The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-04-07

front was built sort of porch, reached
by steps notched in a log. Here the
men spent many hours summing them
selves. One of their pastimes was to
load canoe, row out into the stream,
and rock until the canoe tipped over.
Among the Indians remember best,
and who lived there for some years,
were Ketoos, very old man. Skee sicks,
Sink ns- kee-sik, and one whom we call
ed the Doctor, and another named
Min ini-quet, who was the most savage
Of them all.
The Graves
The burying ground was on knoll
some distance from the river. Iremem-
Der the graves were in rows, side by
side with cedar bark fixed like aroof
over each. A round stake, about three
feet high, stood at the head of each
grave. On the stake certain marks
were painted in red. On part of this
knoll were several exc avations, about
six feet deep and five feet in diameter.
These were lined with bark and were
used to store bags Of corn and other pro
duce.
Desecrated By Vandals
Some years ago many of the graves
were robbed in the interest of science, or
rather selfish curiosity. The last one
to be buried there, in about 1870, was q
young man of rank, who died from a
wound caused by the accidental dis
charge Of his gun. There was much
ceremony at the grave, about u week
after the burial They split cedar
shakes and made a covering over the
grave. A fence OF rails was placed
around il with the usual red painted
stake at one end Beneath the cedar
covering package Of tobacco was
placed. Although my brothers assured
me that this grave remained intact, in
few years it was found that the grave
home to rest among his fathers, had al
so been desecrated by the vandal hand
of civilization. When our family first
went to the locality there was lime
kiln and a large cellar, or root house,
built in one side of the hill occupied by
the cemetery; it was only a few rods
from the house, and the Indian trail
passed by it. The remains of part of
this trail, worn toquite depth below
the surface, were in existence few
years since. This planting ground was
not occupied nor cultivated by them
later than 1850 or 1860, but several fam
lilies came and camped in the neighbor-
hood Of the old home for several years
Household Utensils
OF household utensils they had few
and no pottery of their own manu'ac-
ture. Their most desirable possessions
in my youthful eyes were their wooden
spoons OF many shapes and sizes The
women made coarse cord or thread
from the inner bark of the Eastwood
This was rolled and twisted between the
palm of the hand and the lower part of
the limb near the ankle, rs they sat on
the ground, From this cord several ar
ticles were woven. especially the bags
for holding the corn.
Mats were woven Of sort Of reed,
dyed aud arranged in tasteful patterns.
These reeds were brought from the lake
shore where they went to fish.
MI on ton mo quah
One of the best of them was an Indian
named Charlie, who had received quite
an English education in Ohio. Another
named Dan WAS a man of fine qualities.
In later years a son of this Dan had IA
little daughter who reveled in the name
of Mion ton o mo quah.
Enjoyed Music
They seemed to enjoy music, though
| remember little produced by them
selves. They would often come and sit
with us Of an evening and listen to the
glorious voice of our mother as she sang
the songs of the English homeland
never had the good fortune to find
so much ~ single arrow head, but my
brothers found numerous relics among
which We're a number of copper articles.
! think Mr.. John Terens, Of Mishicot,
got some of them.
OF the old pioneers who came to that
neighborhood about the time our family
did only Mr. and Mrs Darius Peck, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Peter Brown are left.
l do not know of any mounds in the
vicinity, nor any other planting ground
except the enc on the Mishicot river.
How extensive it was or why they
made it their winter home, ! do not
know.
Nj. HALE SMITH.
lioi State Street, Milwaukee, Wis.