The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-04-26
'1 from the Logan Gazette.
Matthew BraytOn, the Indian Cap
"a. nfwa.

muttncW DEuytOn INC Ahuuh OtAPe
.. u -s7s ttVos F
Speaking of eventful histories, this is GER
tainly one Of them. Matthew Brayton was
born in the year 1917 or 1878, and in Sep
tember, 1925, at tho age Of IN years was
carried off by band Of Canadian Indians
He was transferred from tribe to tribe, and
had followed their fortunes from Canada
through the western territories to the "Gold-
en- Gate" Of the Pacific, and thence to the
frozen confines Of the Arctic Ocean. He had
followed them in their war and hunting
paths-had participated in all their barbar.
GUS customs, and imbibed all their supersti-
tions. He had forgotten father, mother, sis
ters, brothers, homeland in short, every
trace Of his childhood. lie could not date
beyond the period of his captivity, and, as
his origin had been studiously concealed from
him, he had never dreamed that beneath the
paint upon his person, was hidden the sure
evidence that he belonged to paler race
than those around him But as "there is q
destiny which shapes our ends" his bright
grey eye betrayed his origin, and at last, af-
ter period Of 81 years, restored him to his
family, and to the civilization which was his
birthright We will tell his story as briefly
as passible: N 81
Elijah Brayton, the father Of the captive,
was living at the time to which our story
refers, on the bank Of the Tymochte river, in
what is now Crawford township, Wyandott
county, Ohio. In September, 1925, he went
to Chilicothe to get some mill burrs, and in
his absence, his eldest son, William, then q
boy 16 years old, started into the woods to
hunt for some stray cattle, taking Matthew
along with him. After proceeding two or
three miles, Matthew grew tired and wanted
to return; but meeting a neighbor on the
same errand, Matthew was started in path
leading to house about sixty rods distant,
where William was to call for him on his
return home. This path was intersected at
short distance from the point whore the
| little fellow was started, by an Indian trail
leading from Upper Sandusky through the
Black Swamp to Perrysburg, and thence to
the Detroit river, opposite Maiden, Canada.
This trail was frequently traversed by the
Canadian Indians in their visits to some of
the tribes then inhabiting northwestern
Ohio. And thus it was that Matthew Bray
ton became their captive. They came upon
him either at the point where the paths in
tersected, or, as is more likely, somewhere
on their own trail, into which he had strayed
from the ill.defned path he had attempted
to pursue. The agony, the search, the aban-
donment, and the despair which followed,
we leave to be imagined, and follow the cap
tive. After few months the Canadian In
dams traded him, for three and half gal
Ions Of whisky, to the Pottowattomies, who
carried him across to Michigan. Six months
after, he was sold to the Paw-Paws for five
and half gallons Of whisky. He next be-
came the property Of the Winnebagoes Of Iii
nois, for the consideration Of seven and half
gallons Of whisky. Ina short time afterward,
he was sold to the Chippewas for nine and a
half gallons of whisky The Chippewas kept
him three years, and then sold him to the
Sioux in Minnesota, with whom he remain
cd about three years. About nine years
from the time he was first captured, the
Sioux transferred him, at the age of16 years,
to the Snakes, for eleven gallons Of whisky.
With this tribe he remained during the twen-
ty-fve succeeding years which completed the
term Of his captivity. These facts were COM
municated to him by members Of the various
tribes through which he passed prior to his
final purchase by the Snakes, and whom no
visited on his return, in order to trace HIM
self back to his family. lW ~ II
He followed the Snakes across the noun
tains to California, and participated in many
Of their battles with the Digger Indians Of
that country After sojourn Of five years
in California, they recrossed the mountains
into Utah, and pitched their "tippysp on the
banks Of Salt Lake, near the present site Of
Salt Lake City. They made but short
stay here, and proceeded to Oregon Terrific
ry, where they stayed about two years.
Here they formed an alliance with three other
tribes, viz: the Crows, Utahs, and Flat Heads.
Thus strengthened, they moved gradually
northward to the Russian Possessions, in the
northwestern corner Of our continent bor-
dering on Behring's Strait, and the Arctic
and Pacific coasts. Here they found the
Copperhead nation, who united with them
under the government Of one Head Chief
and five subordinates--one for, and Of, each
tribe. In this frozen region they still re-
main, and number one hundred thousand and
five hundred souls. They sell their furs and
skins to the Russians, and obtain therefor
guns, ponies, blankets, whskey ammunition,
&c. About nine years ago, the severity Of
the winter drove them far southwark in pur-
suit Of game. .H5t iAia iN
After, meeting with some success, they
sent Off large detachment to obtain sup
plies from one Of the posts Of the Hudson
Bay Company. Matthew Brayton accom-
panied this expedition, and was told by one
Of the traders who could speak the Snake
language, that he was "pale face" The
trader made his discovery known to the
Agent, who refused to trade any further with
the party, unless they surrendered the cap
tive. After hurried and excited council,
they broke up camp Immediately aad took
the trail for the main body, This was the
first intimation he had ever received that he
was not an Indian. The matter was laid be-
fore the Chief to whom'it seemed to give
much uneasiness. With the return Of Sum-
mer, they returned to the north. Brayton
married Trefonia, the snb-chie's daughter,
became the father Of two children-T Tululee,
a boy, and Tretonia, daughter, and had al
most forgotten the affair at the trading post
when, nine years after its occurrence, he was
most barbarously tatteoed, in order that he
might be identified II carried OF by the
whites, during an expedition then fitting out
Tor the south, Two years ago, he Joined
the half- yearly train for st. Pauls On this
journey his party had bloody fight with 4
band Of Crows, in which Brayton was Sc
verely wounded. AT the Selkirk settlement