The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-03-04


they had their Oodyguards with them,
who watched and guarded those dig
nitaries very closely, seeming to fear
that enemies might attempt to assas-
sinate them. General Jackson was
President of the United States at that
time, and while exceedingly popular
with majority of the American peo-
J pie, he was just as unpopular with
/ others and there was some ground for
fearing assassination or at least some
bodily harm.
On one occasion while Mr.. and Mrs.
! Matthews kept tavern at Little Cross
ings, they received advaAce notice
i from one of the stage co:c1lanies then
/ operating on the pike that on certain
day thirty prominent Indians on their
way to Washington to confer with
"The Great White Father" would stop
with them for dinner. The notification
was coupled with the request to have
lots of beef and potatoes boiled for
the Indians, and such other things as
they might see fit to prepare. They
were also notified to roast several tur-
keys for party of prominent white
people who were scheduled to dine at
their house the same day.
Ample provisions were made for
the two big dinner parties. The stage
coaches carrying the Indians arrived
on schedule time, but the coaches car
, rying the white people scheduled to
eat dinner at Little Crossings were
running late, and in cases OF .hat kind
the drivers had orders to keep their
horses moving until the lost time was
made up. So on this occasion there
was so much roast turkey for the ex-
pected guests who failed to stop that
Mr.. and Mrs. Matthews hardly knew
what to do with it all. They accord
ingly decided to divide the toothsome
birds with the Indians, who were de-
lighted with the fine feast set before
them.
At that time slavery was not yet
! abolished, and Mr.. Matthews had two
! negro women whom he purchased
from Jesse Tomlinson, who at that
time condc,ted the tavern known as
the Stone House, at the historic Little
Meadows, about three miles east of
Little Crossings. The slave women
both ,,a,1,oI Coroh b,,+ 81 ho1
came into the Matthews family one of
them was renamed and thereafter
went by the name of "Sook"
While the Indians were delighted
with the feast set before them, and
could hardly be restrained by the in
terpreter in charge of them from tear
ing the roast turkeys in shreds with
their fingers in their eagerness to de-
YOUR them, they nevertheless showed
much contempt for the negro slaves
and refused to receive any food from
their hands. The attitude of the abo-
riginal Americans peeved Sock and
Sarah exceedingly and they were ex-
cused from further duty in serving
the Indians. The latter, however,
showed due gratitude and friendliness
toward the white people for the SER
vices rendered them,
Mrs. Glotfelty says her recollection
of the incident as related to her in
after years by her mother, is that
there was very prominent chief
among the Indians entertained. In all
probability the chief was Blackhawk,
who with other Indians during the
Jackson administrations went to Wash
ington to confer with the Great
White Father" about certain wrongs
for which they sought satisfaction
and redress. Mrs. Glotfelty does not
distinctly remember the name of the
chief. She clearly recollects, however,
of often hearing her parents relate
how the Indians were dressed when
enroute to Washington and the con-
trast between their apparel on the
going trip and the return trip. There
was only one squaw in the party, and
all were dressed in the customary
garb of their tribe while enroute to
Washington, and that consisted of lit
tie more than blanket wrapped about
the body in a somewhat ingenious
way When they returned from Wash
ington, the male Indians were dressed
in suits of broadcloth, while the sqaw
was clad in a beautiful dress gaily
decorated with glittering beads. The
reader can imagine the exultation in
the minds of the aboriginal .Ameri-
cans, and there is no doubt that the
change which came into their minds
through their pilgrimage to Washing
ton was even greater than the change
in the wearing apparel and personal
appearance, which had been wrought
/ before their return.
Although Mrs. Glotfelty has no per-
sonal recollections Of the palmy days
of the National Pike as a wagon and
stage coach road, she heard her par
ents relate so many interesting things
pertaining to the traffic on the pike
nearly century ago, and of incidents
of that remote period, that those Incl
dents now seem as almost portion of
1. e.