The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-05-11

L
ing the month of April, Post and
Heckewelder began clearing small
piece of ground (about three acres)
upon which to raise corn and other
vegetables for their sustenance, but
were soon ordered to stop by the In
dams, who would not allow them to
proceed without authority from their
chief. A council was then called at
the Indian capital across the river. to
which Post was summoned to answer
for the liberty he had taken in clear
ing ground which belonged to the In
dians. Mr.. Post was prompt in his
attendance at the council house, when
the speaker in the name Of the council
delivered to him the following ad-
dress: (See Heckewelders narrative,
page 61)
ADDRESS BY INDIANS.
Brother: Last year you asked
leave to come and live with us for
| the purpose of instructing us and our
now being come, we are glad to see
you, but it appears to us that you
must since have changed your mind.
for instead of instructing us or our
children, you are cutting down trees
on our land. You have marked out
a large spot of ground for planta-
tion, as the white people do every
where; and by and by another, and
another may come and do the same;
and the next thing will be that fort
will be built for the protection of these
intruders. and thus our country Will
be claimed by the white people, and
we be driven further back, as has al
ways been the case before-say! do
we not speak the truth?"
Post had been a missionary among
the Iroquois Indians as early as 1745,
and was consequently well acquainted
with the language, manners and GUS
toms of the Indians-had endured
great hardships, and endangered his
life many times in behalf of the re-
| ligion he was now about to preach on
the banks Of the Tuscarawas. Instead
of being intimidated or made fearful
by the address delivered to him, he
replied to it in the following words:
Brothers: What you say l told
| you is true, with regard to my COM
ing to live with you, namely for the
purpose of instructing you. but it is
likewise true that an instructor must
have something to live upon. ouner-
]
wise he cannot do his duty. Now not
wishing to be burden to you so as
to ask provision of you for one to
live upon, knowing you have families
to provide for, I thought of raising
my own bread, and believed that three
acres of ground was little enough for
that Of your land do not want one
foot; neither will my raising a suffi-
cheney of corn and vegetables for me
and my brother to subsist on give me
or any other person a claim to the
land"
Mr.. Post now retired for the pur-
pose of giving the chiefs and council
time to come to a conclusion and re-
turn an answer. After considerable
deliberation and argument on the part
of the council, the following answer
was returned to Post: 1--WE are agreed
to give you garden spot that shall
measure fifty steps each way, which, II
it suits you, you are at liberty to plant
thereon what you please"
THE COMPACT.
To this proposition Mr.. Post agreed,
and on the following day the lot was
stepped off by their principal chief,
whose name was Captain Pipes (who
was deputized by the council forthat
duty, fifty steps square; stakes were
driven down at the corners to mark
the lot. and Post went on with his
work again. This piece of ground was
known among the Indians as Coos
farm or Gods garden.
Here the two missionaries remain
ed until August preaching, too, and
teaching the Indians when treaty
with the different tribes residing in
the valley was appointed at Lancaster,
Pa, and Post being requested by the
governor of Pennsylvania to bring the
principal chiefs to the treaty, prevail
ed upon number of the Indians to
accompany him, and Heskewelder was
left alone at the mission. Here nc
remained, continuing to discharge the
duties Of teacher among the Indians
until in the month of October, when
he became afflicted with malarial
fever. About this time there was an
uprising between them and the from
tier settlements of Pennsylvania and
Virginia
A short distance below the residence
of Post and Heckewelder upon the op-
posite side Of the river a trader by
the name of Thomas Calhoun mad es-
tablished himself In order to trade
with the Indians. supplying them with
powder, lead, tobacco and other ar
ticles, such as were in need among