Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-07-01

their coming, while he purposeiy
took = longer route. While on
the way, he asked Mr.. Slocum II
he had any certain mark by which
he could recognize his sister.
"Yes, a lock Of hair over one ear
was perfectly white, while the rest
was sandy"
swell, but all her hair may be
white now. She is an old woman.
Have you any other mark?"
"Yes; my brother one day bit
her finger with a hammer on the
anvil in the shop, and pounded of
the end Of her forefinger on her
| left hand. That mark she must
carry still"
They reached the banks of the
Mississinewa, just opposite her
house, which stood so near the bank
that subsequently it had to be NOV
ed to a higher point few rods dis
tant. Mr.. Miller requested Mr..
slocum to remain on the bank un-
til he crossed and saw the white
woman.
He forded the river, went to the
house and shook hands with the
white woman. The fingers on the
right hand we're all perfect. He
took up the left hand, and the end
of the forefnger was gone. He
was fully convinced. The girls
were already at home and had told
the story. Mr.. Miller went back
and came over with Mr.. Slocum.--
The long separated brother and
sister were soon clasped in each
others arms. There was no re-
serve. She at once recognized the
family resemblance, and acknowl-
edged the relation. She could talk
but very little English. Mr.. Slocum
was overcome and wept. The
fountains pent up so long during
his disappointed search, were no"
opened. He had found his lost sis.
ter, and his grateful emotions could
only be expressed in a food oi
tears. She was more composed
Supper was prepared. Mr.. Sloeum
! could not eat. He was too happy
too excited. When Mr.. Miller re-
tiied to rest, the brother and sister
were sitting side by side on a BENCH
talking as best they could. When
he awoke in the morning they were
sitting in the same place talking
still. He thought they had talked
all night.
| The next day they went to Peru,
where Isaac Slocum entertained his
Indian relatives, and they thus re
turned his visit. After a few days
Mr.. Slocum returned to his homs
in Ohio. Subsequently Joseph Slo.
cum and his two daughters visited
Francis at her Indian home. They
endeavored to persuade her to re
turn home with them, but she was
completely an Indian in language.
habits, associations, and everything
but blood, and she had no desire to
leave those who had always treated
her kindly, and abundantly proYid-
ed for her. She was an old woman
and could not expect to live many
years. She was queen among the
Indians, and could never expect to
feel at home in civilized society.
She died in 1S47. Her relatives
had secured a grant Of section OF
land for her and her descendants,
She had two sons and two daughi
ters. The Oldest daughter was
married to Jean Baptiste Brouil-
lette, half-breed French and lndi-
an. Her second daughter has lost
three husbands, and is now living
with the Fourth, Wa-pa-pe-tahi
now the Rev. Peter Bondy, Bap'
tist minister who breaches to his
people in their own tongue.
The day following my interview
with Mr.. Miller, / went in company
with Rev. Mr.. Trenneman, in a
buggy, to visit the descendants OF
Francis Slocum. We crossed the
Wabash on a bridge at Peru, and
some two or three miles beyond we
crossed the Mississinewa, a mile or
two from its mouth, also on a fine
covered bridge. This is a beautiful
stream of clear, crystal water, run
ninp over a rocky bottom, and bor-
dered by beautiful woodlands or
richly cultivated bottom lands
This fine brick two-story house just
before us, with a nice garden, or
cbard and clubhouse, is the home
of Godfrey, the half,breed, who
was chief Of the tribe. Those men
there at work with wagon and team
are indians, and those boys at work
in the garden have also the tawny
bne. though in all other respects
thev seem like other boys. About
half the houses we pass are the
homes Of Indians, though we can
not puess from any of the surround
ings. whether the owners are whites
or Indians. Here we are upon the
banks Of the Mississinewa, some
twenty or thirty feet above its sur
face. and beneath us, forming the
PERPENDICULAR bank, are some curl
ously formed bluffs of lime rock
with caves and grottoes in which
picnic parties sometimes find pleas
ant resorts. The river has made a
large bend, and now reach itagaln
and ford its bright, clear waters
which do not quite reach our feet IN
Passing now a group of houses
and a mill or two, a rather shabby
village, called Peoria, very different
f,nn the hesutiful city of that name