Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/214

 :^

��202

��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��so cruelly slew the inoffensive Moravians, been captured, Col. Crawford would have been spared, (^apt. Pipe seemed to accept the results of war, and, knowing that the power of the Indians was gone, lived peaceably until his death. He was one of the Indian chiefs who signed the treaty of peace at (Ireenville, July 22, 1814, between the United States and his and other tribes. By this act he fully identified himself with the American cause.* When he came to Mohican John's town, or Mohican Johnstown, as it is variously written, he built his cabin about one mile north- west of the old Mingo town, south of the stream, and on what is now the Haysville roatl. There he lived several years. Dr. William Bushnell says he has often been in his caliin, and par- taken of his hospitality. He describes Capt. Pipe as humane, fine looking, dignified, courte- ous, a magnificent specimen of physical man- hood, fully six feet high, and exceptionally well proportioned. He thinks the cabin was about twelve feet square, and was well made for an Indian's work.

The Armstrong family of Indians, members of the Delaware nation, became better known among the whites than any other famil}'. Dr. Hill mentions Thomas Armstrong as the chief of the Delawares at Greentown, and their leader against the Americans in the Indian wars between 1790 and 1795. He was associ- ated with Capt. Pipe, leader of the Delawares, upon the Sandusky and the Huron Rivers. Both were defeated by Gen. Wayne, whose power they ever after feared. After the treaty of peace at Greenville, Capt. Pipe, with Jerome and others, came to this part of Ohio, and es- tablished Jeromeville. Dr. Hill does not men- tion the fact of Thomas Armstrong returning, but in after jears, other authorities record the fact of there being other Indians by that name. These may have been his sons. The treat}- of peace made by Lewis Cass and Duncan Mc- Arthur in September, 1817, which gave a res-


 * statement of Dr. Hill.

��ervation to the Delawares adjoining that of the Wyandots, specifies the following persons among whom it should be divided : " Capt. Pipe, son of old Capt. Pipe; Zeshanau, or James Armstrong; Mahanto, or John Armstrong; San- oudoyeasquaw, or Silas Armstrong ; Teorow, or Black Raccoon ; Hawdorouwatistie, or Billy Montour ; Buckwheat, William Dondee, Thomas Lyons, Johnnj-cake, Capt. Wolfe, Isaac and John Hill, Tishatahoones, or Widow Armstrong, Ayenucere, Hoomawon, or John Ming, and Yondorast."* Many of these had lived at Greentown, others at Jeromeville. The Arm- strong family seems to have been well rep- resented at this time. No mention is made of the old chief Thomas Armstrong. He may have lost his life in the Indian war, and these mentioned may have been his sons and his widow\

Dr. Bushnell and other old citizens knew John M. Armstrong quite intimately. He was well educated, receiving his education at Noi*- walk. He returned to Mansfield when his course was completed, and studied law with Hon. Thomas Bartley, afterward Governor of Ohio. He also studied with Judge Stewart, when his law office was on the southeast corner of the square where the court house now stands. While studying in Mansfield he recited a few branches of learning to Rev. Russell Bigelow, and thereby became acquainted with the minis- ter's daughter, Lucy, a most excellent girl, whom he afterward married, to the great aston- ishment of her friends. -'He is such a fine man, so dignified and so manly," said she in response to the inquiry of a friend. ''■ I cannot help but respect and love him, and I think I will marry him. " ' He proved an exemplary and model husband, and, when his studies were completed, he went to Upper Sandusky, where he became the chief of his tribe. He regulated their affairs, did much to elevate them, and while there was associated with "Chub,"' "Monque," "Blue


 * Howe's Collections.

��vs

�� �