THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
| pp. | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, | |
| 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. |
location of "L St Joseph" is confusing.45 That Mota and Motiel represent the same individual is supported by their failure to appear on the same document, but always singly under one version or the other. In any event, it is clear that Motiel should be coupled with Menauquet, and both are placed in the St. Joseph band.
Shaauquebe- The identification of this person is uncertain because of
the similarity of the names of several individuals. Wolcott's annuity list of
1826 includes Shay-awk-aybee who lived at the village of Mak-keen-gwi-noughk
at Milwaukee with population of 61, and Shay-awk-ago-bee who lived at Kay-tay-o-tun-uk
on the St. Joseph with a population of 64.46
Only the first name remains on Wolcott's 1827 annuity list.47 Tipton's 1829 payroll, however, does list a She-ock-co-pay
who resided with 15 persons on the "Elk-heart".48
The latter individual may well be the one intended by the signature, but it
must also be noted that Benac is also known as Osheakkebe.49
Although Benac did not sign the Treaty of Oct. 16, 1826 under that name, he
was present and drew rations for 12 as "Ben, ack".50 A suggestion that the Shaauquebe who signed the
Treaty of Oct. 16, 1826 was affiliated with the St. Joseph band appears to be
reasonably secure.
The nine individuals thus far discussed who signed the Treaty of Oct. 16,
1826 can with reasonable certainty be assigned to the St. Joseph band. A few
other individuals may be affiliated with this band, out the amount of infor-
____________________
45. Census of Potawatomi Indians, 1827. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 833-34.
46. Wolcott, A List of Chiefs .... 1826.
47. Wolcott, A List of Chiefs ..... 1827.
48. Tipton, Pay Roll of the Potawatomi Indians, September 6-8 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-5.
49. Article 3 of the Treaty of Chicago, Aug. 29, 1821.
50. Tipton, Memorandum of Indians Drawing
Rations, October, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 614-618.
mation available concerning them does not permit the development of a strong argument. These suggested affiliates include:
Kasha- The name may be cognate to that of "Cashkas" who in 1824 indicated
to the Reverend Isaac McCoy that he would like to make a farm in the following
spring.51 The context of the remarks places
his residence on the St. Joseph River.
Ahnowawausa- In Tipton's ration list for October, 1826 the name is spelled
"Ah, no waw way say" but no indication of village location appears.52
It is possible that the same individual is represented as "A-ne-wa-saw" who
signed the Treaty of Greenville as one of the Potawatomi of the River Saint
Joseph.
2. Signers from the Wabash Band:
Toisoe- Inspection of a photocopy of the original Treaty of Oct. 16,
1826 suggests that the name should probably have been transcribed as "To, i,
see" but it does appear in various forms as: To-y-sa,53
Toisa,54 To, wa, za,55
and Twazie56. The location of his village has
been interpreted to be on the west bank of the Tippecanoe River nearly opposite
the present Talma, in Fulton County.57 This is the location for which a reservation was
made "for the band of To-i-sas brother
____________________
51. McCoy, History of the Baptist Missions, p. 236.
52. Tipton, Memorandum of Indians Drawing Rations, October, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 614-618.
53. Potawatomi Indians: Annuity Receipt, September 18, 1824. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, p. 392.
54. Potawatomi Chiefs: Request Concerning Disposition of Education Fund, Oct. 16, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, p. 596.
55. Tipton: Memorandum of Indians Drawing Rations, October, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, p. 614.
56. Metea and Toisa to Thomas Robb: Certificate of Indebtedness, November 5, 1823. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 325-26.
57. Ibid, see footnote p. 325 by
Robertson and Riker. A similar placement is given by Frederick W. Hodge, Handbook
of American Indians, II: 772.
Me-mot-way, and Che-quam-ko-ko, ten sections to include their village" by the Treaty of Oct. 27, 1832. (7 Stat. 399.)
Metea- A noted chief who frequently acted as spokesman at treaty councils,
Metea acted as the principal Potawatomi informant to William H. Keating, a member
of Major Stephen H. Long's 1823 expedition. Keating indicates his village was
named Muskwawasepeotan and located on the St. Joseph branch of the Maumee River,
"about nine miles above Fort Wayne."58 Metea
died at Fort Wayne on May 5, 1827.59 The Indian
historian, Jacob Piatt Dunn, specifically locates the village at the mouth of
Cedar Creek, a tributary of this river.60a
Aubenaube- The subsequent Treaty of Tippecanoe (Oct. 26, 1832) made provision
in Article II "for the band of Aub-be-naub-bee, thirty-six sections, to include
his village," thus implying his status as leader of a band. (7 Stat. 394.) An
1827 census of Potawatomi Indians listed 45 individuals in his village (or band?)
but only 40 were listed on an 1828 payroll which also gave his village location
as the Tippecanoe.61 The 1829 payroll was more
specific on village location, indicating that it was on the prairie north of
the Tippecanoe River and that the population had increased to 60.62
That this location was reasonably constant is suggested by the fact that Lewis
Cass' list (June 2, 1825) of approved trading posts lists one at "Aubinaubees
village, Tippecanoe River."63
____________________
58. Keating, Narrative of an Expedition, Vol. I, p. 88.
59. Letter of John Tipton to Lewis Cass, dated May 10, 1827. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 711-712.
60a. Dunn, Indiana and Indianans, Vol. I, p. 87.
61. Tipton: Memorandum of Indians Drawing Rations, October, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-105.
62. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-236.
63. Enclosure in Letter of Lewis Cass
to John Tipton, June 2, 1825. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 465-467.
Ashkom- John Tipton's 1827 census of the Potawatomi Indians lists Ash kum as the chief of a group of 65 persons.64 The list of provisions issued to the Potawatomi at a council held August 2-6, 1828 includes Ash-kum and gives his residence as the Tippecanoe,65 as does the Sept. 6-8, 1828 payroll of the Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi which also gives the village size as 61 persons.66 The payroll for the year 1829 lists the village of Ash-kum as on the Eel River with a population of 65 persons. 67 Although there is, then, indication of a movement of this band to the Eel River, at the time of the 1826 treaty they were located on the Tippecanoe River and, in any event, they remain within the territory suggested for the Wabash Band.
Waupaukeeno- This individual appears initially as "Wah puck a no" on
Tipton's 1824 annuity receipt.68 On the 1825 annuity receipt it becomes "Wau puck
a no,"69 while in 1826 it is again "Wah, puck, a, no."70
Tipton's 1828 payroll includes "wau.pau.ka.no" and gives his village location
as the "Little St. Joseph" with a population of 43.71
The 1829 payroll includes "Waw-paw-ko-no" with a
____________________
64. Census of Potawatomi Indians, 1827. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 833-34.
65. Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, August 2-6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 74-76.
66. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-105.
67. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-236.
68. Potawatomi Indians: Annuity Receipt, Sept. 18, 1824. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 392-394.
69. Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi: Annuity Receipt, Oct. 24, 1825. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 505-506.
70. Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi to Tipton: Annuity Receipt, Oct. 18, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 597-98.
71. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians,
Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-105.
population of 27 persons but gives no location.72
The Little St. Joseph here mentioned would be the tributary which flows into the Maumee River at Fort Wayne, a location suggested as falling within the sphere of the Wabash Band.
Nasawauka- The payroll of the Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, Sept. 6-8,
1828 lists an "N.swaw.ga" as chief of a village of 35 persons located at "Tipp
Lake."73 The list of provisions provided to
the Potawatomi at a council Aug. 2-6, 1828 lists a "Nee-swau-gee" or "Nee-swaw-gee"
located "at a Lake on T."74 The 1829 Potawatomi payroll also lists "Nees-waw-
gay" as head of a group of 55 persons located at "Mix-ee-nic-kuck-kee."75 This suggests that it is Lake Max-inkuckee in
southeastern Marshall County which would also be in agreement with "a Lake on
Tippecanoe River." While Lake Maxinkuckee would be on the border between the
Wabash and Kankakee Bands, since it drains into the Tippecanoe, he is placed
with the former group.
Shaupatee- The September 6-8 payroll of the Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi
lists the location of the village of "Shaw.po.tie" as on the Eel River and comprising
34 persons.76 The 1829 payroll is more specific
and states that "Sa-po-tee" in on the Eel River at the old village of Pierrish
with the population listed as 40 persons.77
In the August, 1831 payroll, "Shop-po-tee" again has
____________________
72. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, 234-236.
73. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-105. Tippecanoe Lake is In Kosciusco County, considerably to the east of the other locations indicated.
74. Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, Aug. 2- 6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 74-76.
75. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
76. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-105.
77. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi,
1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
34 persons in his group.78
Noshaweka- This same individual signed the annuity receipt of Oct. 24,with
his name written as "No sha we a quan."79 In
the 1827 Potawatomi census it is "No cha wee quan" and the number in his village
is given as 16.80
His location is first given in connection with the provision list at the Potawatomi council, August 2-6, 1828 where "No-she-we-kwen" was at the portage of the Tippecanoe River.81 In the Sept. 6-8, 1828 payroll the location of "No.shah.o.quan" is simply given as the Tippecanoe but with a surprisingly high 65 persons.82 In the 1829 payroll, "No-shay-wee-quawn" on the Tippecanoe River drops down to 37 persons.83
Wimeko- The elder Wimeko participated in earlier treaty negotiations
and annuity payments (Waymeego signed the Treaty of Sept. 8, 1815 (7 Stat. 131-132);
Way-me-go signed the Treaty of August 29, 1821 (7 Stat. 218,221); Wy me go received
annuities Sept. 18, 182484; Wy meego received
an annuity payment on Oct. 24, 182585). When
we reach the Treaty of Oct. 16, 1826 with which we are here
____________________
78. Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, August, 1831. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 433-36.
79. Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi: Annuity Receipt, Oct. 24, 1825. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 505-6.
80. Tipton: Census of Potawatomi Indians, 1827. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 833-34.
81. Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, Aug. 2-6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 74- 76.
82. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., pp. 103-5.
83. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
84. Potawatomi Indians: Annuity Receipt, Sept. 18, 1824. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 392-94.
85. Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi: Annuity
Receipt, Oct. 24. 1825. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 505-6.
concerned, we find that in addition to Wimeko who signed the Treaty, a Wymego is listed among the scholars in the Carey Mission School on the St. Joseph's River to whom one quarter section of land was granted (7 Stat. 298-9.) It doubtless illustrates a frequent tendency (e.g., in Topenibe), for a son to carry the same name as the father. That Wimeko and Wymego are synonyms is further documented in the list of Indians drawing rations for their bands at the Wabash treaty negotiations where we find only Wy, me, go listed. 86
In the 1827 Tipton census of Potawatomi Indians, Wymego's group is listed as having 73 persons.87 He (Wah-me-go) also has 73 listed on the provision list of Aug. 2-6, 1828 with the location given as "Mtomonaung."88 On the payroll of Sept. 6-8, 1828 the number is given as 72 with the location also as "Metomonoung."89 In 1832 a section including Wymego's village was granted to the daughter of Swagaw (7 Stat. 400.) This would appear to be the basis for the location of the village on Royce's maps,90 placed on the north bank of Indian Creek, a tributary of the Tippecanoe River.
Kauk- In Tipton's payroll of Sept. 6-8, 1828, Cauk (or Porcupine) is
listed as having a band of 44 persons and residing at Chippewa Town.91 In the
____________________
86. Tipton: Memorandum of Indians Drawing Rations, Oct., 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 614-618.
87. Tipton: Census of Potawatomi Indians, 1827. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, 833-34.
88. Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, August 2-6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., pp. 74-76.
89. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-5.
90. Royce, Indian Land Cessions. . . . , plates CXXVI and CXXVII.
91. Tipton: Pay Poll of Potawatomi Indians,
Sept. 6-8. 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-5.
list of provisions issued to the Potawatomi at the council held Aug. 2-6, 1828, we find Cauk listed on August 3 as from Tippecanoe, on August 4 as from Chippewa Town, and on August 5 as from Chippewa Town.92 Since only one Cauk seems to be present, it would suggest that Chippewa Town is located on the Tippecanoe River. Kauk's location is subsequently given in 1829 as Chippewa Town again, with no further locational data.93 The location on the Tippecanoe River would seem confirmed, however, in that Meekiss, or Kauk's widow, signed the Treaty of Sept. 20, 1836, ceding the Potawatomi reservation on the Tippecanoe River (Royce 221) (7 Stat. 514), and by the similar information obtained for Jequaumkogo treated below.
The alternative explanation to the above which suggests itself is that "Chippewa Town" is the village located at the junction of the Big and Little Calumet which Tipton describes as consisting "mostly of Chippways with one or 2 Frenchmen and a few Puttomies."94 This explanation, however, would not take care of the alternative use of the Tippecanoe River in designating the location. Further, the coupling of Chippewa Town and Tippecanoe in connection with Jequaumkogo would clearly support the first interpretation.
Jequaumkogo- The transformation of a "Ch" to "J" by the recorders of
the treaty signers has also been noted in connection with other names (see Jekose,
below). we may therefore identify this person with the "Che quam co co" of Tipton's
1827 census, having a band or village of 50 persons.95 In Tipton's
____________________
92. Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, Aug. 2-6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 74-76.
93. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
94. Tipton: Journal, Indiana-Illinois Boundary, May 15-July 30, 1821. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, p. 266.
95. Tipton: Census of Potawatomi Indians,
1827. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 833-34.
Sept. 6-8, 1828 payroll, "Che.quawm.ko.ko" again has 50 in his group, and is located on the Tippecanoe.96 On his 1829 payroll, the number is only 30, and the location given as Chippewa Town on the Tippecanoe.97 The Treaty of Oct. 27, 1832 reserved from the land cession "for the band of To-i-sas brother Me-mot-way, and Che-quam-ko-ko, ten sections to include their village" (Royce 221) (7 Stat. 399.)
Jekose- As in the preceding name, this would appear to comprise a shift
from Chekose to Jekose. A "Cho, case" was present at the treaty and drew rations.98
This list of provisions issued at the subsequent council of Aug. 2-6, 1828,
identifies the home of Chekose as on the Tippecanoe River99
as does Tipton's payroll of Sept. 6-8, 1828, with his village size given as
28.100 On the basis of the sections reserved for him
in 1832 (7 Stat. 399), the village was on the west side of the Tippecanoe River
between the present Warsaw and Monoquet. His son ceded the land in 1836 after
Chekose's death. (7 Stat. 498.)
Squawbuk- Tipton's annuity receipts list a Squa buck in 1824,101
a Squaw buck in 1825,102 and a Squo,buck in
1826.103 In the Aug. 2-6, 1828 provision
____________________
96. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-5.
97. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
98. Tipton: Memorandum of Indians Drawing Rations, October, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 614-618.
99 Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, Aug. 2-6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 74-76.
100 Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-5.
100 Potawatomi Indians: Annuity Receipt, Sept. 18, 1824. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 392-4.
102. Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi: Annuity Receipt, Oct. 24, 1825. Ind. Hist. Coll,, XXIV, pp. 505-506.
103. Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi to
Tipton: Annuity Receipt, Oct. 18, 1826. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 597-8.
list, the name is transformed to Msau-buck and Msaw-buck, with the location of Tippecanoe given.104 On Tipton's Sept. 6-8, 1828 payroll, Mis.quaw.buck is listed as being on the Tippecanoe with 28 persons, the same figure as on the 1827 list for Squaw Buck.105 Tipton's 1829 payroll lists Mes-quaw-buck with 30 persons in his village, and the location given as near Burrell's village, 106 which in turn may be located on the Tippecanoe.107 Article II of the Treaty of Oct. 27, 1832 reserved from the land cession, "for the band of Mes-qua-buck, four sections, to include his village (7 Stat. 317). This reserve (Royce 204) is placed on the north bank of the Tippecanoe River near Lake Tippecanoe.108
Shepshauwano- This name is transcribed on subsequent treaties as Ship-she-wa-non
(Treaty of Sept. 20, 1828) (7 Stat. 317) and Ship-shewa-no (Treaty of Oct. 27,
1832) (7 Stat. 399.) In Tipton's 1829 Potawatomi payroll, the location of Ship-shee-won-no,
is given as "head of Tippecanoe."109 Together
with the other groups on the Tippecanoe drainage, Shepshawano is therefore placed
in the Wabash band.
Kewaune- Tipton's annuity receipts of 1824 (Kee wan e),110 1825 (Kee wau
____________________
104. Abstract of Provisions Issued to the Potawatomi, Aug, 2-6, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 74-76.
105. Tipton: Pay Roll of Potawatomi Indians, Sept. 6-8, 1828. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 103-5.
106. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
107. Letter of Lewis Cass to John Tipton dated Oct. 13, 1824. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 397-98.
108. Royce, Indian Land Cessions . . . . , Plate CXXVII.
109. Pay Roll, Wabash and Elkhart Potawatomi, 1829. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXV, pp. 234-36.
110. Potawatomi Indians: Annuity Receipt, Sept. 18, 1824. Ind. Hist. Coll., XXIV, pp. 392-394.