Greene County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter II The Indian Occupancy 1884
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Book Title: History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, Indiana

CHAPTER II.
BY COL. E. H. C. CAVINS.

THE INDIAN OCCUPANCY- THE MIAMIS AND THE PIANKESHAWS- OTHER INDIAN TRIBES-
CESSION TREATIES- EFFORTS OF CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES- THE MOUND-BUILDERS- THEIR
BONES AND OTHER REMAINS- A PRE-HISTORIC FORTIFICATION- FIRST WHITE MAN IN GREENE
COUNTY-ABORIGINAL CUSTOMS- INDIAN MURDERS- CONSPIRACIES- REMOVAL OF THE INDIANS
WEST- THE MOUNDS AT WORTHINGTON- BURIAL VAULT - SECTION OF THE MOUNDS- A CHARNEL
HOUSE- CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS- THE JAPANESE IDOL- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS- COPPER AXES,
ETC., ETC.

PRIOR to the year 1767, the land embraced in Greene County, with a large portion
of the State of Indiana, belonged to a tribe of Indians called the Piankeshews.
This people was one of the Algonquin tribes, and was one of the Miami
confederacy. The Miami confederacy was formed early in the seventeenth century
by the various tribes of Indians occupying Ohio, Indiana, a part of Illinois and
a part of Michigan. The object of the confederacy was for the purpose of
repelling the invasions of the Iroquois or Five Nations, a very powerful
combination of warlike Indians, who being pressed toward the setting sun by the
advance of civilization, in turn pressed westward the weaker tribes of Indians.
Originally, so far as history or tradition gives any account, the whole of
Indiana was owned and occupied by the Twigtwees or Mi amis, the Weas and the
Piankeshaws. At a later date, there were other tribes, called permitted tribes,
viz.: Delawares, or Leno Lenape, as they were originally called, Pottawatomies.
Shawnees, Kickapoos, with a few Wyandots and Senecas. The Wyandots and Senecas
seem to have had so little claim upon the land that they were never required to
sign any treaty. The Pottawatomies seem to have acquired their interest by
conquest, or rather by pushing the Miamis back from the Northwest toward the
interior of the State, but they never claimed any interest in Greene County.

THE DELAWARES.

   The Delawares made a treaty with the Piankeshaws in 1767, by which they came
into possession of a large part of Central Indiana, including the White River
country as far south as the Lower Fork of White River, but to make the title
perfect it was considered necessary to make a separate treaty with the Miamis.
The Delaware Indians called White River Ope-co-me-cah. The Miamis at that time
claimed the northern part of the territory embraced in the treaty, and the
Piankeshaws the southern part.

Greene County was in the part claimed by the Piankeshaws at that time. In the
treaty between the Piankeshaws and Delawares, it was only a permissive
possession that was given to the Delawares. These two tribes, together with the
Weas, were, and continued to be, on friendly terms with each other, and all of
them occupied the territory embraced in Greene County, from the date of the
treaty among themselves until they were finally removed from the State. From
some cause unknown to the writer, the Piankeshaws never ceded to the United
States any land north of a line beginning at the mouth of Turtle Creek in
Sullivan County, and running in a direct line to Orleans, now in Orange County.
But we trust that the present owners of the land north of this Sine will not
become alarmed at the discovery of this breach or broken link in the chain of
their title.

THE CESSION TREATIES.

   There were three treaties with the Indians, embracing the land in Greene
County. The first two were made on the 30th day of September, 1809, at Fort
Wayne with the Delawares and Miamis, and the last was made on the 26th day of
October, 1809, at Vincennes with the Weas.

   Gen. William H. Harrison, who was afterward President of the United States,
was the Commissioner who made these treaties, and it seems that he regarded it
as necessary to make it with these three tribes, but not necessary to make a
treaty with the Piankeshaws.

MISSIONARY WORK AMONG THE INDIANS.

   After the settlement at Vincennes by the whites, the Piankeshaws seem to have
drifted toward that point, and near that place were their principal villages and
headquarters. They readily took upon themselves the vices of their white
neighbors, but did not seem to be impressed with their virtues. They would
patiently listen to the Catholic priests who tried to impress upon them their
mode of worship, and would quietly answer them by as earnest an effort to get
the Catholic priests to adopt the Indian worship of the great spirit. One
redeeming trait in their character was developed at the beginning of the
Revolutionary war, and that was, they were the first of the Western tribes of
Indians to take sides with the patriot cause against the English, and were soon
followed by the other tribes of the Miami confederacy.

AN EARLIER RACE.

   Prior to the year 1810, no white man resided within the borders of Greene
County. Only straggling or strolling bands of Indians invaded the territory.
They seemed for many years preceding that time to have had no permanent home
here, but passed through on war and hunting excursions. On many of the hills,
and in many of the valleys and on many of the plains they have left specimens of
their rude and clumsy axes, made of stone, and their nicely formed arrow heads
made of flint These mementos of another age and of former inhabitants are found
to this day. There seems to be no place in the county specially noted for their
rallies or congregation in large numbers. No field has been made a scene of
carnage; no habitation has been made desolate by their fierce, unrelenting
tomahawk; or at least history or tradition have given us no information of such
events. In Section 8, Township 6 north, Range 5 west, there are clearly defined
indications of lines of fortifications, embracing about one-quarter of a mile.
When they were made, or for what purpose, is lost in the vista of time. Possibly
in the ages past- before the discovery of America- unrelenting war swept over
that part of Greene County, and possibly a regular siege was enacted at that
place in that day. In the northeast corner of Richland Township, near what is
called Sleath's Mill, there is a large rock, which was used by the Indians as a
lookout. The rude steps cut by them for the purpose of enabling their sentinels
to ascend to the point of the look-oat are still visible to any person whose
curiosity leads him to the place. At Fair-play, there has been found several
specimens of pottery of an ancient and rather crude type. Across the river from
Fairplay, after the great flood of 1875, there were found a great many pieces of
pottery, some of which had impressed ornaments on them. These pieces bore
evidence in themselves that they were of another age, and they were washed out
of the ground, over which large timber had been growing a few years before. On
the ridge coming up to the lower Richland bridge, there was an Indian village,
but deserted before any white man set his foot upon Greene County soil. At
Worthington quite a number of Indian relics have been found in excavating- axes,
arrow heads, charms, earthen ware and many other curiosities, and among them two
copper tomahawks.

THE FIRST WHITE VISITORS.

   In the year 1813, a party of white men visited the territory now known as
Greene County. They resided at Vincennes, then known as the Old Post. They came
on a hunting expedition, more for novelty, curiosity and enjoyment, than for any
other reason. They started out from Vincennes in a pirogue or boat, went down
the Wabash River to the mouth of White River, and up White River to the fork,
and thence up the West Fork to a point above the mouth of Richland Creek, and
landed on the east side of the river south of Bloomfield. They spent several
days in that locality, hunting. At the time of this excursion, a part of the old
Indian burying ground near their landing was comparatively new. The Indian
burying ground was on the farm since known as the Warnick farm. In an early day,
it was a common thing for the boys from Bloomfield to dig up the skeletons of
these dead Indians. Perhaps they were induced to dig into these graves from an
idea that very generally prevailed in those days that the property of Indians
was buried with them. While it was common to turn up skulls and other human
bones, no valuable discovery was ever made, except that a gun barrel was found
in one of the graves. Nearly all traces of this ancient burying ground have
disappeared through lapse of time. The stalwart frame of many an Indian savage,
whose war cry and tomahawk sent terror to the hearts of many an innocent victim,
has doubtless returned to dust, and now forms a part of the soil of Greene
County. Many of the earliest settlers did not get over the deep and abiding
hatred they sustained toward the Indians, and especially those whose relatives
had been cruelly and wantonly murdered by them. After the treaty of peace had
been made between the whites and Indians, occasionally an Indian would be found
dead from a gun shot wound. Several were killed in Greene County, one of whom
was at a place a short distance below the mouth of Richland Creek, on the east
side of the river, in a ravine running up from the river, on what is known as
the Lester farm. It was near the old Indian village, and was a wicked and
unprovoked murder. It was in the year 1810, while the Government survey of land
was being made.

AN UNPROVOKED MURDER.

   An Indian had shot a deer in the ravine and was dressing it. A hunter by name
of Smothers, who was employed by the surveying party to furnish them with meat,
was in the immediate vicinity, and when he heard the crack of the Indian's
rifle, he at once understood the situation. Stealthily the white hunter stole
upon his unsuspecting victim, and at the crack of his rifle the Indian fell, and
in a few minutes expired. His body was concealed in the ravine and covered with
stones, and doubtless his decomposed bones are there now, unless washed into the
river.

   At that time the Government surveying party were encamped near the southwest
corner of Section 2, in Township 6 north, of Range 5 west. When they learned of
this murder, they were fearful that the Indians would find their murdered
companion, and they abandoned that camp, and never blazed the line dividing
Sections 2 and 11, so as to throw the Indians off their trail, should they
appear in that locality and seek to avenge themselves. At that time there was an
Indian trail passing up White River from Owl Prairie, and the trail crossed
Richland Creek near the place where the lower bridge is built.

OTHER DEATHS.

   Another Indian was killed in that locality in 1818. He was getting honey from
a tree, and while in the tree was shot by a white man. This was on a narrow neck
of land now known as the cut off, a short distance below the mouth of Richland
Creek.

   In the latter part of the year 1819, a transient white man by the name of
Osborn came to the settlement on Plummer Creek, and, while hunting, shot a
Shawnee Indian, who was also hunting. The Indian at the time he was shot was
sitting on a log, not expecting any danger. This occurred at a place about one
mile southwest of Mineral City. After this man shot the Indian, he went to Eli
Faucett's cabin. There was snow on the ground at the time, and it was believed
that he went to Mr. Faucett's in order to make the Indians, if they should find
that one of their number had been killed, believe it to have been done by Mr.
Faucett. The only settlers in that immediate locality at that time was Col. Levi
Fellows, Norman W. Pearce, Eli Faucett and their families, and two or three
hired hands. These settlers, when they found out about the murder, compelled the
murderer to bury the dead Indian, and conceal his gun, and then required him to
leave the settlement, and that was the last that was ever heard of him. There
were no courts at that time nearer than Washington, in Daviess County.

   About the same year and probably the summer following, an Indian was killed
by a white man at the mouth of Doan's Creek, only on the opposite side of the
river. A band of Indians were at that time on their way to a Western
reservation, and encamped for the night on the west side of the river. One of
them went to the river to get a drink or after a pail of water, and was shot
from the east side, and fell into the river.

INDIAN CONSPIRACIES.

   Notwithstanding the treaties that were made with the Indians for the purchase
of the territory embraced in Greene County, and other portions of the State, yet
great dissatisfaction existed among them about these treaties, and especially
among the tribes or parts of tribes who were not represented in the treaties.
Prominent among the disaffected and dissatisfied Indians were the celebrated
Tecumseh and his brother the Prophet. Tecumseh was a Shawnee, and his tribe did
not originally own any part of Indiana, and was only permitted to occupy a part
of the territory. In fact, no considerable part of that tribe ever occupied
Indiana, except while on the war path. He was a cunning and brave warrior, and
an eloquent orator, and was very popular with the various tribes in the
Northwestern Territory. He visited the various tribes and made speeches to them.
In his speeches, he proclaimed that the treaties for lands northwest of the Ohio
River were not made with fairness, and all of them should be considered void.
That no single tribe was invested with the power or authority to sell lands
without the consent of the other tribes; and that he and his brother, the
Prophet, would resist all further attempts of the whites to extend their
settlements into this territory. These two famous Indians, by their persistent
efforts and wonderful influence, finally brought about a powerful confederation
of Indians, and the treaties were not made effectual until after the battle of
Tippecanoe, which occurred on the 7th day of November, 1811. The Delawares, who
at that time occupied the White River and White Water Country, which included
the territory embraced in Greene County, refused to join Tecumseh's confederacy,
and remained at peace with the whites. Soon after the battle of Tippecanoe, the
Indians commenced their removal to the West, and the last band left Greene
County in 1819. A few years after that, a band of Indians on their way to the
West camped for a few days just above the mouth of Latta's Creek, on the west
bank of White River. The Piankeshaws were sent to Missouri and Kansas, and
finally all to Kansas. The number has grown smaller and smaller, as they have
continually met the encroachments of the lower order of whites, with their
handmaids of destruction- whisky and disease. In 1854, they were confederated
with the Weas, Peorias and Kaskaskias, and they all numbered 259. In 1868, they
numbered only 179. There has since been attached to this confederation the
Miamis, who went west of Indiana, and at this writing (1883), they are in the
Indian Territory, and number, all told, 208. In late years, the dawn of a
brighter and better era is upon them. They now own 52,000 acres of good land,
and have 3,000 acres in cultivation. They live in good homes, and dress like
civilized people, and their children attend schools of their own. Eight of their
boys have come back to the land of their ancestors, and are now attending
college in Indiana.

   The Delawares, who were the last Indians who occupied Greene County, have
been uniformly more fortunate than the Piankeshaws. Some of them are still in
Kansas. In 1866, 1,000 Delawares and Shawnees were incorporated with the
Cherokees in the Indian Territory, and are doing well. They are in an advanced
state of civilization, and are worth more per capita than any other tribe of
Indians. Their language is one of the best known of the Algonquin dialects.

   Tammany, whose name figures extensively with New York politics, was a
Delaware chief of the mythical period. There was an early tradition among the
Delawares that they were originally Western Indians, and at a very early day
emigrated to the East. At the first settlement in the United States, they
occupied the territory along the Delaware River, from which they take their
present name, and it was with them that William Penn made his celebrated treaty
by which he acquired Pennsylvania.

   During the war of the rebellion the Delawares furnished 170 soldiers for the
federal army, who proved brave and efficient soldiers and scouts.

THE WORTHINGTON MOUNDS.

   The remaining portion of this chapter was prepared by Prof. John Collett, the
eminent State Geologist, and published in his report of 1880. The sketch is so
complete and meritorious that the entire article is quoted, with slight
alterations to suit this volume.

   The mound was slightly elliptical, being 360 feet wide from north to south,
and from 360 to 390 feet long from east to west; the extreme height of carried
material at a point a little northeast of the center, was nine feet six inches,
sloping rapidly to the east, but with gradual incline north, south and west. The
carried material was a fine loam or clayey earth, brought from a neighboring
marsh one-quarter to a half a mile north, so that the distinction between the
artificial mound and the natural surface of clear fluviatile sand was easily
apparent. This material amounted to nearly 4,000 cubic yards of earth- 1,800
wagon loads; and as these people had none of the tools of our time, we may say
108,000 basketfuls. Allowing that these workmen or builders would travel as far
as an army under heavy marching orders, they would carry and deposit about
one-half a cubic yard per day to each man, or 8,000 days for one man. But
considering that each man had to supply himself with food and that he had to
join in the dance and festivities common to barbarous people on ceremonial
occasions, we may more safely estimate nine basketfuls, or nine cubic feet as a
day's work; consequently it would require the labor of one man 12,000 days, or
200 persons full sixty days.

   The outlook due east was up a valley piercing the eastern bluff of White
River, giving the sleepless priest, who guarded the ever burning fire upon his
altar, such opportunity of catching the first rays of sunrise as was necessary
in calling his people by chant and drum to their morning devotion and worship of
the sun- the fountain of life, light and comfort.

A BURIAL VAULT.

   Several years ago, W. C. Andrews in preparing for the erection of the old
Franklin House, excavated part of the east side and top of the mound. Near the
central apex, he found an elliptical vault eight feet long, five feet wide and
three feet deep, surrounded by a sandstone wall eighteen inches thick, with a
narrow entrance at the south end, and a minor elliptical chamber separated by a
wall at the north extremity. The bottom was floored with thin slabs or
flag-stones; it contained no bones or other relics, but the interior contents, a
"fat block" earth, indicated the decomposed remains of a cover of black
bituminous shale from the roof of neighboring outcrops of Coal A. This vault was
evidently not connected with but intrusive upon the original work after
abandonment by the originators. It seems especially adapted for the purpose of a
temporary receiving vault for bodies of those dying between the epochal national
funerals. Such temporary vaults were noticed at Fort Azatlan, in Sullivan
County, and other places in this State. Its location was invited by the circular
depression at the chimney-top near the apex of their predecessors' edifices.

   In 1878, the town authorities of Worthington removed a considerable part from
the north side of the mound, discovering none of the ancient remains, but
exposing several intrusive Indian graves near the surface, but on the
completion, March, 1880, of the Terre Haute & Southeastern Railroad to this
point, it was necessary in making a junction with the Indianapolis & Vincennes
Railroad to fill up the abandoned bed of the Wabash & Erie Canal along the tract
of the latter road. This was done under the direction of Calvin S. Taylor, by
borrowing earth from the mound. Much credit is due Mr. Taylor for carefully
observing the developments made for sacredly preserving the few relics found and
for measurements here reported.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE MOUND.

   The following interior arrangements were observed: The surface soil had been
stripped away to a depth of seven or eight inches, exposing a subsoil of
compact, tine sand, which constituted the floor of the mound room. Near the
center was a bed of ashes about ten inches deep, covering an area of ten or
twelve feet square, in which were roasted bones of animals, spikes of deer horn,
mussel and snail shells, charcoal and fragments of earthen-ware pots, indicating
the kitchen fire of a large household, The disturbed nature of the earth above
the fire-place, with a quantity of flat stones reddened by fire, seemed to
indicate a chimney, or smoke flue, partly supported by rough masonry, which in
the course of time had fallen in; black spots, or columns of black mold at the
circumference of the mound and at the interior points showed that trunks of
trees had been utilized as posts to support the earthen roof, which had entirely
decayed. The floor of the building was covered with fragments of broken pottery,
with a few stone or bone implements of household use. No warlike weapons were
seen- it was a peaceful agricultural people. The whole mound seemed to indicate
the communal home of a large family or tribe with a common roof, walls, fire,
etc., a mode of life characteristic of many primitive nations and races. Human
skeletons were found irregularly scattered near the circumference of a circle,
about sixty feet in diameter, having the ash pit for its center, but more
numerous near the eastern doorway. The bones were badly decayed, and as a rule
went to dust after exposure. They would represent a possible fifteen or twenty
individuals.

A PRE-HISTORIC MURDER.

   At once the question arises, What changed this residence or home of a tribe
to a charnel house? A single circumstance throws a ray of light. On the
northwestern arc of the circular corridor, or area, was found the skeleton of a
man with household implements widely scattered about as if in ordinary use; the
back part of his skull was crushed in by a blow of a large stone hammer from
behind and below, or while reclining on his right side, making an opening and
indentation in the occipital region two and one-half by three inches in area. A
murder had been committed; an unholy death had occurred beside the household
altar, and, probably by a law common to some American and Pacific Island
peoples, the house was thenceforward tabooed as unfit for occupation, and
dedicated to the dead. The remains of others were then brought from temporary
graves, and here deposited in the national "dead house" for their last sleep.
The articles found on the floor of the mound were: 1. Crania and human bones. 2.
Ornamental vase. 3. Japanese image- head. 4. Japanese image- foot. 5. Bone
whistle. 6. Copper ax. 7. Flint knives. 8. A smooth, symmetrical, oblong,
spherical stone muller or pestle. 9. Flint chips, by abrasion showing use. 10.
Bone implement.

CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS.

   The skull was of the typical pyramidal form, characteristic of the early
Mound Builders, and gave the following measurements. Circumference from eyebrow
to base of occiput, 18.20 inches; frontal arc, from ear to ear, 10.10 inches;
arc over top from ear to ear, 12.75 inches. The well-closed sutures and worn
teeth, as examined by Dr. Brouillette, of Worthington, indicated his age to have
been fifty-five or sixty years, and by measurement of the tibia, his height when
living was only five feet, four inches. The high head showed an unreasoning man
of great firmness and energy, and the projecting lower jaw a strong flesh eater.
The cranium was abnormal or lop-sided, by reason of superior size of the right
over the left side, so that when erect the head would incline that way, and as a
rule he would sleep lying on that side, as was probably the case when he was
killed.

POTTERY, JAPANESE IMAGES, VASES, ETC.

   The vase is ornamented by a peculiar fillet, with complementary pendant
curves in symmetrical design, and shows more skill than is usual in Mound
Builders' pottery. It is the most artistic design, accompanied by regular form
seen by the writer, out of over 1,000 specimens, by him examined, and seems to
indicate skill of a higher order than the careless efforts of an occasional
workman. In other words, it exhibits the skill of an habitual mechanic, trained
by teachers as well as practice. The Japanese head and foot were so peculiar as
to awaken doubts as to the genuineness of the find, hence an exhaustive inquiry
was made, not only of those immediately engaged in the excavation, but of other
citizens, calling in the aid of the well-known and successful detective, Mr. K.
Osborn. The testimony of all united as to its authenticity. The Superintendent,
C. S. Taylor, reports that it was found by a boy, employed on the excavation
about sixty feet north-northwest from the hearthstone center, on the sand floor,
eight feet below the surface. When first removed from its bed, it was soaked
with the dampness of the earth and so softened that in brushing away the
adhering dirt the extremity of the nose and ball of the right eye were slightly
abraded, as may be seen. The image was probably entire, but in the bustle of
work with a full force of men and teams, only the head and one foot were
preserved. The head is a striking picture, no artist could conceive the image of
an eagle or lion, and fix it in pictured art without seeing or knowing of such
animals. The physiognomy here given is as distinct from other races as these
animals are from other species. The most inventive genius could not join the
almond eyes, high cheek bones, strong nose, pouting lips and flabby ears to an
image without seeing familiarly an original Japanese. Nor would he have done so
unless the figure awoke either ideas of beauty or respect for a superior form,
worthy qualities, as an ancestor, governor, teacher or necessary protector.
Mound pottery, as a rule, is rude, inartistic and composed of a mixture of clay
and coarsely powdered mussel shells. This image on the other hand is an exact
presentment of a certain type, and does not contain in the interior fragments of
shells; but, in addition to the other points of superiority, has the exterior
surface covered with a well-defined coat of grayish-white clay, an art not usual
in our ancient potteries. All these facts seem to show that this image was the
work of an artist with more than self-acquired skill, and was the result of
generations of men, combining their experience from teacher to pupil, from
master to learner, and was borrowed from some older life center, and this
knowledge of the facial expression, it is suggested, could only be borrowed from
Japan or China. The recent emigration of a fleet of canoes of Asiatic Esquimaux
by Behring's Strait to Alaska on this continent fully sustains this suggestion.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE IDOL.

   The material of the image was submitted to Chemical Assistant Hurty for
qualitative analysis, and it was found to contain silicates of alumina, soda and
potassium, and sand humus and oxide of iron. If it was of modern make, it would
not have contained part of these ingredients, and if imported from Asia would
have contained the common kaolin of Eastern Asia. But the analysis shows that
the image was made up from common swamp clay, and still contained humus or
organic matter, and the coating was from the fire-clay of some adjacent coal
bank, clearly indicating that it was made of local materials, and therefore of
local manufacture.

COPPER IMPLEMENTS.

   The copper ax is of the usual size and form discovered in the mounds. On
analysis, it was found to be composed of copper, with traces of iron and carbon,
but without alloy of phosphorus or tin. The analysis shows its origin from the
copper mines of Lake Superior, and indicates their line of immigration by these
mines to Indiana. The other articles mentioned were the household implements,
common about the kitchen fires of this race.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.


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