Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-05
WAS A GOOD INDIAN |
Wampum Earned Gratitude OF
the Whites.
Monument IN HIS HONOR
Unveiled Near the Scene of His
Career in Wisconsin.
SIGNED TREATY OF CHICAGO
Unlike Black Hawk, the Chief Of
Three Tribes Made Peace With
the Early Settlers.
BY WILLIAM r. RTIS.


with a learned discourse.
The monument is a beautiful block of
granite, mounted upon a pedestal of the
same material, with a profile OF wam-
pun in high relief and the inscription:
THE wAMPUM OF MEXICO.
17S9-1S44.
Chief OF the Chippewa,
Ottawa and Menominee
Indians of Manitowoc County.
Signer of the Treaties Of
Buttes Des Mortes, 1927
Green Bay, 1928.
Prairie Du Chen. 1929.
Chicago. 1888.
Friend of the Early Settlers
The Wampum, also known as Mexico.
John Y. Mexico and "Wah- mix-i-co,"
was the head Of the three tribes named
year Of the eighteenth and the first half
of the nineteenth century. His favorite
abode was at the rapids of the Manito-
woo river, about two miles above its
mouth. in what is now Manitowoc cOun-
ty. Wis. where a great Indian trail fol-
lowed the west shore of Lake Michigan.
1t was afterward known as the Green
Bay military road In 1881, by treaty
linquished large part of their reserva-
ton and land Office was established at
Green Bay. which brought in white peo-
pie from every direction.
The Treaty Of Chicago.
The treaty Of Chicago, concluded in 1888
and ratified February Il. 1885. was one
of the most important Indian treaties
ever made in the west. The Chippewas.
Ottawas and Pottawatomies coded to the
United States that large strip Of terri
tory bounded as follows: Beginning at
Crosse Point, twelve miles north Of Chi
cago, thence due west to RocA river.
thence up the Rock to its source near
Fond du Lac. thence southeast along the
Milwaukee river to Milwaukee, a total
area of approximately 100000 acres.
given in exchange for lands of equal ex-
tent west OF the Mississippi river to be
assigned by the President. This docu-
enty-seven chiefs. "Wah-mix-i-co" being
the fifth, which attests his prominence in
tn deliberations.
According to the narrative of Peter ].
Vieau, published in the fifteenth volume
Of the Wisconsin Historical Collections, a
tragical romance was enacted at Chicago
during lull in the proceedings that Ie-
suited In the treaty. The central figure
was one Of the four daughters of Wam-
pun. AT this gathering, which resembled
a great fair, some five or six thousand
Indians and several hundred whites were
present. Two young men. otherwise the
beet OF friends. were both smitten by the
charms of this young squaw. The fathers
to council of wise men. who decided
that a duel should be fought and that
the survivor should have the girl. The
eager lovers. on their ponies. bedecked
bowie knives. flew at each other at a
given signal. In few minutes both
were MORALLY wounded and afterward
died, while the unfortunate girl wrung
her hands and never recovered from a
frenzy OF despair.
Murder Of DR.. Madison.
Early in the year 1921 DR.. William
Madison, post surgeon of the troops at
Fort Howard. Wis, received a furlough
to visit his Kentucky home. He started
on horseback on the only trail in these
parts at that time. the Green Bay Mill
tary road, on his way to Chicago, ac-
companied by two soldiers on foot. When
a few miles north of the spot where the
was mortally shot from ambush by
Ketankah. a Chippewa Indian. One of
the soldiers hurriedly returned to Green
Bay to summon help. number of cf-
ficers and soldiers started at once, but
found the doctor dead. Wampum deliv-
cred the murderer to the authorities.
ketankah was taken to Detroit, duly
tried and convicted in October, and exc
ing
The Wampum was a man OF fine ply
sique. over six feet In height, erect. very
dignifled and courteous in his demeanor.
possessing considerable strength of char
acter and more than ordinary inteli-
gence. In his dress he was very plain
and unassuming. indulging in none Of the
fineries and tinsel so common among In
dians Of both sexes. He was upright in
all his dealings with his white neighbors,
as we'll as with his own people: highly
respected and trusted by BOTH for which
reason his intercession was required In
many a dispute. his decision always re-
naming like that of a court Of last re-
was free from that common curse Of the
Indians OF the frontier. drunkenness.
which Of itself bespoke superiority and
earnestness of character.
A fine portrait of Wampum is to be seen
in the gallery OF the Wisconsin Historical
Society. 1t Is a copy made by Mark X.
Harrison OF Fond du Lac, from the orig
inal painted in 1889 by George A. p.
Healy, and was presented to the society
by Narcisse NJ. Juneau, son Of Solomon
Juneau, in 1853 The legend underneath
is. "waume gesako (the Wampum), born
1889: died 1874. Head chief Of the mixed
Manitowoc.'
Funeral Of Wampum.
Chief wampum died i'm December.
1914. II the date of his birth. 1850, as
stated underneath his portrait, be correct,
his age was fifty-fve. However. those
who knew him claim that he must have
been older. He died in a log hut upon
the rivers bank at Helms Mills, then
known as Champlain's Mills In the town
I of Cato. The crumbling. moldy ruin was
dismantled in 1903. The body was brought
on a bitter cold winter day. drawn by
the Indians on q hand sled, to the mill
OF Hiram Champaign. who made the
rough pine box in which he was buried.
Over the grave was built a roof of slab
wood. as was customary among his tribe.
Some Ave hundred Indian mourners and
q number Of the white neigfbors congre-
gated during q fierce snOwstorm for the
funeral. which was held with due cere-
monies. accompe MED by doleful songs
and lamentations, which were kept up
daily for fully three weeks before final
dispersal.
yWampum, like all his tribe who could
afford that expensive luxury, was
pOlygamist. He had four wives. two OF
whom were Menominee sisters. BY these
he reared seven sons and TOUR dauah-
tiers. The only surviving members OF
this family are his Sons Naquaskin. now
living on a reservation near. ST. Paul.
and Ben jamin Y. who was born at the
Rapids I'm 1S4l. He Is man OF intelli-