Indian Quarrels (The Death of Tonquish and His Son)

Lancaster Intelligencer and Journal, July 13, 1819

While I would like to take a look at the "Detroit Tribune's" accounting of the murder of Tonquish and son on June 26, 1819 (despite this paper stating the June 4th edition) this is probably as close as I'm going to get from the available online sources.

In this firsthand account by members of Tonquish's Pottawatomie tribe, Wa-o-gan (the brother of Tonquish), Wa-wa-se-cock, Na-o-kay, Wa-wa-a-gaw, Wa-wa-be-nous-quey and Na-o-kee-squoy-be, as interpreted by Col. Godfroy and Capt. Knaggs, the onus for the hostilities seemingly lay upon the younger Tonquish.

While passing Sargeant's house a dog ran out and bit Wa-o-gan. One of the tribe's squaw went to the door haloowing and Sargeant came out with a cudgel in a threatening manner, charged Wa-o-gan and struck him in the neck.

Tonquish, after laying aside his gun and supplies, attempted to intervene but was rebuffed by Wa-o-gan who attempted to make peace and suggested that the party move on. Tonquish's son had other ideas and grabbed Tonquish's gun whereby Sargeant began to flee, fearing for his life. Although the paper cuts off on the spot it's assumed that Sargeant was killed by the younger Tonquish.

It seems that Wa-o-gan suggested they go to Capt. John Macombs camp along the Rouge and explain the situation. Tonquish would not consent to the proposal. As the tribe moved westward Wa-o-gan lagged behind so as to cut off the likely search parties which would ensue. The tribe did agree that should they be caught that they would surrender with the younger Tonquish dissenting from these terms.

They walked on to Pine Creek (not sure where this is & not all that interested at present) where they camped for the night. The next morning after traveling 10 miles they were encountered by "Americans" who tied up the arms of some of the Indians.

Tonquish's party was encountered 150 yards from the scene and Wa-wa-se-cock was fired upon but eluded the bullet. He and Tonquish's son bolted, the latter was fired upon three times with the third shot striking him dead.

Wa-o-gan encouraged the others to surrender. While doing so Tonquish was shot my Capt. Macomb without provocation. Though Macomb might suggest otherwise after his participation in the sack of Fort Dearborn which took the lives of many Americans.

Nonetheless, Wa-o-gan and five other Indians were taken to the homestead of Macomb.

John McDonnell and Thomas Rowland, both esquires, gave the American side of the event as recounted to them by witnesses. In their version the tribe had attempted to rob a man (which Gilbert in her "Tonquish Tales" claims was a common method of securing supplies for Tonquish's sect). Sargeant apparently got involved and was stabbed. Sargeant's mother attempted to thwart the stabbing but was cast aside brutally.

In the ensuing standoff it is said that when encountered by Macomb and his men that Tonquish and son gave the war whoop and fired upon a man in the advanced party. Only when overtaken by the militia did Tonquish and son flee, only to be shot dead.

Surely, the truth is somewhere in between the two as neither Tonquish's people, especially his brother, nor Macomb's men were likely to give an objective retelling that might hurt their perceived innocence in the matter.

A Dudley Randall Poem in Milestone 2

I bought this Milestone 2 poetry Magazine at a Livonia estate sale this week. Milestone was the literary publication of Wayne (State) University and this second issue dates to 1949. While I don't recognize most of the names, Dudley Randall was both a nationally known poet and the librarian for the Wayne County General Hospital at Eloise via the Wayne County Library System. The poem featured is The Southern Road which was a revised version of the completed poem from 1948 that h as a handful or two of word differences between the two. I don't know if Randall edited the poem for later collected works editions or earlier but this link features it in its likely final form in 2009. Neither version particularly enchants me but the block print in the magazine is an added bonus.

A Cabinet Card of a Dead Man Lying in Repose From Wayne Photographer Susan Doolittle

The City of Wayne, Michigan was not a large village at the turn of the 20th century so it stands to reason that there wasn't a glut of photographers practicing their trade there. As such, the 3 cabinet cards and carte de visites that I own represents roughly a quarter of the early ones. Considering that the wives of Frank Hickok and William Corlett, first Village President of Wayne, took over after Frank's death in 1892 the list grows smaller beyond those two families. Had I snagged the Doolittle dead man cabinet card I'd be even that much more Wayne-rich in photographs. Speaking of Susan Doolittle, of whom I have learned very little about, it is interesting to note that Wayne had three women photographers in an era oft dominated by men in that very field. This photograph of a corpse is a startling example of her work.

Frederick Soop: Not An Equal Opportunity Restraunteer

Detroit Free Press , March 28, 1890 If you don't want to hear a racist tale of a suburban namesake then close your eyes now. As early as 1876 Frederick Soop had left his Belleville farm once again, having done a stint at the Hawkins House in Ypsilanti during the Civil War and the City Hotel in Detroit thereafter, and ventured off to Chatham, Ontario to run the Rutley Hotel , which was conducted as a Temperance House. Detroit Free Press , August 17, 1879 In 1879 he was searching for a good restaurant or small hotel to operate. Eventually he ended up on Washington Avenue near State Street running a dining hall which he ran until around 1890. Detroit Free Press , April 16, 1890 It was in 1888 when the aforementioned racial incident occurred at his dining establishment. It was then that William H. Haynes, a black doctor, sat down with his former classmate S. W. Barkwell for dinner. The men ordered but when the food was served none was placed before Mr. Haynes who, ironically, ha...

The Nankin Township Historical Society

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