Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/102

 42 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI bled the Delawares in language and tribal habits and acted with them in many of their dealings with the white men. When these Indians came across the Mis- sissippi they settled prineipallj' in the terii- tory between the Cinque Honnne and Flora creek. Their settlement extends west to Whitewater river. Two large villages were located on Apple creek, on the north line of what is now Cape Girardeau county. There were also villages of these Indians along Cas- tor river, near the present site of Bloomfiekl in Stoddard county, and at Chilletecaux in Dunklin county. The.y settled at other places in various counties of the district, and most of the Indians known to the later settlers in this territory belonged to these two tribes, or else to the Cherokees concerning whose history some facts are given later. These Delawares and Shawnees were nearl.y always peaceful and inoffensive in their relations with the white people. Many of them culti- vated little patches of corn or pumpkins, the work as was usual with Indians being virtu- ally done by the women. They hunted and trapped, selling their furs to the various traders, using the flesh of animals for their food. Many places through the lower counties of the district have names which perpetuate the memory of these Indians. Chilletecaux river in Dunklin county, Jim Ease's camp in New Madrid, and Seneca slough are a few of them. Along Apple creek, where were located the principal villages of the Indians, are many traces of their residence. The lai'gest of the villages on this creek contained about four hundred inhabitants. The houses were built of logs and the open- ings were filled with mud. They were supe- rior in some wavs to manv of the tribes of the west. Most of them were fine looking well- made men, fond of war and the chase. They possessed considerable skill in war, and made even the fierce Osages respect the prowess of their arms. For a long time the Shawnees cherished a bitter hatred for Americans. This village called Chilleeathee, was situ- ated on Apple creek in Cape Girardeau county. It was the largest village in the en- tire section. More than five hundred Indians made their homes here for many years. They were prineipallj' Shawnees and Delawares. Among these Indians was the sister of the celebrated Chief Tecumseh. This Indian wo- man, who is said to have been very beautiful and possessed of a great fluency of speech and considerable eloquence, during a visit to an Indian camp at New Madrid, formed the acquaintance of a Creole named Francois ]Iaisouville. They became attached to one another and were married after the Indian marriage customs. When Tecumseh heard of this he came to New Madrid and forced his sister to leave ilaisonville and return to the village of Apple creek. However, within a few months, while Tecumseh was absent in the south attempting to form his great al- liance of the southern Indians, his sister re- turned to New Madrid and to her husband. There are living today, in New Madrid county, some of the descendants of Maison- ville and his Indian wife. She outlived her husband and seemed never to recover from her grief for the death of her brother, who was killed by Colonel Johnson in Indiana. Another one of these Indian villages was called Chilletecaux. It was situated on a branch of the St. Francois river not far from the present site of Kennett, and a third vil- lage was located near the present site of Point Pleasant in New Madrid county.