Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-02-21
Incidents Of the History Q
-5l.fi Indiana .msxs lad ! I.
pY wAnREs TAYLOR.



the limits of Indiana, up to the year l7sO.
The white inhabitants of this region were
then almost entirely of French extraction,
and many of these had intermarried with
the Indians. The principal white settle
ments at that time were yinccnnes, Ouia-
tenon and Kekionga. Yinccnness is sup
posed to have then contained about one
hundred families. and probably FIVE or six
hundred inhabitants. Ouistenon (com-
monty called Wea TOWN. was situated on
the Wabash few miles below the present
city Of Lafayette. and contained about one
fourth as many families as Vincennes.--
tKekionga, which stood on or near the site
now occupied by Fort Wayne, was large
Indian village. containing few white set
tiers. There were also white traders in
other parts of the country, who either liv-
ed a. the Indian villages, or travelled from
|, AT the period above mentioned, our pre-
sent State was almost entirely occupied by
four or FIVE Indian tribes. In the north,
approaching nearly. and in some places
quite to the Wabash. were the Pottowat-
tomies. This tribccalso claimed as their
hunting grounds a considerable part of
Michigan. and the most Of northern Hi
nois. South of the Pottowattomics were
the Miamies. This tribe had large settle-
ments near the present cities Of Logans-
port, Peru and Fort Wayne. Their coun-
try extended from these points on the
north, to the White river on the south,
and perhaps farther. They also claimed
an extensive country on the Maumee in
Ohio. About the head of the White and
Whitewater rivers, were portion Of the
Delaware and Shawnee tribes. Near the
present village Of Muncietown was large
Shawnee settlement. the residence of Te-
cumseh during a part Of his erentful ca
reer. On the Wabash, below the mouth
Of the Tippecanoe. were the Weas. and
further down in the neighborhood Of Vim
cennes the Piankishaws. The two latter
were generally considered as branches oi
the Miami Nation. On the west side ol
the Wabash near the mouth of the Yer.
million. was a village of the Kickapoos
Snch was the condition of the region EN-.
braced in our State in 176e. r6 sr-ls
As early as Il 7s2. and perhaps year OF
two earlier, settlement was commenced
at Clarksville. in, the present county Of
Clark, and near the falls of the Ohio
The settlers were principally from Virgin
ia. In 1884 Virginia ceded to the United
States all Of the territory claimed by hel
to the northwest OF the Ohio, and few
years afterwards the continental Congress,
enacted code Of laws for the government
Of that region, which was called the Ordi
nance of 'S7. =. .,.,, -.1
In 1888. Gen. Arthur st. Clair was APP
| pointed Governor of what was then called
the Northwest Territory. and Winthrop
Sargent. Secretary. During the next year
these gentlemen appear to have visited Ma
rietta, Fort Washington. (now Ciucin
natl, and Kaskaskia. at each of which
places courts were established, and officer.
appointed, for the administration of jus
| tice. The county of Hamilton was organ
lied at Fort Washington, and the county
of st. Clair at Kaskaskis Other dutie,
lengaging the attention Of Gov. st. Clair
Mr.. Sargent, the Secretary. proceeded tt
vincennes. where. probably in 100. h,
orgauized the county of Knox. 80 saes
The Indians Of the west, who for few
years he'd been comparatively friendly
now manifested unmislakablc symptoms o.
hostility. The rapid increase of tie whit,
population in the Ohio valley, had reused
their fears. and kinilcd their. resentment
kentucky, their former hunting ground
had been wrested from them. White set.
Elements had even sprung up on the north.
western bank Of the Ohio and still fnrth.
er encroachmcnt upon their fayoritc haunts
was undoubtedly apprehended. Under
these circumstances they flew to arms, and
manifested a determination to dispute the
progress Of their invaders. Boats loaded
with emigrants as they passed down the
Ohio. were frequently assailed. aud some
times captured by struggling Indian par
ties. The settlements Of Kentucky were
exposed to the inroads of the same foe,
who prowled about. sometimes destroying
property. sometimes killing few individ-
uals. and leading others into captivity.
The hostile spirit of the snorth-westcrn
Indians became at length so threatening,
that the general government determined to
destroy their principal villages. In the
fall Of 1870. Gen. Harmar. 1t the head Of
about eleven hundred troops. left Fort
Washington. and after harrassing march
finally reached the large Indian village,
which stood on or near the site of the pre-
sent city of Fort Wayne. The Indians
had fed, and the Americans after destroy