The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-01-12


maining Chicftain of
tho Tribe.
The story, based to certain extent
upon traditions, relates that the Miami
Indian confederacy claimed domain
over the territory bounded on the
north by the great lakes, south by the
Ohio, east by the Scioto. and west by
the Fox river.
The approximate number of them in
this county in the day when the Indians
had possession was about one thousand
nine hundred.
The Miamis, according to the Cincin-
natl Post, were naughty, proud, and
held the neighboring tribes in con-
tempt, and with chiefs both able and
powerful, ranking at that time by Ne
she-ko-no-quah, or Little Turtle, the
noblest Roman of them all. The line
Of succession passed down from Little
Turtle to Pe-che-wa, commonly called
John B. Richardville, and from him to
Francis Godfrey, the great war chief of
the nation, who had an eye to his own
pecuniary benefit, and when the final
treaties were consummated he had his
choice of the best land in Indiana,
which he chose near Cincinnati.
Half the divisions and subdivisions
in this city are known by his name,
and the great township for miles around
is known as the Godfrey and Richard
vile reserve. He was one of the wealth.
lest men in the state when he died, both
in lands and money. He was one Of the
most powerful Indians ever known, and
many remarkable stories are extAnt re-
garding his bravery and prowess. At
the time of his death he weighed over
three hundred pounds. In the line Of
succession came Gabriel Godfrey, tho
last chief Of the tribe, and now living
six miles east of this city.
Prominent among them, and the
leader as much now as in the days be-
fore the white man, is Gabriel Godfrey.
Gabriel is known throughout the entire
west, and his name is synonymous with
that Of tho tribe. His advice is sought
by his remaining people, of whom there
are about one hundred and fifty left,
and he is probably guardian for more
people than any other ten men COM
bined in Indiana. Gabriel Godfroy is q
man well versed in the past history of
his nation, and has in his possession
medals from congress, mementoes from
various governors, tokens of esteem
and merit from generals and others
with whom his tribe came in contact.
and who invariably manifested their
appreciation Of kindly deeds or other
acts by these souvenirs.
Prominent among them arc those
from George Washington, Van Buren,
and other presidents He is about
sixty-five years old, but bis figure is
erect and his physical ability almost as
great as thirty years ago. An enthusi-
astic hunter and fine shot, it is one of
his greatest delights to engage in a
shooting match, and rarely, if ever,
does he draw the BOBBY prize, notwith-
standing his somewhat defective eye
sight Every fall at this time of the
year he joins the Peru Hunting club in
its pilgrimage to the northern wilds,
and success always attends him. With
broad, compact shoulders, physical de-
velopment perfect, iron-gray hair and
mustache and skin q copper color, God
troy readily attracts attention wherever
seen. During the past year it has been
his misfortune, through depreciations
and losses, to have to sell the farm on
which he has lived since child, and
which was part of the reservation re-
served by his father.
This farm was purchased at cost of
forty-fve thousand dollars by Wallace,
of circus fame, for winter quarters for
his animals and show. Gabriel has,
however, reftted and rebuilt the old
homestead, the early homo Of his fore
fathers, where he Is now living. God
troy has been married twice, having
three children by his frst wife aud two
by tho latter, who u now living. Farm
ing u his vocation. and hs thoroughly
understands it Godfroy's grandfather
was . white man oaptured BY the
Shawnee Indisns when about seven
years old.
The name. a near - eaa bs aAcer-
tanned, was Cole, or Coleman. He be-
came = skillful trader. sad was the
Shawnee Interpreters ~ the treaty of
Greonville. This man married . woman
Of the Miamis. who waA half French.
They raised . large family. snd ths man
finally died in Kentucky Asar who're he
waA captured. After IL AsasA tho
mother came to live WITH her swn peo-
pie, the Nismis, near Fort Wayne.
Rers Francis Godfrey. the father ef the
subject OF this sketch, married her
daughter. Shao-qus-artah. Gabriel was
the frst child Of this marriage. 6he
was one-fourth Indian and Francis one
half According TO tradition the God
froys arc descendants from the nobility
OF France. Az . very early time ono
0odfroy was %. fond Of sport and the
game 30 plentiful. together with the