The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-08-12

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averted in our county
Chief Wampun died in December
1914. If the date of his birth 1889, as
stated underneath his portrait, be cor
rect, his age was fifty five. However,
those who knew him claim that he must
have been older. Rumor has it that he
died in a log hut upon the rivers bank
at Helms Mills, then known rs Champ
lain's Mill, in the town of Cato The
crumbllng, mouldy ruin was dismantled
in 1903 The body was brought on a bit
ter cold winter day, drawn by the Indi-
ans on hand sled, to the mill of Hiram
Champlain, who made the rough pine box
in which he laid. Over the grave was built
Il roof of slab wood, as customary among
histribe. Sometye hundred of the dusky
mOurners and number of the white
| neighbors congregated during n fierce
snow storm for the funeral, which was
held with due ceremonies accompanied
by all the doleful songs and lamenta-
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was kept up daily for fully three weeks
before final dispersal No doubt this
weird assemblage manifested signs of
genuine grief and sorrow and of sincere
mourning, shared no doubt by the sym
pathetic white neighbors.
1t is known that the grave has, on
| Il vlal Ia,
| 1851, three prominent residents of Man
| itowoc, removed therefrom the ekull
and thighbones, which were to be utii-
liked in the gruesone imitation ceremo-
MES of well known secret society or.
| ganized at about that time. On this
becoming known, the Indignation of the
Indians was great producing conster.
nation among the settlers sullen
and resentful mood was manifest, dire
threats were made. However, order was
speedily restored when the graves con.
tents were restored.
The Mantowoc Co. His. Cos. has at.
tempted to locate the exact spot of this
last resting place of our county's most
noted red man, but hitherto with but
partial success. The many conflicting
and contradictory local accounts of his
death as we'll rs the location of the
| grave but emphasize the need of main.
tanning an attitude of healthy skepticism
in historic research, and in accepting
facts apparently vouched for in all sin
cerity and candor.
This SO far az can be gathered is
Wampun's biography, In our common
acceptation of the term he may perhaps
not be classed ~ great man How
ever we are only too prone to associate
greatness with learning and the arts of
sciences of civilized life. The fact that
man may be great without any of
these things is exceedingly hard for us
to realize, particularly as we have no
just conception of Indian character. No
bllity OF character, capacity AZ Il leader,
comprehensiveness of mind and similar
! qualities are the true qualifications that
go to make up the truly great man,
whether civilized or savage
Had our chiefs lot been cast in more
stirring times, or on more historic soil,
instead of upon the peaceful banks of
the Manitowoc River, the Home of the
Great Spirit, his name to day might
have been better known.
The subsequent history of this band is
soon told. Not long after Wampun's
death benjamin & mother died and he,
then in his fifth year, was adopted by
an uncle in Keshena. His people, how.
ever, continued to dwell at the Rapids
until about 1860, when, owing to the
encroachments Of settlers, they remov-
ed, as stated before, to the Forks of the
Manitowoc River in Calumet county,
under the leadership of Chaiconda, the
oldest son, and at his death Makoos,
Wampun s fayorite son, was chosen as
their leader Owing to similar causes,
the remnants of the rapidly diminishing
band left the Forks about 1869, the ma
lority taking up their abode on the
Menominee reservation, their present
home.
DR.. Falge was followed by Il &. Plumb
who in an able and appropriate speech
presented the monument on behalf of
Mr.. kettenhofen to the town of Manito.
woo Rapids. Chairman Emil Vetting on
the part of the town made brief speech
of acceptance and turned the monument
over to the Rapids school, which was
accepted 10y f. S. Bedell in another neat
speech.
Miss Blanche Braeunel of Manitowoc
Rapids then unveiled the monument
with the words, 81 herewith unveil the
monument to, Chief Mexico friend of
the white man.
Otto j. Habhegger of Milwaukee spoke
on THE Indian as we should know
him, and his talk was interesting
Reuben g. Thwaite of Madison sec.
retary Of the state historical society, was
the last speaker. 1t was very apparent
that Mr.. Thwaite il a learned man and
his address was highly interesting.
RETlRES FROM lINDSTEDT co.