The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-04
pF ALEXANDER S. WRITER'S.

known to the whites it was occupied by
nany different tribes IF Indians. attached
10 different nations That portion Of the
STATE lying northwest Of the Blue Ridse.
and extending 10 the lakes, was po.seased
BY the Massawomecs. These were pow.
srFnl confFd"racr, rarely in amitv with the
tribes eaa Of that rang. Of mouptains :
but generally harassinc them BY frequent
hostile irrurtions in,othcir country. OF
their subsequent history. nothing is now
fno~r. They are supposed BY soms 10
have been the ancestors of the Six Ma
lions. It is however more prohshle tha,
they afterwards became incorporated with
these, rs did several other tribes Of Tn.
iians. who used language so essentially
different from that .poken w the Six Ma
,ions. as ss render tn. Intervention Of in.
tsrprrters necessary between then.
IA settlements were extended from the
sea shore. the Massawomees gradually re-
tired: and when the white population
reached the Blue Ridge Of mountains, the
valley between it aud the Allegheny waa
entirely uninhabited. This delightful re-
gion Of country was then only used a. 4
bunting ground, and as highway for BEL
lirsren. parties Of different nations, in their
military expeditions against each other.
In consequence Of the almost continued
hostilities between the northern and south
erp Indians, these expeditions were very
frequent. and tended somewhat to resard
the settlement cf the valley. and render 4
residence in il, for some time insecure
sud unpleasant. Between the Allegheny
mountains aud the Ohio river, within the
present limits Of Virginia. there were some
villages interpreted. inhabited by small
numbers Of Indians; the most .. :. whom
retired north west Of that liver, as the tide
of emigration rolled towards it. Some
however remained iu the interior, after
settlements began 10 bs made in their Vi.
ciuity.
North cfthe present boundary sf Viz.
ginia, and particularly near the junction
Of the Allegheny and Moncngahc!a rivers.
and in the circunJacent country the In.
diani were more numerous, apd their VII.
lagos larger, In 1853, when General
Washington visited the French posts on
the Ohio, the spot VIII 'ch had been selected
BY the Ohio company as the site for
fort. was occupied by Shingess. king Of
the Delawares, ana other parts Of the
proIimate country, were inhabited by Min.
goes aud Shawanees. When the French
were forced to abandon the position Shich
they had taken a. the forks Of Ohio. the
greater part fthe'adjace,t tribes removed
farther west. SO that when improvements
were begun to b. made in the wilderness
Of North Western Virginia, it had been
almost entirely deserted by the natives !;
and excepting a few struggling hunters and
warriors, who occasionally traverred i, in
quest ofgame,o or Of human beings on whom
10 wreak their vengeance, almost it's
only tenants we're beasts Of the for-s,,.
In the country northwest Of the Ohio
river, there were many warhae tribes Of
Indians. strongly imbued with feeling.
Of raneorous hostility to tho neighbnriug
oolonists. Among the more powerful Of
these we're the Delawares, who resided on
branches of Beaver Creek, Cayahoga aud
Muskingum, and whose tewns contained
about SIX hundred inhabitants The
Shawanees. who to the number Of 900.
dwelt on the ScOto and Muskingum; tie
ehippewas. near MackinaW, Of 400; Co.
bunuewagos. Of 300, and who inhabited
Heur Sandasky the Wyandos, whose vii
lages we're near fort st. Joseph, and en-
brneed population Of $50; the TWghtees.
near Fort Miami. with like population
the Miamis, on the river Miami, near the
fort 81 that name. reckoning 300 person.;
the Potawat"mies Of 300. and the Oua-
was Of $50 IN their villages near forts ST.
Joseph and Detroit. and Of $50 in tie towns
near Mackiuaw Besides these, there were
in the zane district Of country. others oi
less note. yet equally inimical to the
whites anI who contributed much to the
annoyance Of The first settlers on the Ohiu.
Snd its tributaries.
There were likewise ths Mcrsies.
dwell Jog on the north branch o. The Sus-
quehauS, and on the Allegheny river; the
Senecas, on the waters Of the Susquehann..
Ontario and the heads Of tho Allegheny 1
he Cayugts, on Cayuna lakes. and tb,