Native Americans

NATIVE AMERICANS

Complete Content List

- Full Citation: Christopher B. Coleman, "Letters from Eighteenth Century Indian Merchants," Indiana Magazine of History 5, no. 4 (December, 1909): 137-159.
- Home: Allen County (Fort Wayne)
- Year: 1738-1798
- Abstract: These are letters from the Lasselle Collection in the Indiana State Library, from Early Indiana. They were written between white merchants and from merchants home to their families, and the tribes with which they traded are not identified. The letters document purchases of goods, and describe the hardships of life such as kidnappings, disease, and trade difficulties.
- Sample Text:
  1. "The Different Nations have sent an Embassy to Congress to desire them to rest on the other side of the Ohio & upon these terms they would make peace w[ith] them, which terms if they don't accept, the Indians are no[w] holding Council Chez les Chats to advertise all the different nations upon the Mississippi to hold themselves in readiness early in the Spring to fall upon them & force them into compliance." (p.149, February 16, 1787)
  2. "In all appearance the Wabache will be scarcely passable this summer unless early in the Spring. For God's sake, as soon as you can, set off early from the Post or you will certainly run a great risque of losing your life." (p.150, March 4, 1787)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Native Americans
  2. Indian trade

- Full Citation: Harriet E. Gardiner et al., "Removal of Indians from Ohio: Dunihue Correspondence of 1832," Indiana Magazine of History 35, no. 4 (December 1939): 408-26.
- Home: Lawrence County (Bedford)
- Year: 1832
- Abstract: This is a collection of letters to and from members of the Dunihue family who lived in Bedford, Indiana and in Marietta, Ohio. The letters relate to the removal of the Native Americans from Ohio in 1832, as well as to the family's personal affairs.
- Sample Text:
  1. "It would be one of the worst things that could possibly be done to the Indians and the Government to have the operations of the expedition cease even for a week, unless we were in the wilderness, far from liquor, and from temptation, and from the settlements of the whites--they are now troublesome and expensive enough, but if we should tarry a few days they would be more so, and would not possibly be able to get through this winter." (p.422, October 11, 1832)
  2. "We have been supporting ourselves and the Indians, nearly all the time since we left Indiana, upon money borrowed from the Indians!! What do you think of this kind of business?" (p.150, October 23, 1832)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Ottawa Indians Treaties
  2. Shawnee Indians Land transfers
  3. Shawnee Indians Treaties
  4. Removal of Indians

- Full Citation: Gabriel Godfroy, "An Indian Story," ed. George S. Cottman, Indiana Magazine of History 1, no. 1 (March 1905): 19-21.
- Home: Miami County (Peru)
- Year: 1904
- Abstract: Cottman heard this story from Godfroy, a son of Francis Godfroy, the last chief of the Miami Indians. A Miami brave married a Wea woman, a Kickapoo scalped a Wea woman, and the brave agreed to lead a war party against the Kickapoo. The brave's party captured the leader of the Kickapoo, and when the leader refused to return to the Wea's camp, he was burned alive. The Miami brave later led another war party against the Kickapoo, but was injured on the way and had to return home in disgrace.
- Sample Text:
  1. "But glory, among the red men as among the white, is sometimes harder to maintain than it is to gain." (p. 21)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Miami Indians
  2. Wea Indians
  3. Kickapoo Indians

- Full Citation: Jacob Hull, "Jacob Hull's Detachment of the Potawatomi Emigration of 1838," ed. Dwight L. Smith, Indiana Magazine of History 45, no. 3 (September, 1949): 285-88.
- Home: Cass County (Logansport)
- Year: 1838
- Abstract: Captain Jacob Hull was in charge of the small group of Pottowatomie Indians who remained in Logansport, Indiana because of illness. After three weeks, he left Logansport with thirty-two member of the tribe to travel to Kansas. This is the journal he kept on his journey.
- Sample Text:
  1. "Travele 19 Ms this Morning Pok-Ka-gos and his Brother left the Emigration this Loss was much regretted as they were excellent hunters and appeared anxious to go West." (October 1, 1838, p.287)
  2. "Travele 11 Ms to Encamp there being no water within a reasonable distance." (October 20, 1838, p.287)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Pottowatomie Indians
  2. Removal of Indians

- Full Citation: "Tippecanoe Calumet Warclub," ed. Eva Draegert, Indiana Magazine of History 51, no. 2 (June 1955): 163-66.
- Home: Clark County, Ohio (Springfield)
- Year: 1840
- Abstract: The Tippecanoe Calumet Warclub was a campaign newspaper published in Ohio advocating the election of William Henry Harrison and John Tyler in 1840. This is a letter to John A. Crain, one of the publishers of the newspaper, from a member of a "Tippecanoe Club" that worked for Harrison's campaign. The writer includes subscribers' names and offers advice for the paper.
- Sample Text:
  1. "Fill your paper with figures of 'log cabins'--'Hard-Cider' Barrels, Soldiers, Battles, Indians, Scalping females, and children--Houses in flames, etc. from the demoniac acts of savage barbarity." (p.165, April 8, 1840)
  2. "The prospect of a War, too, and the probable destruction of property, and loss of [ms torn] from humbug, particularly when you put in juxtaposition the peculiar fitness of Genl. Harrison, from his known valor, and experience in indian warfare, with the effeminancy and drawingroom imbecility of present worthy humbug: Martin Van Buren." (p.165, April 8, 1840)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841.
  2. Tyler, John, 1790-1862

- Full Citation: William Polke, "Journal of an Emigrating Party of Pottawattomie Indians," Indiana Magazine of History 21, no. 4 (December 1925): 315-36.
- Year: 1838
- Home: Marshall County
- Abstract: This is the journal of William Polke, who conducted the emigration of the Pottowatomie Indians in 1838. His journal describes the forced removal of the tribe, whom the U.S. government moved from Twin Lakes, in Marshall County, Indiana, to the Osage River in the Western Territory. Their journey was part of the Removal Act of 1830, which gave the government permission to move tribes from their homes in Indiana and surrounding areas to reservations further west. Polke documents the journey, and the treaties that forced these emigrations.
- Sample Text:
  1. "The heat along with the dust is daily rendering our marches more distressing. The horses are jaded the Indians sickly and many of the persons engaged in the emigration more or less sick." (September 16, 1838, p. 320)
  2. "Beef and potatoes were issued to the Indians this Evening. Forage, corn and hay. A child died since we came into camp. Distance traveled to-day eighteen miles." (October 6, 1939, p. 326)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Pottowatomie Indians
  2. Removal of Indians

- Full Citation: William Polke, "A Continuation of the Journal of an Emigrating Party of Potawatomi Indians, 1838, and Ten William Polke Manuscripts," ed. Dwight L. Smith, Indiana Magazine of History 44, no. 4 (December 1948): 393-408.
- Home: Danville, Illinois
- Year: 1838
- Abstract: This is a journal kept by one of the military escorts on the emigration of over 1,000 members of the Pottowatomie tribe, who were forced to move after refusing to accede to the demands of the U.S. government that they emigrate westward. There is a short history of the Pottowatomie tribe, who moved from the Great Lakes Region south to Indiana, fought with France in the American Revolution and in the War of 1812, and were forced by U.S. commissioners to give up land in Indiana.
- Sample Text:
  1. "Made some enquiries as to the boundary of their land &c with the same enquiries as the other chiefs. I have no doubt the object of their repeated enquiries on the subject is to extort some pormises from me [...]." (22 November, 1838, p.399)
  2. "Houses have not been built for them--lands have not been cultivated. They murmur at this, and perhaps with propriety. I would respectfully suggest that the promises made them both by government and Gen. Tipton, in regard to the improvement of their homes in the west, receive early attention. Such course may prevent future trouble and perhaps difficulties." (November 10, 1838, p. 408)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Pottowatomie Indians
  2. Removal of Indians

- Full Citation: William Polke and Samuel Milroy, "The Attempted Potawatomi Emigration of 1839," ed. Dwight L. Smith, Indiana Magazine of History 45, no. 1 (March 1949): 51-80.
- Home: Cass County (Logansport)
- Year: 1838-39
- Abstract: These are letters of William Polke, who was appointed conductor for the emigration, and Samuel Milroy, a pioneer who was subagent for the Miami Indians. The letters document the events leading up to the abandoned plan to move the members of the Pottowatomie tribe who remained in Indiana after the 1838 emigration. Andrew Jackson implemented the Removal Act, and in 1830 the U.S. government began moving Native Americans west in exchange for their lands. The Pottowatomie ceded their lands in Indiana to the government in 1836, and agreed to be gone in two years. However, the tribe was reluctant to leave, and the U.S. government forced them to emigrate. During the trek, many members of the tribe fell ill, and the stragglers remained in Indiana. Plans were made for another emigration, but it failed because the panic of 1837 spread westward and affected banks in Indiana.
- Sample Text:
  1. "You are aware that it is the object of the Government to remove the whole of the Indians on this side of the Mississippi to the west of that River--and that the sooner that object can be affected the bettre (sic) for the Indians." (May 30, 1839, p.56)
  2. "I am authorised to cause them to be conducted to a Rendezvous--at which place the[y] will receive the necessary Rations and a necessary supply of clothing--nothing like force is to be used they must com volunt[a]rily[...]. (September 21, 1839, p. 59)
- LC Subject Headings:

- Full Citation: George Winter, "Winter's Description of Frances Slocum," Indiana Magazine of History 1, no. 3 (September 1905): 115-118; George S. Cottman, "Sketch of Frances Slocum," ibid., 118-122.
- Home: Miami County (Peru)
- Year: 1839
- Abstract: George Winter wrote this letter to the Philadelphia Press about his visit to Frances Slocum's home in "Deaf Man's Village," near present-day Peru, Indiana, in 1839. Slocum was captured by the Delawares as a child in 1777 and raised as a Miami, her caucasian heritage only recently discovered. He describes Slocum's life among the Native Americans, her appearance, and her family. Winter's description is followed by a short article by the editor on Slocum.
- Sample Text:
  1. "Her hair, originally of a dark brown, was now frosted. Though bearing some resemblance to her family (white), yet her cheek bones seemed to have the Indian characteristics--face broad, nose bulby, mouth indicating some degree of severity, her eyes pleasant and kind." (p.116)
  2. "The wigwam upon the Mississinnewa, at the 'Deaf Man's Village," was a large, double log cabin, of comfortable capacity, such as characterizes the thrify farmer's home in the West." (p.117)
- LC Subject Headings:
  1. Delaware Indians
  2. Delaware Indians Captivities.
  3. Delaware Indians History Sources.