History Of Lake Maxinkuckee, O. A. Gandy Part Two

(Continued From Last Week)

As we have said, when the noble red man began to cluster in large bunches around the shores of the lake, happiness would have been complete except for one thing.

Havin a large and rapidlu growing population was a pleasing to them as it is to any community in the present day, but having no name - no cognomes - no official designation in the post office directory, was jarring to their pride.

So after mature and deliberate consideration of the matter in full council it was decided to select a name for their beloved lake - a name that would be euphonious expressive, and, in fact, fill the bill all arounf.

It was a matter requiring considerable thought and comptemplation, for such names as Kalamazoo, or Keokuck, or Kokomo, or Kankakee seemed to them hardly appropriate for so lovely a place, ao Big Chief Tak-a-Nip summoned his principal highbrow and informed him that unless a satisfactory and appropriate name was "thunk" up by the setting of the seventh sun from that date, there would be a full dress rehearsel of the "Clubs is trummps" scene from the Powhatan - John Smith sketch, in which the part of the leading sobrette would be omitted.

The aforementioned highbrow, who, by the way, was named "Ich-Ga-Bible", heard the edict of his chief with heap much fear, and trepidation, for had not the council labored long and in vain of the self same propostition?

His soul was full of fear, his heart was full of sorrow, and his hunting shirt was full of ticks. He was a true brave who dod not fear death, but her preferred to die of old age; besides the catfish were biting fine off Long P oint and it was too early for the mosquitoes.

His soul revolted against leaving the lake right on the threshold of the summer season. He knew it would be a long journey and doubted if the warmth of the reception awaiting him at its end would compensate him for what he was leaving.

But no happy thinks came to the ide of this red Aristotle. Day by day the allotted time slipped by into eternity and he was no nearer the solution of his promlem than when he began. Many names came to his mind, many monikers were tried out and found wanting - none seemed adequate to meet the conditions imposed - none worthy of association with so lovely an object.

At last the dread day arrived, and iwth it the chief's summons. He found the band gathered around the council fire, suspended over which was a large cauldron. "Ichy" recognized the pot at once. It was the one that was always used when a raid was made upon a neighboring tribe and they brought home a visitor for supper. (I forgot to mention that all this occurred long before ther was a closed season for wild game). Sometimes they brought home several guests, and then there would be several suppers. So when out hero recognized the hardware a shudder ran through his manly frame. He hated to draw with a pot like that before hime. Hi night fill. ANd if be filled and wond the pot, what chance had he for the stakes - the steaks, or chops or ribs either, for that matter?

But Ich-Ga-Bibble was no weakling; he could meet and laugh at death now, for he saw they intended to boil him with cabbage, and cabbage was h is favorite fruit.

SO when the time came, and the fatal question was asked, he arose, and facing his audience, answered in a voice that could be heard down to the outlet, "Max-in-Kuckee"! - Just like that!

THere was a moment's hesitation, a pause of expectancy, and then a wild cheer burst fromthe entire council, and the name was chosen.

Ich-Ga-Bibble's nerve had saved him; instead of occupying the place of honor on the table t the feast, he sat at the chief's right habd at the side of the table, for they boilded a couple of suffragettes with the cabbage and although dinner was necessrily delayed to allow them time to cook, everybody was happy.

So they called it "Maxinkuckee"

Generation after generation of etymologiates have been dissected, quarreled over it, cussed and discussed it, and never have apprised its true meaning.

It breathes the spirit of the Indian of the past; of the little ban of Pottawattomie tha cluttered up the scenery about the shores of the beautiful lake; it shows us that Solomen was wise when her remarked there was nothing the sun by the price of eggs - for "Maxinluckee", literally translated, means this - "I should worry" Now You know about it.

The Miami Indiana originally owned the land in this vicinity, and rented it out to the Pottawattaomies.

One of the Pttawattomie boys married a daughter of old man Miami, and they lived with her father over in Miami county for a long time, but the family kept growing, and every year bringing in another mouth or two to feed, the old man shipped the tribe up here in the hope that life would be so easy they'd be tickled to death.

Instead, they increased so rapidly in the salubrious climate that when the children ran out to play it resembled recess at the Culver public school.

History tells us that when old man Miami heard how his plans had miscarried he felt so mortified that he took a bath - a brand new method of suicide among the tribe. In his honor they named pretty much everything down there after him.

The Miamis were a proud and haughty tribe. They had, according to one historian, about 1,500 warrioes, not including militant suffragettes or the basket ball team.

Gen. Anthony Wayne made good Indianas of a greater number of them than the combined efforts of all the missionaries who labored with them, and he had the satisfaction of knowing that his conversions were for keeps.

After the treaty of Greenville the tribe is said to have rapidly declined, although no tintypes of an Indiana declining anything are in evidence today.

The Pottawattomies, who occupied the land in this immediate vicinity, numbered about 2,000, scattered in villages from St. Joseph, Mich., to near Loganpsort. They got their mail at such post office as Tippecanoe, Twin Lakes, Yellow RIver, Lake Ke-Wa-Ne, and their lodges surrounded Maxinkuckee.

The Red Men lodge is still one of the strongest in Culver.

The raised some corn and a great deal of Cain, and lived principally on wild gam, fish, Ben Davis apples, nuts, roots, naisoos and chocolate caramels, and were clothed in blankets and untanned skins. WHen not clothed the skins were tanned. The little pappooses usially wore a bright and cherry smile with maybe a shell or two for ornamentation.

The majority of the Pattawattomies were quiet and peaceable and lazy.

The commodious hair received that formerly occupied a prominent place in every tepee, were relegated to the ash can, or being stilized as holder for picture postcards and mail order catalogues, the turkey trot and tango usurped the place of the war dance at tribal powwows, and scalps were as scarce as silver coins in a revival collection box.

Pompadoars were all the go (not in the usual Indian meaning of the word), and there was good wi;; and peace and hair and fine-tooth combs in all their villsges. We know there have been statements to the contrary, but they are without foundation.

Ollie Goss did not coome to this part of the country until after the Indiana had all left, besides, he wold have been safe at any time

To Be Continued_

Part One ~ ~ Part Two ~ ~ Part Three ~ ~ Part Four ~ ~ Part Five