Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25

when lie settled in Warrensburg Indian
affairs were in sorry state. Most of the
traders were unprincipled scoundrels who
robbed the red men at every turn. john
son traded with the Indians, too but was
scrupulously honest in his dealings. He
was man of broad education. wise, toll
Grant and truthful. He studied the H.
dian languages and the Indians them
selves. He learned to speak lroquols as
fiuently he did English. AS magis-
trate. and later as Indian commissioner.
he was absolutely just to them He dId
mucn to stop the sale of liquor TO the In
dams and to compel traders to deal non
estly with them. And, despite the fact
that previous to taking Molly Grant INTO
his household he lived with another In
dian woman. he organized Protestant
missions and nilsson schools throughout
the Six Nations. These missions proba-
bly, were more to counterfeit the work Of
the French Jesllits than for the spiritual
welfare Of the Indians.
1t required the utmost fincsse and pa
thence for n representative of the Eng
lish colonists to hold the good will of the
Indians in those times. As between
France and England il was natural the
Indians should favor the French. Tire
English treated the Indians as i'll
ferior people and. as coloniSts. were
spreading out further and further. taking
more and more land from the Indians.
and there was much intermarriage be-
tween them. The French established a
few cities. such as Montreal, Quebec and
Louisburg. and numerous trading posts.
but did not establish colonies. On the
contrary they maintained the most
friendly relations with the Indians. The
English robbed and debased the Indian
and the French befriended and cultivated
him.
Sir William. by answering fidelity to
the Indian, won not only the members of
the Six Nations to the British cause, but
his influence was strong IN the west and
in the south. Regularly he held councils
AT Mount Johnson or at Johnson Hill.
which were attended by chiefs from all
the tribes in the confederacy. and once he
held council at which chiefs from all
tile tribes east of the Mississippi were
present. except the Creeks, Cherokees
and kickapoos Molly Brant presided at
his table just as if she We're his wife, and
he was rs proud of the eight children she
bore him he was of me three his law
full wife gave birth to. and his son, Sir
john. was as proud of his halfbreed
brothers and sisters as he was OF his
white sisters.
From the suualor of an Indian village to
this. the finest home in America, went
Joseph Brant. At the time Milly Brant
became Sir Williams houSekeeper the boy
was about twelve years Old. One of the
first things Sir William did for the Indian
lad was to have made for him q war
rior's outfit, with small musket, a small
tomahawk and a small hunting knife
When Sir William. at the head OF 1.ciH,
1roquois, took part in the battle Of Lake
George in 17I-J. Joseph Brant, then thir-
teen years old. was one of his force From
behind tree the little Indian boy blazeG
away with his tiny musket al the French,
and there he got his first lesson i'm war
fare. In the battle of Fort Niagara four
years later, Brant. although only seven
teen years old. served as lieutenant in tn.
sanajoharie company of MohaWks. He
was getting on as a warrior.