The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-11-05
THE TUSCARORAS.

Tho story OF the Tuscaroras is n
chockored one. They were adopted
into the Iroquois in 1712. They came
from North Carolina in 1908, where
they had 15 towns and 1900 warriors.
Their existence there was the samo as
all other tribes, the samc old story
encroachments by tho whites, who
robbed them of their lands, and when
resistance followed long and bloody
border wars ensued. Thoy burnt one
Lawson, tho surveyor general of North
Carolina, who had marked some of
their territory into lots for settlers.
They captured tho German Baron dc
Graffenried, but released him after five
weeks on his promise that he would
occupy mono of their lands without
thcir consent. In 1918 invaders of their
territory captured 800 Tuscaroras in a
fort on the Neuso river These were
killed and sold as slaves into South
Carolina. Tho remnant migrated to
New York rs others had previously
done. Previous to this Tuscaroras, on
the ~ of September, I'LL, had killed
130 Whites on Albemarle sound.
In the war of the Revolution most of
the lroquois adhered to the English,
but many of the Tuscaroras and Oroidas
werc friendly TO tho colonists When
Gen. Sullivan and Col. Ganseyoort
made their destructive campaign a.
gainst tho Indians on tho route to tho
lower Mohawk castle they were treated
with every mark of friendship and hos
pitality in passing through the Tusca-
rora and Oneida castles. These officers
had been ordered TO spare the Tusca-
roras and Oncidas. Such POI lions of
these tribes rs had been English allies
escaped in canoes on Oneida lake,
thence down the Oswego river, and
coasted along Lake Ontario to the Brit
ish garrison at Fort Niagara In 1880
the Iuscaroras camped on mile square
given them by the Senecas, which is a
part of their present reservation. The
Holland company subsequently gave
them two square miles, of which in
1904 they added by purchase 1929
acres, making the total of their resor-
vation 6, 249 acres. Tho United States
government paid for tho purchase $13,-
722, being part of the trust funds held
by the United States on final adjust
mcnt of tho claims of the Tuscaroras
upon North Carolina. Thus the Tus-
caroras commenced their settlement in
the town of Lewiston II years previous
to the advent of the Holland Land COM
pany and 10 or 20 years before the
commencement of settlements there by
whites. The Tuscaroras were thus the
pioneer settlers in this region, and the
most kindly relations have existed be-
tween them and the whites ever since.
In the war of 1912 the Tuscaroras were
the allies of the Americans against tho
English.
The Mount Pleasant family of whom
John is now the chief of tho Tusca-
roras, have prominent history in the
border wars of the old time. His grand
father was "big Indian" having been
captain in the British army, and at
one time commandant of Fort Niagara.
Ills son John was the father of the pres.
ent chief. He was G8 years old in 1849,
and has left records Of his early expc.
ricncc in this region. Hc states there
were no crows in the Niagara region
until after the war of 1912. Deer were
not plenty, and the wolves haunted
them, driving them into the lake, and
waiting until they. wearied with swim
ming, came on shoe and were caught
and devoured. When the wolves wore
hunted out deer became plenty. Bears
were plenty in some localities, and
panthers were occasionally killed hero
abouts. Bittern's white owls, and tlocks
of swan were seen about Niagara falls
and Oh the islands and in the marshes.
Wild cranbcrrios aboundcd, and there
wore great number of beaver dams.
Salmon three feet long were often
taken in Eighteen Mile creek, near
Lockport, and below the falls of the
Oak orchard. The woods arc full" of
Indian stories and romanccs through
out all this region of Niagara county.
Tho lands hereabout belonged to tho
original Holland purchase. The first
white child born on the great Holland
purchase was on the 10Th of June.
1901 "a fine boy" as the records
state. He was subsequently Col. Henry
Is. Ransom, Of Clarence. In October,
1898. which was before the Holland land
purchase, on the present site of Buffa-
10, there wero but eight buildings, all
log houses, Of which Asa Ransom oc-
cupicd one. He subsequently removed
to Pine grove, and WAS the father Of the
''fino boy" AS late rs 1906 there were
only 10 dwellings in Buffalo. .-Ransonl-
ollie (N. ~ Cor. Troy BudgcL