The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-03
LAST OF THE MIAMIS.
The Remnants OF the Naughty Race
Located in Indiana
of the History Of Long Line
of Mighty Wsrrfors-The Only Re-
naming Chieftaiu of
tho Tribe.

The story, based 70 n 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-lzo-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 3. 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,
"441C4i AAC NAlOSC ASdi
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
o-l- ~ -
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, the
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 the tribe. His advice is sought
by his remaining people, of whom there
are about one hundred and fifty left,
and ne is probably guardian for more
people than any other ten men com
bined in Indiana Gabriel Godfrey is
man well versed in the past history Of
his nation, and has in his possession
medals from congress, nementoes 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 are those
from George Washington, Van Buren,
and other presidents BE is about
sixty-fve years old, but his 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 ana
mustache and skin copper color, God
y
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 a child, and
which was part of the reservation re-
served by his father.
This farm was purchased at cost of
fortv-fve thousand dollars by Wallace,
~, fo,- fn--
his animals and show. Gabriel has,
however, reftted and rebuilt the old
homestead, the early home of his fore
fathers, where he is now living. God
troy has been married twice, having
three children by his first wife and two
by the latter, who is now living. Farm
ing is his vocation, and he thoroughly
it. Godfroy's grandfather
was a white man captured by the
Shawnee Indians when about seven
years old.
The name. as near as can be ascer-
tanned, was Cole, or Coleman. He be-
came a sl<illful trader, and was the
Shawnee interpreter at the treaty Of
Greenville. This man married woman
They raised large family, and the man
finally died in Kentucky near where he
was captured. After his death the
mother came to live with her own peo-
pie. the MianiS. near Fort Wayne. |
Here Francis Godfrey. the father of the
subject of this sketch, married her |
Shac-qua-a-tah. Gabriel was |
the first child of this marriage She |
was one-fourth Indian and Francis one |
half According to tradition the Cod |
froys are descendants from the nobility |
of France. At very early time one /
Godfrey was so fond OF sport and the /
game so plentiful. together with the |
other romantic surroundings, that he /
remained 1t may also not be doubted .
that Gabriel is a direct descendant of /
the great Godefrov de Bouillion, who /
was the first Christian king OF Jerusas-