Howard-Cass County IN Archives History - Books .....Reminiscences Of Lewis Cass Bell 1909
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Book Title: History Of Howard County Indiana

REMINISCENCES OF LEWIS CASS BELL.
BY OTIS C. POLLARD.

   Lewis Cass Bell, claiming the distinction of being the first white child born
in Cass county, and also claiming that Cass county was named after him, was yet
alive in 1908. and related his experiences with the Indians of Howard county,
over which he roamed as a pioneer hunter.

   Mr. Bell knew personally the Indian chiefs of this part of the Miami reserve
and hunted with them all. Chief Kokomoko was head of a village, extending from
the corner of Sycamore and Main streets to Wildcat creek, and including perhaps
one hundred wigwams. Chief Kokomoko, Mr. Bell says, was friendly with the
whites, and used the pale face well. Physically he was a large man, but he
dearly loved his whisky, and was not of much personal force or character.

   Chief Shappendocia (spelled phonetically), founder of Greentown, Mr. Bell
declares to have been one of the best Indians he ever knew. He did not drink a
drop, and he and his wife were the only two of his village who did not drink.
The chief was greatly in love with his wife, whom he procured under unusual
circumstances. Her first husband was a hard-drinking, worthless Indian and did
not treat his squaw well, and upon meeting Shappendocia she resolved to leave
her husband. An elopement was planned and carefully executed, but the deserted
husband, learning of the situation, resolved to give pursuit and kill Chief
Shappendocia. The latter, learning of this fact, dismounted from his pony, and
giving the reins to the squaw, with directions to proceed. Chief Shappendocia
hid behind a tree and awaited the arrival of the pursuing husband. When he came
within shot, Chief Shappendocia picked him off the saddle and rejoined his
future wife, soon marrying the woman he had made a widow. Their married life was
a very happy one.

   Chief Shappendocia had many of the ways of civilization. He played a violin
well, was a good talker, using very correct English. His home, a cabin of two
rooms, was well kept, one side being used for a small store which he conducted.
The chief also farmed a little, making a specialty of corn and beans, and raised
some live stock. When the Indians left the reserve. Chief Shappendocia sold out
and went west with his people, but he told Mr. Bell that if he "did not like the
new location he would come back," but he never returned.
INDIAN VILLAGES.
Chief Squirrell's village formed the third of a link of Indian settlements of
the pioneer days. His seat of government was located near Pipe creek, in Cass
county, but the village bore an intimate relation to the pioneer and social life
of Howard (then Richardville) county. Chief Squirrell was a small, quick, active
man, a good Indian, and popular with his people and the whites.

   To the north still was the powerful village of Chief Francis Godfrey, a man
of massive size, whose belt was almost equal to the girth of a saddle. He had a
wide and overshadowing influence over the Indians of Howard county, and even
among the whites.

   Mr. Bell was as much identified with Howard as with Cass county. He was a
noted hunter, making his living in that way. He formed the acquaintance of
"Indian Tom;" who belonged to Chief Shappendocia's village, and they were boon
companions in the hunt. Mr. Bell lost the Indian's friendship through a joke.
Finding "Indian Tom" asleep one day upon a log, Mr. Bell slipped up without
making any noise and abstracted the Indian's rifle, which rested at his side.
Then secreting himself, he cried like a wildcat. The Indian jumped to his feet
and grabbed for his gun, but finding it gone, instantly detected the presence of
Mr. Bell. The red skin was very angry and sullenly demanded his weapon, which
was at once handed him. He quit the scene with angry strides and never
afterwards spoke to Mr. Bell, being so ashamed at being outdone in this manner,
which was a blow to his pride. Whenever Mr. Bell visited the village of Chief
Shappendocia "Indian Tom" always left.

   Mr. Bell, like the Indians, earned his chief money by shooting deer, wolves
and game of all kinds for the furs. One year he and Isaac Fickle killed three
hundred deer, besides other game. Bell was an expert shot. Early in the fall he
would take rifle in hand and start into the deep forests which then covered a
tier of counties in the reserve. Weary with the hunt of the day, he would build
a fire to keep away the wolves and gather brush for a bed and without bed
covering of any kind lie down to peaceful dreams. Though the snow lay deep upon
the ground, no bed covering was needed. Attired in wamus, buckskin breeches and
moccasins, the bitterest cold would have no effect upon him. For supper he would
bring down a fat squirrel and roast him by the fire, eating the toothsome meat
with dry bread, always carried by the hunter.

   Wolves in this country were still so troublesome in December, 1847, that a
premium of three dollars and fifty cents in addition to the lawful fee was
offered by the county commissioners for each scalp presented the county clerk.

   In the early forties the Indians were yet numerous in Howard county. One day
several of them, while drunk, appeared at Judge Linsday's cabin door. His
daughter, Mrs. L. E. Harrison, was nearly frightened out of her senses, and as
the cabin was not chinked —that is, the spaces between the logs were open—she
began to climb to the loft, screaming for her father at the top of her voice.
When he arrived she had reached the loft and was seated on a pole, trembling
with excitement, while the Indians roared with laughter. The judge commanded her
to descend, and giving the Indians something to eat sent them away.

   The Indians came near breaking up the first Fourth of July celebration held
in Kokomo in 1847, at the Sulphur Springs, a site since builded over, on East
Mulberry street. At this time the site was covered with a dense woods. People
came from over the county, but not to exceed fifty people were present, but all
were intensely patriotic, and the day was celebrated in a memorable manner. The
people brought their dinners and remained during the entire day. The speeches
were made by Judge N. R. Linsday and Colonel C. D. Murray, pioneer lawyers.
During the celebration an Indian, who was under the influence of drink, and
perched in a tree, caused great confusion. David Foster, who had an unbounded
influence over the red skins, strapped his blanket on his horse, rode away with
the Indians following, and persuaded the feathered and painted visitors to leave
the scene that the celebration might proceed peacefully and without
interruption. There was no lack of noise and the boom of the anvil gave all the
necessary artillery and explosive effect. Judge Linsday and Colonel Murray stood
upon a stump during the delivery of their speeches. It was the habit of using a
stump as a platform in an early day in Indiana that the phrase originated of
"taking the stump," applied to political campaigns.

   Frequently the Indians would get drunk and run whooping through the village
of Kokomo like madmen, or dash around upon their ponies. They were really
dangerous, but never hurt any one. They always seemed in fear of the government.

   David Foster, the founder of Kokomo, was a notable trader with the Indians of
this locality. Once upon a time he sold needles to the red skins at one dollar
apiece by claiming that the last needle maker was dead and that it would be a
long time before the lost art was again learned.

   Joseph and Leodicia McCoy, well known pioneers of the county, rode horseback
over the Indian trail from Marion to this city, being the only way they could
travel, the roads not permitting of the use of a wagon. They passed the night in
the Indian camp, then to the west of the City Park site. They were cordially
treated by the Indians, being furnished with blankets for their greater comfort.
When they departed the next morning the dogs barked at them furiously and the
Indians were in a hub-bub, calling at the canines. The McCoys supposed that the
Indians were sicking the dogs upon them, but later found that the red skins were
endeavoring to call the dogs off from their attack. The McCoys settled in Monroe
township. Mrs. McCoy lived to the age of ninety-two years, having died in Kokomo.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. I
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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