was the supposition that they had murdered him, and fearing the result they had come to advise them to leave, which they agreed to do if allowed three days for preparation. Before the time had expired they had struck tents and departed for the far west. Buskirk returned with his horse in a few days, but not until the innocent band of red men were far on their journey westward. Near the house of Esquire Wells, in Marion Township, is the grave of one of this noble race, and tradition tells that it is the last resting place of one of the distinguished warriors of the Delaware tribe. At each recurring anniversary of the death of this celebrated war chief (if such he was), the remnant of the tribe that inhabited this section would gather at this consecrated spot, and the exercises are described by Mr. Wilson as he saw them in the spring of 1819, and again in 1820.

" Quite a number of Indians came to my father's cabin one brio-ht, spring morning and borrowed of my mother a coffee pot, into which they poured a quart of whisky. The}' then proceeded to the grave, forming a circle thereabout, with the spokesman at the head. He lifted the coffee pot to his mouth as if in the act of drinking, and then passed it around the circle three times, each one pretending to drink of the contents. This having been done they folded their arms and stood for minutes in the attitude of solemn meditation or silent prayer. The leader then emptied the contents of the vessel at the head of the grave of the dead hero, after which the band dispersed."'