The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-19

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William Walker. provisional governor
of Nebraska territory, when Kan
SaS and Nebraska were orc. He
was head chief CT the WyandOt ma
ton, well educated at an Ohio COL
lcge.
ecas of the Six Nation confederacy
and the Wyandots of the Hurons were
one. Their separation, which was
brought about by thrilling and excit-
ing episodes, Mr.. Conneliey will tell
about some day in print.
When the Wyandot reservation was
in northern Ohio on the Sandusky
river in 1S43 the government desired
their land and offered them $4,000
acres in Kansas down on the Neosho
near lola. But the Wyandots. who
had money, did not at that time. in
1S43, desire to go so far away from
civilization. So they bought thirty-six
sections of land in Kansas between
the Missouri and the sKaw at the
latter's mouth and extending westward
along the north bank, Of the Kaw. or
Kansas river. ~
Many of the best families in Wyan-
dotte county trace their lineage thru
the Wyandots. Frank Betton, a
former labor commissioner of the
state of Kansas. was one Of these, and
Grain Inspector Betton today is also
thus related.
The Wyandots- were a religious
people. Their legends. folklore and
mythology are full of intense interest.
Their folk stories and folk songs are
legends of the Irish. Connelley knows
these things like a book" into which
he will put them some day.
In the Wyandot tribe was estab-
lished, by the way. the first Methodist
mission in the world.
In 1916 John Stewart, an intelligent
free negro living on the Ohio river
about where Marietta is now located
said "A Voice came to him and told
him to keep travelling northwest I'M
til the voice ceased. He was intensely
religious, a Methodist and day after
day journeyed till he reached the
reservation about fifty miles from
Lake Erie. There the voice stopped
He did likewise. founding the frs,
Methodist mission ever established in
the world!
He remained many years in charge
Of 1t there, where the Wyandots, a
| century ago, had a democratic form
of government Originally they lived
in Canada up near the Pentans
Georgian Bay country where Morton
Albaugh, Del Valentine, Cyrus Leland
! and Judge Pollock have gone many
seasons of vacation to fish, for res'
and recreation.
In wars among the tribes Of Indians
| the Hurons were scattered into the
United States along the Great Lakes
The Wyandots settled in Ohio. The
Wyandots still are, great Methodists
The Wyandot was not only cultured
as intelligent Indians could be cul
| tured, but he had a good system gov
eminent. They had gotten away from
ago, and elected their chiefs. or bis
men, annually. They had their clar
councils. and written code of laws.
The Wyandot Indian was a prout
First American. When accosted by ;
stranger inquiring who he was, tn
wyandot would throw out his chest
beat upon it with his flat fists, expe
his breath suddenly and in a. guttera
voice say in Indian tongue, the wore
"Er-gyeh-how," which meant to In
dian ears, IT am a real man." am !
wen-dut. a real man." probably givini
his clan which might be any one o
twelve-Big Turtle, Little Turtle, Mu'
4 Turtle, Wolf. Bear, Beaver. Deer
Porcupine, Striped Turtle, Highlan'
Turtle, Snake or Hawk.
william Walker, the first and onl.
original provisional governor of Ne
braska, when Kansas and Nebraska
were in one territory, Nebraska. wa
a well educated Wyandot, abou
a quarter blood. No Kansas Wyindot
had e greater strain of the Indian il
their veins. Walkers Cover iorshiI
was not officially recognized by tn
government, but resulted in fcrcini