National Archives,
Record Group 233.
Fitch, Graham
Report, December 11, 1851. (plus enclosures.)
12/11/1851, p. 1
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Washington, Dec. 11th 1851. |
Sir,
I am at length enabled to give you as full a report as the nature of the case admits of the matters in relation to the Eel River Miamies of Indiana to which my attention was called in your letter of May 29th 1851. The report would have been made earlier but for a protracted illness with which I was afflicted during Sept. Oct. & November. Soon after my letter to you of Aug. 2nd 1851 informing you of my visit to what was understood to be the place of residence of certain Indians claiming to be Eel River Miamies, & of having ascertained they had removed, I sought them at their new home or "village" on the South bank of the Wabash river, some six or eight miles above the mouth of the Mississinewa, I there found six families of Indians numbering in the aggregate sixteen persons.
Permit me here to premise that from 1834 to 1837 I was personally well acquainted with the adults of the Eel River Miamies, having often within that period visited professionally various members of the band. I likewise visited Go-te-up-wah, or (as he was generally designated by the whites) Capt. Flour, the Chief of the band very soon after he was fatally Stabbed by another Indian; & was present when he designated his successor (his brother Dickson's elder son) & an eye witness of the ceremony had upon the occasion. Soon after his (Flour's) death the band left the vicinity of my residence; (Logansport) & having seen no more of them, nor heard them mentioned in connection with the other Indians remaining in that State, I supposed them to be extinct, or to have become incorporated with the Miamies proper. My information induced me to suppose the former conclusion the more correct. On convening the six families before mentioned at one of their cabins I recognized five of the Sixteen as among my old acquaintances of the Eel River band. The names of the Sixteen are transmitted herewith marked "A". The four first named are sisters and quite old. The others are mostly their descendants. I personally knew during their lives Dickson, Tom Smith, Old Kentuck, & Little Flour & knew them
National Archives,
Record Group 233.
Fitch, Graham
Report, December 11, 1851. (plus enclosures.)
12/11/1851, p. 2
|
to be members of the Eel River band; & now recognized the widows of the two
former, & the widow of Go-te-cop-wah (Capt. Flour) & his daughter
Mas-son-se-quah, & Tah-con-se a Sister of the three first mentioned. The
names of the other members of the band, the relation they bear to each other
& to deceased members of the band (See paper marked "A") were
given me by those five women. In my subsequent inquiries I discovered no reason
to doubt the correctness of their Statements. They are residing on land which
they call their own, but, of their title to which I know nothing. Its quantity
does not exceed one hundred and sixty (160) acres; of which twenty five or
thirty are enclosed, & cultivated most of it then being in corn. They have
a little Stock- mostly ponies- two wagons, & a few farming utensils. They
state they were compelled to exchange the land on which they formerly resided
(on Deer Creek) because of their being then surrounded "by bad white men,'
who stole their ponies & otherwise annoyed them. They appear sober,
industrious & comfortable except in the matter of their habitations, which
are a rickety compound of logs & bark. They express great indignation
towards the Miamies proper for "robbing them of their money as soon as
their men were all dead." Desirous of strengthening my own recollection of
these Indians by that of other citizens of Logansport who must, I supposed,
have known them longer and better, I returned to that place with the view of
inducing such of the older citizens as had much knowledge of the Indians to
accompany me in a second visit to their "village." Finding however
that the expense of such course would be very considerable, I had another
interview with the Indians, and requested them, as they had the necessary means
of conveyance to be near Logansport on the 15th Sept. Accordingly on
that day they were confronted with Several of the older & most respectable citizens
of the place- gentlemen of unquestionable veracity, whose affidavits (marked)
"B" accompany this report. Having my attention Specially directed, in
yours of May 29th 1851, to an inquiry whether any "of the Eel
River Indians reside with the Miamies in the West," I endeavoured to
carefully investigate that point; and satisfactorily ascertained that three
women of the band (see paper "C") having intermarried with the
Miamies migrated
National Archives,
Record Group 233.
Fitch, Graham
Report, December 11, 1851. (plus enclosures.)
12/11/1851, p. 3
|
with their husbands; & are now with their five children residing West with
that nation. A statement to this effect was made to me in answer to an inquiry
by the old women of the Eel River band, & subsequently corroberated by such
of the Miamies proper who reside in Indiana, as I was enabled to see.
Having conducted the investigation thus far among the Eel Rivers & whites, I visited Several of the Miamies who are permitted by treaty or joint resolution of Congress to remain in Indiana. These corroberated the statements of the Eel Rivers; admitted the existence of the latter as a Separate band, & that it was constituted, as far as they were acquainted of the individuals mentioned in the accompanying list ("A").
My own knowledge of the matters at issue, & the proof elicited by the investigation fully warrant to my mind the following conclusions.
First That the Eel River Miamies are a distinct band- so recognized by the United States and by the Miamies,
Second That no portion of the annuity due them by treaties has been paid to the Eel Rivers since 1837 or 1838, but that it has since that period been erroneously paid to the Miamies.
Third That the individuals named in the list Marked "A" are the sole survivors & representatives of the Eel Rivers (except the three women mentioned as having married Miamies & migrated West with that nation) & as such entitled to their annuities past which have not been paid to them, & prospective.
|
Respectfully Yours |
Hon S. Lea
Comr Ind. Affairs.
National Archives,
Record Group 233.
Fitch, Graham
Report, December 11, 1851. (plus enclosures.)
12/11/1851, p. 4
|
Names of Surviving Eel River Miamies obtained at their village Aug. 27th 1851.
Chang,go,Shing,quaw- or Tshank,co,Shing,ah the widow of
Go,te,up,wah or Capt. Flour,
Tah,ke,queh,- Dickson, or Dixons widow
Wa,pau,Se,queh- Tom Smith's widow
Tah,con,zeh.
Maz,zou,ze,queh. Capt. Flours daughter
Shing,go,queh- May,zou,ze,queh's "
Catherine, Shing,go,queh's "
Sah,ket,e,queh, Old Kentuck's grand daughter
Wa,sa,cah,me,queh " " " "
Sah,ca,quett,ah, Dickson's daughter
Mariana, Sah,ca,quett,ah's "
Wa,pm,co,se,queh, Tah,con,yeh's "
Sally, Wah,pm,co,se,queh's "
Sah,co,quan, Dickson's elder Son
Wah,ca,co,nah, or Wah,ca,co,nong, Dickson's younger Son
Wah,pe,mung,qua, Tom Smith's Son.
National Archives,
Record Group 233.
Fitch, Graham
Report, December 11, 1851. (plus enclosures.)
12/11/1851, p. 5
|
State of Indiana
Cass County Ss
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned Notary Public in and for said County, the subscribed, John B. Duret, who having, on the 15th day of September 1851, seen at Logansport, certain Indians, states that he recognized the following persons as members of the Flower, or Eel river Band of Miamies, viz :
Tshank,co,shing,ah, Capt. Flower's widow
Maz,zone,ze,queh Do's Daughter
Wa,paw,Se,quh, Tom Smith's widow
Tah,cone,zeh
Tah,ke,queh, Capt. Dixon's widow
and that he also, knew personally Flower, Dixon, Kentuck & Tom Smith;- & knew them to be members of the Eel River Band of Miamies; that had often made the pay rolls for the band aided in paying them (see Treaty 1828)-
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Subscribed & Sworn to |
John B. Duret |
|
Witness my hand & Notarial
Seal William
Chase,
Notary Public
National Archives,
Record Group 233.
Fitch, Graham
Report, December 11, 1851. (plus enclosures.)
12/11/1851, p. 6
|
State of Indiana
Cass County Ss
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned Notary Public in & for said County, the Subscriber, George P. Smith, & states that he was with Col. Duret on the 15th September 1851 and Saw the Same Indians mentioned in his above statement and that he recognized them & knows them to be members of the Eel river Band of Miamies
|
Subscribed & swarn to |
Geo. P. Smith |
|
Witness my hand &
Notarial Seal
William Chase
Notary Public
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