Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-01-28
Fof the Republican.
The Aborigines Of Marshall
County.
For the Republican.
By WARREN TAYLOR.

few French mingled among them, were, so
far as is known, the only Inhabitants up 10
the year 1882. In that year the title TO
most of the lands in the county became
extinguished but several tracts were re-
tanned by them, and these were called re
serves. The two largest of these were
the reserves Of Aubcnaubee and Menomo>
nee the latter embracing about twenty>
two sections southwest of Plymouth,
while the former, about as large, lay in the
south part of the county, and extended
little into the county of Fulton. The re-
serves of Quashqua, Nesewaugec and Be
mack were much smaller, and embraced
two or three sections each. The two for
mcr lay on the east side of Maxiencuckee
lake, and the latter on Tipperanoe river,
near the present village OF Tippecanoe-
town. These reserves were named after
shortly over portions of the Indian popu-
lation called bands.
In different localities, but principally
within the reserves above mentioned, there
were Indian villages The Aubenaubee
village was situated nea- the south line of
the county. perhaps in Fulton, and about
two miles west OF the Michigan road
From three to four miles south west of
Plymouth, near the Twin lakes, was a
village OF the MenOmonee band, which
contained, perhaps, one hundred and fifty
wigvams. Around the village, and through
the thick timber which covered that part
of the country were partly cleared fields,
on which the Indians cultivated considers
able quantities of corn. The Benack vil>
lage was on the Tippccanoe ri ,cr. about
five miles south ef The present village of
Bourbon. and in the ne;ghborhood Of Tip
pecanoetown. There was also a small
village called Pepinawa. near the Roberts
prairie. and another called Pashpo, on the
Tabor farm, about three miles from Ply
mouth.
The Po;towatomies were powerful
tribe, inhabiiing the northern part of In
diana, the southern part OF Michigan, ard
portion of Illinois. In the carly history
of Indiana, they were frequently hostile
10 the whites. II is said that a detach-
ment of the tribe were on their way la OPP
pose Harrison. when that General ap>
preached the Prophets town, near the
mouth of the Tippecanoe. But before
they coul,l reach the scene of action, the
battle Of Tippecanoe had been fought, and
the Prophets warriors were defeated -
During the last war with Great Britain.
the Pottowatomies. or many of them at
least. were doubtless engaged with Tecum-
sch in hosiilities against the United States.
In 1912. detachment Of L. s. troops de-
sfroyed large Potiowatomie village on
Elkhari river. called Onoxsee. Soon after
the death OF 1'ccumseh. peace was coz
clut ed with the Poitowatom;es and Other
tribes Of the Northwest Territory. In
1852. the infint settlements of Laporie
Niles anG South Bend strongly feared thai
the Indians with whom they were sur
rounded would espousc the cause of BLACK
Hawk, and wage, if possible, against Tho
white population war Of determination
Bui these fears appear to have been ground
less. rs the Poiiowairmies during this wal
maintained friendly relations with ihci
white neighbors.
The great Fart of the Pottowatomie ma
lion had embraced the Roman Catholic
religion, long perhaps before any part %
Indiana was settled by emigrsns from the
United States. French missionaries had
been among them, and many other tribes
of the Mississippi valley. In some locaIi'
ties the Sabbath was observed. and public
worship was regularly kept up. Many o
our older citizens can recollect the time
when they attended Indian meetings Of
the Menomonce chapel. which stood or
the north bank of one of the Twin lakes
Indian congregations Of considerable size
usually attended, and their behaviour wa.
better than is frequently Witnessed among
white congregations at the present day. =.
Generally the meetings were conducted by
ministers OF their own nation, but very
frequently French clcrgymen attended
and these at ouch times took the lead il
the services. The old chapel has long
farm now owned by John Lowry, Esq.
can still be pointed out.
In dress, TIE Indians partly followed III,
former usa-es of their race, and partly i'm
itated the whites. Occasionally an Indiai
could be seen dressed up in the full siyl,
of the tailor shop, but almost invariabl,
he would wear with it something that wa
peculiarly alter the Indian style. Some o
The Indians had received an English cdu
cation, and many Of them appear to hav
been able to read in their own language.
We may suppose that, under the inau
Lencc of their Catholic missionaries, man,
of those traits which characterized tn
Indians in their natural state, had disap
peared. But at the first settlement of on
county by the whites, they still retaine'
some of their ancient usagcs. One Of on
citizens gave to Inc writer few year
since, an account IF transaction whic
took place under his own observation a
the Pashpo village in 1882. A chief nan
cd Pepinawa, had in a drunken row kille
another Indian. The pcrpeirator offere
to make restitution in properly for hi
crime, to the sister of the murdered maj
and the offer was accepted. A counc
was called to settle the affair, over whic
the distinguished chief Menomonee pres
ded The latter opened the meeting wit
a speech, after which the property offere
in restitution, consisting OF money, good
and a horse hitched ut the door of I'll
wigwam, was examined. Each article W,