Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-12-23
MISCELLANY.
Strange StOry---Thirty-four Years with
the Indians,

the Indians.
In the year 1929, Mr. Elijah Brayton,
one OF the pioneers of The Northwestern
part of Ohio, lived on his farm in Wyandot
county, near the present location of Carey.
Mr.. Brayton, then 80 years of age. had six
children, three boys and three girls.
AT that lime the country was thinly set
tied, and several small tribes of Indians
sun remained, consisting mostly of Sene-
cas-, Wyandots and Pottawottomes. An
Indian trail led from the upper Sandusky
past Wyandot town to Perrysburg on the
Maumee, and from thence up TO the shore
opposite Maiden, on the Canada side. A
portion OF the Indians who sided with the
British in 1912. annually took this trail TO
the Northwest, passed over to Maiden and
drew their presents of blankets, guns, pow
der and such articles. On their return it
was not unusual for a party of Canadian
Indians to accompany them and remain on
short visit. These annual expeditions TO
Canada usually took place in the fall of the
year.
On the goth of Sept, 1925, William and
Matthew his brother, aged years, sons of
Mr.. Brayron, started from home to hunt up
some stray cattle. They met neiehbor.
bound on the same errand, and agreed to
join forces. Meantime little Matthew be-
ing too much fatigued to proceed further,
his brother pointed out the path leading TO
the neighbor's and told him 10 go there and
remain there till they got back. This was
the last seen of him for "a years.
When William returned, imagine his
CONSERVATION when he found that his broth
er had not arrived at the neigllbor's house.
Search was at once made, and iis foot
steps tracked along rough, hard road,
which he had evidently mistaken for the
path, until they were lost in the Indian trail
| mentioned above. The neighborhood, was
aroused, and joined by the Wyandots, near
iy four counties turned out to man. and
searched every foot of ground.
Hours heightened into days, and DAYS in
TO weeks, but not the faintest trace could
be discovered. An old settler still alive
acted as stcrekeeper, and as each party
came in after an unsuccessful hunt, he fill
ed their meal bags and canteens, and sent
them off again.
1t was believed that a party of Pottawot-
tonnes who passed through on the trail
about that time, had taken him with them
Rumors came from time to time that the
boy had been seen in such place; but
they all proved false on examination
Four years after this, a man reported that
he had seen among the Pottawattomies a
white child answering TO the description of
Mstthew--Mr. Brayton wrote to the In
Han Jr
an answer TO the effect that the Indians had
no white child with them.
1t seems that Matthew acoS taken by the
Pottawattomies and carried to Canada ::
was there sold TO the Paw Paws for FIVE
galious Of wifishey, and BY tlrotn traded or
to the Winuebagoes for seven gallons of
whiskey, and finally was sold to the Chip
pewas, who transferred him to the Soix for
eleven gallons of whiskey. Here his first
distinct recollections commenced, twenty-six
years ago, when he was "about head
shorter" than at the present time.
Twenty-Five years ago last April he was
sold in Iowa to the Snakes and Copper
heads. This tribe he accompanied in their
migrations through California and Oregon,
until they were at length crowded up into
the far Northwest Here the tribe to
which he belonged have been joined by
portions of the Crows, Utahs, and Flat
heads, making large aggregate, united UNI
der one general chief, with number of
subordnary chiefs. That portion of the
tribe to which Matthew more particularly
belonged, remained principally in the Rus
sian territory, and they paid frequent visits
to Russian forts on the Co,sille River.
While at one of the Hudson Bay trad
ing posts, some traders remarking his APP
pearance, told him he was a "pale face"
and demanded him of the Indians, who re-
fused to give him up or allow him to be re-
moved. The tribe moved off from the
white settlements and kept away for three
wears, during which time the chief gave
Matthew his daughter in marriage, as an
inducement for him to stay with the tribe.
| OF this union two children have been born
"a girl and boy.
AT times when the tribe would visit St
Paul, ST. Anthony, &c, the whites would
take notice of the pale face, and once or
twice threatened to rescue him. Finally
Matthew himself became interested in the
matter, and persuaded the chief to give him
permission to seek out his parents. On the
10Th of last April he left St. Paul and went
to Chicago, where he was taken sick. His
Indian brother-in-law, who accompanied
him. left him and returned TO ST. Paul !;
while Matthew, as soon as he was recover
ed. at once took his way TO the south shore
of Lake Erie, whence he supposed he had
| been stolen.
On the 20th of August, he was brought
| TO the office of the Cleveland (Ohio) Her
aid. by some one of whom he applied for
information. lie told pretty much the same
story as above narrated, and SAID he had
heard of Mr.. Todd who once lived in
Cleveland, who had lost Il boy about the
time that he himself was lost lie tried TO
hunt up the Todds, but without success.
He afterwards discovered that he was not
relation of theirs. He spoke English toll
erably fiuently, though with some peculiar
tiles. At times he would be at loss Tor
the prorer word, and would endeayor TO IL
lnstrate his meaning by objects in the room.
After once hearing a word he never forgot
If. He remained in the city some days
| sool ;nc informaticn. On inquiry II was