The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-20
Craze of Famous Indian Chief Is
Hidden in Wheat Field Near Topeka
Marble Shaft Marks Abram
Burnett's Resting Place-Once
National Character Forgotten.
Stone Bridges Older Than Mem
DRY of Man Nearby-Treasure
Seekers Dug Holes Around
Chieftain's Cabin.

Half hidden in the corner of a
wheat field on the Frank Helm farm,
six miles southwest of Topeka. is a
Beneath it rests the bones of Abram
Burnett, once chief of the Pottawato-
mic Indians
Thrown loosely around this monu-
ment are several smaller markers that
once disclosed the resting places of
several other members of the Potta-
watomie tribe The original burial
plot, thirty feet square, has yielded to
/ the entertainments of the pillow and
the surrounding wheat field.
Forgotten Even by ''Old Timers"
! Lost in the mists of half a century,
the grave of Abram Burnett has prob
ably faded from the minds of even
/ the "old timers in Topeka. Most of
the present generation never heard of
; it, The monument is half a mile from
! the nearest road and quite concealed
| from the traveller who passes along
/ the highway. The burial plot is stu
ated two miles west OF Burnetts
mound.
John Wilson, whose wife originally
owned the land now occupied by Helm,
decided the burial plot to Mary Bur
nett widow of the famous chieftain,
in 1870. at the time of Burnetts
death. After her marriage to Charles
Buzbee, Mrs. Burnett sold the tract
Of land on which the Burnett cabin
stood. three-quarters of a mile west
of the mound.
Bridges Older Than Memory.
Two other features of interest in
the vicinity of Burnetts mound are
the stone bridges built more than
fifty years ago by the Pottawatomle
Indians across the Shunganunga creek.
No one appears to remember just
-I1,, CnnGt rt1pt ed who
directed the work. Indian labor, it is
conceded, laid the stones in their
places.
The bridge shown in the accom-
panying picture is the one on the east
and west road that runs along the
north base of the mound. 1t is To-
Gated near the former site of the Bur
nett cabin. The other structure is a
half mile north of the mound on the
north and south road that enters Sea-
brook.
Indian Name a Tongue Twister.
Chief Burnett was the son of Eaw-
kee-me He was born in Michigan in
1911. His Indian name was kah-he-
ga-wa -ti-an-gah. His family lived
near Lake Michigan and were persons
of importance in the Pottawatomle
tribe. He was educated in the mis-
sion schools of Fort Wayne, Ind. and
Carey Mich. In the Chicago treaty
Of August 20, 1921, reservations were
given John, James. Abram, Rebecca
and Nancy, all children of KaW-kee-
me. In several later treaties between
the government and the Pottawato-
mics, Abram Burnetts name is found
as one of the signers.
The PottaWatomies were at last re-
moved to the Sugar creek lands IN
southeastern Kansas and by the treaty
of 1916 these lands were exchanged
for some along the Kaw river
trading post for the Indians was estao-
lished by the government at Union
town, about fourteen miles west OF
Topeka, and placed under command
of Col. Thomas n. Stinson.
Burnett and his family came up
from the Sugar creek lands in March,
1S4S, and settled along the Shunga-
nunga The old cabin, which was torn
down several years ago, stood three
quarters of a mile west OF the MOUND
In one end was a cupboard in which.
it is claimed, Abram kept his stock
of "frewater." Whenever he was en-
gagged in a cattle trade he took ms
prospective buyer into the house ana
''set him up"
Treasure Hunters Got Busy.
The Indian chief was supposed TO
have been wealthy and to have buried
his money after the manner of his
people About the time the cabin was
torn down great holes we're dug in that
vicinity by enthusiastic treasure hunt
ers. The fortune, however, was never
found.
Buried in the same plot with Burnett
were a minor grandson whose name is
unknown; Matte Knoffloch; an Indian
named Lykins, buried in a sitting posi-
ton in a grave walled with stone; Pru
dence Lykins Wilson. and Notch. or
Mrs. Joe Burke. 1t is believed that the
Indian buried in the sitting posture
was John Lykins. WHO settled on the
land in 1S47 and died in 1859. His
widow. Prudence, later married John /
Wilson.
Fooled Souvenir Seekers.
The maiden name of Burnetts wife
was Mary Knoffloch. a German
woman whom he married in Indiana !
in 1912. She kept his death secret |
for several days until she had time to I
hide his guns, saddles, brides and |
other possessions, for il was the Gus |
tom of the Indians to come i'll and |
take away something that belonged to |
the deceased as a souvenir. Mrs !
Burnett is buried at Sacred Heart, |
Okla.
CHIEF Weighed 45O Pounds.
Chief Burnett weighed $50 pounds.
1t is related that, when he became ex-
cessively drunk. it took seven men TO
lift him into his wagon, until someone
devised a chute by which he could be
rolled uphill like a barrel.
The only real social event in the
chiefs life. so story goes. he spoiled
himself He had invited several men
from Topeka to attend a party at his
cabin southwest of town. When they
arrived he had drunk up most of the
whisky he had purchased for them,
and being in a playful frame of
mind, greeted his visitors with a fusil-
lade of chairs and other household
furniture. They did not tarry to en-