History of the Wyandott Mission, of the Divine Efficiency of Christianity to Civilize the Heathen Nations

HISTORY OF THE WYANDOTT MISSION, AT UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. ––––––––––– BY REV. JAMES B. FINLEY ––––––––––– “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined,” Isaiah ix, 2. ––––––––––– CINCINNATI: PUBLISHED BY J. F. WRIGHT AND L. SWORMSTEDT, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE BOOK CONCERN, CORNER OF MAIN AND EIGHTH-STREETS. ––––––––––– R. P. Thompson, Printer. 1840. 2. Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1840, by John F. Wright and Leroy Swormstedt, in the Clerk’s Office for the District Court of Ohio. 3. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Wyandott mission was the first established by the Methodist Episcopal Church on our frontier, for the benefit of the Indians. Here it was satisfactorily ascertained that the Gospel and grace of God could effectually change the heart of savage man reclaim him from ignorance and sin, and confirm him in the practice of virtue and religion. And such was the signal and extra ordinary success of this mission, that it encouraged the Church to devise extensive plans for the conversion of other Indian nations, and excited a confidence and liberality adequate for their accomplishment: so that all our missions now among the Indians may be said, in some sense, to have had their origin in the successful experiment made at Upper Sandusky. As this work treats of subjects deeply interesting to the Christian public, especially to all the friends of missions; and as the author is generally and favorably known, we anticipate for it a very extensive circulation. It may be proper for us to say, in conclusion, the history we now present to the public has been revised for the press, under the direction of the publishers; and although the phraseology has been changed in some places, yet no change has been made to vary the sense of the facts, as narrated by the author. We trust this volume will be perused by many with much satisfaction; and that it will greatly subserve the interests of the missionary cause. PUBLISHERS. Cincinnati, April 8, 1840. 4. PREFACE. IN presenting this volume to the Christian public, the author claims no other merit than that of giving a plain narrative of facts which fell under his own observation, or which are derived from authentic sources. In early life he became acquainted with the Indian tribes bordering on our frontier, and acquired considerable knowledge of their history and traditions their manners and customs their religion and modes of worship; and having been subsequently several years a missionary to the Wyandotts, at Upper Sandusky, he is enabled to give a relation of all that pertains to the introduction and success of the Gospel among them. In undertaking this work the author has been influenced by the advice of several of his friends, as well as by his own desire to bring to the notice of the public, the example furnished in the history of the Wyandott mission, of the divine efficiency of Christianity to civilize the heathen nations. He has not aimed at a polished style, and seeks no literary fame; his highest ambition being to advance the glory of God, and the influence of genuine religion among men. That the historical narrative contained in this volume may edify his readers, and awaken their sympathies and stimulate them to greater efforts in sustaining the cause of missions, as well as afford encouragement to the missionary of the cross to renewed exertions in the great work of evangelizing the world, is the earnest prayer of THE AUTHOR. 5. CONTENTS TO HISTORY OF THE WYANDOTT MISSION. CHAPTER I. Indians, why so called––Their origin unknown––Supposed to be descendants of the Ten Tribes of Israel––Revolt of the Ten Tribes––Carried captive into Assyria–– Scripture prophecies concerning them––Of their dispersion and final restoration–– Their present existence and place unknown––Outcasts from the rest of the world–– Their probable migration to this continent––Arguments to show this––Quotation from Esdras––Probable from Assyria to this continent––Comparison between the Indians and Jews, in their persons, dress, ornaments, &c.––The Indian languages derived from one root––Indians opinion of their own origin––Hold themselves to be a distinct race. Page 13 CHAPTER II. The Wyandotts Former extent of their territory––Strong and warlike––Division of the nation––Their bravery––Hospitality––Divide their lands with other nations–– Diminution of their numbers––Gloomy reflections of the Indian in contemplating the extinction of his race––Ill treatment of them by the whites––The persons of the Indians described––Mental characteristics––Peculiar traits of character––Worship the Great Spirit––Their festivals––Medicine feast––Feast of dreams––Feast of giving names–– War feast––The great feast––Wobbeno feast––Feast with the dead––Boys feast–– Garangula Autumnal feasts––Solemn feasts––Buffalo feasts––Wyandotts in two tribes––Change in the dynasty––Form of government––Manslaughter and the avenger of blood––A singular example––Towns of refuge––An example––Law about property sold––A case where the author was concerned––Law about theft––Theft formerly almost unknown––Sanguinary law against murder––Its beneficial effect–– Witchcraft––Case of a young man bewitched by wolves––Stewart and a witch–– Horrible death inflicted on her––Games––Their religion––Believe in two Gods––In future rewards and punishments––In inspiration––Seneca prophet–– 1* 6. CONTENTS. Shawnee prophet––Inferior prophets––Polygamy––Hospitality––Reception and entertainment of strangers––Author eats a dish of locusts––Mode of eating––A case of two white men transgressing it––Their friendship and hatred. Page 43 CHAPTER III. Introduction of the Gospel among the Wyandotts––Their degraded condition before this––Their reception of the Roman Catholic religion––Its bad effects on their minds and lives––John Stewart––His conversion––Is impressed to preach to the Indians–– Leaves Marietta for this purpose––Comes to Goshen, on the Tuscarawas––Then to the Delawares at Pipetown––Adventures there––Comes to Upper Sandusky––Kindly received by the Walkers––Interview with Jonathan Pointer, who discourages him in his undertaking––First preaching of Stewart among the Wyandotts––Decision of Mr. Walker respecting the Protestant and Catholic Bibles––Stewart departs for Marietta–– Robert Armstrong––Visits of local preachers to the Wyandotts––They are recognized by the Ohio Conference as a missionary station––Rev. James Montgomery appointed missionary––Leaves the station, and becomes sub-agent at Lower Sandusky––Moses Henkle, Sen., supplies his place––First Indian quarterly meeting held at Ebenezer Zane’s, November 19th, 1819––Interesting exercise of the meeting ––Experience of Between-the-logs––Of Hicks––Of Scuteash––Mononcue’s exhortation, and his remarks on whisky––Between-the-logs describes their ancient religion, that of the Roman Catholic, and the Seneca and Shawnee prophets––The Wyandott mission peculiarly blessed––Religion alone truly civilizes savage men––The author pursuades them to have a school, and adopt the habits of civilized life––Address of the nation, dated August 7th, 1821, to the conference held at Lebanon––Dangerous voyage to Detroit––The bark canoe––Quarterly meeting at Detroit––Voyage to Portland–– Journey to Lower Sandusky––An Indian poney. 73 CHAPTER IV. The author in August, 1821, appointed missionary––Want of missionary funds and resources––Preparations for his journey––Arrives at the mission––Cordially received––Lives in a cold, open cabin––Builds a new one––Works very hard, and prepares materials for building the mission house––Sufferings during the winter–– Stewart teaches Indian school at Big Spring––Happy death of Mononcue’s aunt––His speech at her funeral––Unformed state of the Church––Organization of a class at Big Spring, and one at the 7 CONTENTS. mission––Opposition to this course by the luke-warm and irreligious––Unprincipled conduct of the traders––Heads of a sermon at the mission––Between-the-logs exhorts––Indian woman’s dream––Indians repair to their hunting ground, to hunt and make sugar––Author visits their camps to hold a two days meeting––Eats boiled raccoon and molasses––The hunting camp––The houses, beds, and fixtures––Mode of hunting raccoons––Bears––Their habitude’s––Mode of hunting them in winter–– Young bears––Bear robbed of her cubs––Bear’s flesh and oil––Bear’s oil, venison, sugar, and parched corn––Account of the meeting––Return to the mission house–– Meeting among the whites on Tyamochte creek––Mononcue’s address to them on drinking––Difficulties of regulating classes and explaining Discipline. Page 115 CHAPTER V. Interesting examination of the leaders at the quarterly conference––Cleanliness promoted––Better treatment of women––Wicked conduct of traders––Scruples of the chiefs respecting holding civil offices––The author removes their doubts––His reasoning on this topic––Interesting camp meeting on Delaware circuit––Profitable quarterly meeting at the mission––Meeting at the Big Spring––Conversion of an Indian woman on the way, while riding to it ––Baptisms and marriages––Organization of two small schools––Erection of the mission house––Dangerous illness of the author, occasioned by hard labor at the house––Illness of Mrs. Finley––Both recover slowly–– Their great sufferings––Evil surmisings respecting Stewart––Bishop M’Kendree purchases a farm for him, and provides for his family––Ill health of the author–– Unable to receive a re-appointment

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