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COLLECTIONS OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN 1906 VOL. IV, pages 299-301 THE STOCKBRIDGES By Rev. Cutting Marsh WAUPACA, Waupaca County, March 25th,
1857. To the Hon. LYMAN C. DRAPER, Cor. Sec. Historical
Society, Wis.: DEAR SIR;
- I have received a communication from a young man belonging to the Stockbridge
Indians, containing some account of two of their most distinguished men. One now survives, John Metoxem, but the
other, J.W. Quinney, is dead. I think
he died in 1855. I send you also the Albany
Free-Holder, of July 12, 1854, which contains a speech of John W. Quinney,
and which, I presume, was the last public speech he ever made. Unlike most speeches of the kind made by
white men and put into the Indians’ mouths, I believe that you may rely upon
this as being Quinney’s alone. I know that it is his style, he was capable of
making such a speech, and no one in the nation was equally well acquainted with
their traditions as he was. Levi Konkapot, the writer of the communication I send, is
a Stockbridge Indian, and has received a very good English education, and
possesses, naturally, a pretty strong mind.
From years of acquaintance with both Metoxen and Quinney, I believe that
Konkapot does not hold these men he has so graphically described, in too high
estimation. Quinney was unquestionably
a man of superior talents, and had a very good common education; and provided
he could have had the opportunity, he would have made a statesman of the highest
order. His description of Metoxen is
also true, and I regret that I have not the means at hand of giving a more full
account of his early history. Konkapot
has furnished me with only a part of the information I desire, and if he
furnishes more, I shall write you again hereafter. I send you his communication
and the speech, because the time is so near in which you wish to publish, that
I thought it not expedient to wait longer. I have read with considerable care, Mr. Ellis’ paper in
the Second Annual Reort. With much that
Mr. Ellis mentions, I was personally knowing to, and in the midst of the
affairs when they transpired. So far as
my recollection serves me, his statements may be relied upon. There is one thing, however, that is mentioned in a note
on page 420, of the 2d Vol. His. Cooos., with which I am disposed to
differ. It is there stated that Dr.
Morse first originated the plan or idea of the Stockbridges removing to Green
Bay. Old Metoxen frequently told me,
that over a hundred yeas ago a delegation from their nation visited the Sacs
and Foxes when they resided at Green Bay; and that their grandchildren (the
Sacs, &c.), invited them to come and settle down with them then, and as an
inducement they said they “would give them beaver-skins for their bed.” As a choice present, the Sacs and Foxes sent their
Grandfather (a term which they apply to the Stockbridges to this day) a large
piece of red pipe-stone, as large as one man could carry. “Ever since,” said the aged Metoxen, “we
have kept this in mind.” He said that
their league of friendship with the Sacs and Foxes was formed when the former
resided in Canada. Ever since the chain
of friendship has been kept bright.
That covenant was renewed during the Sac war of 1832. The latter heard
that their Grandfather was going to strike them (in Indian parlance), and they
sent a delegation, it seems on purpose to know if that was the case. They (the Stockbridges) assured them it was
no so. The covenant of peace and
friendship was then renewed, and the delegation returned. But, Sir, I cannot review the scenes with which I have
been conversant, and the whole history of the transactions of Governmental
agents with the New York Indians, as they have related them, time and again,
without the deepest pain. I am ashamed
of my country; I would fain draw the veil of eternal oblivion over them, if I
could. I resided with the Stockbridges
for the most part of the time from May 1st, 1830 to the fall of
1848, as a missionary, and cannot but feel a strong sympathy for them. Yours,
very truly, CUTTING MARSH |