60 Years of Age, Culver Part 1

Sixty Years of Age

Wednesday the Anniversary of thr Platting of Town of Culver

Laid Out June 8 1844.

Short History and Incidient of the Early Settlement of the Town and Union Township

The tract of country which is now the site of Culver was part of the territory Menominee Indiana.

It was purchased by the United States Government under the Tippecanoe Treaty of 1732.

The red men, savages though they were, displayed happy taaste in [;anting their wigmams amidst neture's chatming sceens; where the air was sweetest, the waters pure and cool, where bold hills looked upon the beautiful lake and fertile valleys and where fish and game abounded.

A late as 1838 the Pottawatomies lived on the shores of the "beautiful water" whose crystal depth and melodious wave beat charm today the many visitors to Maxinkuckee

The removal of the Indians by the government officials is very pathertic. It is said when the Michigan road was laid out the Paottawatomies agreed to donate one section of land for every mile of raod through their lands between Michigan City and Logansport but the treaty was mmade to read a section of land for every mile of the entire road from MIchigan City to Madison, a swindle but not uncommon.

The Aubbeenaubbees lived at the south of the lake.

Finally by treaty the reserves were bought and after some resistance the remaining Indians were moved to Kansas

Why they protested sand moved only on compulsion my be seen in the speech made by their Cheif. At the last council with the U. S. officials this chief, a noble specimen of manhood, arose to utter a speech which may be compared to the famous oration by Logan. As he stoof erect his venerable head overtopped all others. He drew his blanket around with carless gracek below appeared richly embroidered leggings gaudy in beeds and colored quills.

He said:

The President does not know the truth. He like me has been imposed upon. He does not know that your treaty is a lie and that I never signed it. He does not know that you made my young chiefs drunk to get consent and pretended to get mine nor that I have refused and still refuse to sell my lands. He would not drive me from my home, the graves of my tribe and children who have gone to the great spirit. He would not allow you to tell me that your rbaves will take me tied like a dog. My brother, the President, is just but he listens to his young chiefs who have lied. When he knoew the truth he will leave me to my own. I have not sold my lands and I will net sell them. I have not signed a treaty and will not.

Protests were usless since some of the chiefs had signed the treaty.

Troops were sent and the Indians, 1500 in number, prepared to move. A priest from SOuth Bend held a fareweoo service in the old log chapel

The overland march was made under circumstances of hardship and cruelty.

One Indian aline, Antony Niago begged to remain. Hr bought a litle piece of land near Plymouth where he lived unitl his death in 1878, one of the last survivors of the red men who fished in the blue water and hunted on the hilly shores of Maxinkuckee

(C0ntinued in next weeis issue)

Culver Citizen (Culver, Indiana) · 9 Jun 1904, Thu · Page 1

Part 1 ~~ Part 2 ~~ Part 3

Note part 2 has not been found as yet.