ME-SHIN-G0-ME-SIA

Me-Shin-go-me-sia was born near the mouth of Josina Creek, in Wabash County, not very far from where the Battle of the Mississinewa was fought. The year of his birth is given as about 1782. He died December 16, 1879. There is a sharp difference of opinion prevalent regarding his participation in the Battle of the Mississinewa. The battle was found on December 18, 1812. Me-shin-go-me-sia, if the year of his birth be correctly given, was then thirty years old. In order to properly qualify as chief of his tribe, an Indian must possess qualities which elevate a man somewhat in the esteem and confidence of his race. He must have stability, and skill, and bravery as a warrior. He must be able to inspire his followers and be personal example to stimulate courage. It is not very likely, therefore, that an Indiana old enough to fight who skulked away at a time like that, when fearlessness, the most important attribute of all, was imperative, would ever be accepted or even tolerated as Chief of the proud Miami's. If, on the other hand, the year of his birth, as given were incorrect, Me-shin-go-me-sia may have been a child when the battle was fought, and therefore might have been carried away with other children to a place of safety.

Me-shin-go-me-sia was the eldest of ten children. When his father, Me-to-cin-yah, passed away, Me-shin-go-me-sia became Chief of the Miami's. He managed the affairs of his people with wisdom; his prudence in business matters was recognized. He adopted the dress of the whites, but continued to use the Indiana language; he spoke English fairly well. In all his habits he was strictly temperate. His conduct was manly and he was upright in his dealings. In his later years he joined the Baptist Church and lived a consistent Christian life. He was married about the year 1815. No husband was ever more devoted or attentive to his wife. She was stricken with blindness before her death, and he was constantly by her side, ministering to her every need. At his death he owned 160 acres of good land. He enjoyed respect of all who knew him.

"Me-shin-go-me-sia was a remarkable man," stated E.P. McClure, who knew him well. Mr. McClure's father, the late Samuel McClure, was intimately acquainted with the old chief. Samuel McClure settled on the Indiana reserve in 1827, where he built one of the first cabins erected in Wabash County. He was implicitly trusted by the Indians. So highly was he esteemed that they gave him the name Che-cum-wah, meaning twin brother. "My father went to Washington City with Me-shin-go-me-sia several times on treaty matters. I recall, as a boy,"remarked E.P. McClure, "that Indians made father's house their home when they came to Marion. The Miami's lived seven miles northwest of Marion, and this was their trading point. I used to get pies and cakes from mother's pantry for them to eat. They liked delicacies of this sort. I remember they used to wrap their blankets about them, eight or ten in a room, and lie down on the floor, their feet to the fire place. That is the way they wanted to sleep, and father always let them have their wish about it. One day Sas-a-quas, sometimes called Sassafras, brought a gray pony to town and made me a present of it. I was a very proud boy. It was the first pony I ever owned. Sas-a-quas used to make bows and arrows for me. I have heard that the Miamis practiced polygamy. I have mingled with them a great deal, but I never knew of but two cases where the Miami's had plural wives. Shap-an-do-siah and Sas-a-quas each had two wives. I do not believe that Me-shin-go-me-sia took part in the Battle of Mississinewa. He was a peaceable man. I have heard my father in conversation with him many times on a wide variety of subjects, and one once do I recollect of hearing Me-shin-go-me-sia say anything about participating in the fight. My understanding has always been, and I am firmly of that opinion, that he was not in that engagement. It is my impression that Me-shin-go-me-sia, with several squaws and their children, were over on Wildcat when the Battle of the Mississinewa was fought."

Major Goerge W. Steel, of Marion, writes: " I have been slower in making reply to your favor of the 13^th inst. That I would have been excepting my inability to find data to bear use out in thinking that Me-shin-go-me-sia was a boy six years old, among other children, with women and men too old to accompany the warriors of the tribe who had gone north to do battle The latter returned in time, as we know, to give Colonel Campbell and his command all of the fighting he could stand.

"Of course Me-shin-go-me-sia was a young hero at any rate, and in due time a chief who proved to be the last of his tribe.

"As a boy, in 1849, was at their village at a round-up and separation of their ponies, which had become so numerous as to disturb our pioneer settlers, and were sold at public sale in surrounding towns, Marion, of course, among them."

The letter of Major Steele was prompted by an inquiry made in a communication by the writer addressed to him relative to the participation of Me-shin-go-me-sia in the Battle of the Mississinewa. Major Steele was a leading factor in the effort made looking to the purchase of the ground on which this battle was fought. It was planned to acquire this land with a view of converting it into a park as was done in the case of the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe, located near Lafayette. The project failed for lack of proper interest on the part of men in position to make their cooperation effective.

Wabash Indiana, Jan 31, 1917

Edgar M. Baldwin, Fairmount, Indiana

Dear Sir: -- My father, Dr. Thomas R. Brady, received a letter from you recently asking for information concerning an Indian, Me-shin-go-me-sia, I think; and we are sorry that we have been so negligent in answering it.

Father has been very sick for some time and is unable to rite a word, or I am sure you would have had a prompt reply.

He says: "I knew the Indian all my life. He was temperate and was a good citizen. He urged his people to work and be industrious. I have always understood he was not engaged in the Battle of the Mississinewa."

If he were able I am sue he could give you other and better information, and I am sorry I can give no more.

Hoping this may be of some little assistance, I wish to remain,

Dr.Brady, at the time the communication was written, was on of few men then living who knew Me-shin-go-me-sia intimately. It seems almost a hopeless task to connect the old chief with the engagement at Mississinewa. The safer plan, therefore, seems to be to submit such evidence as may be adduced and suggest that the reader use his own judgment in reaching a conclusion.

Referring to the matter, Hon. Edgar L. Goldthwait, for many years editor of the The Marion Chronicle, says in a letter to the writer, under date of January 5, 1917:

"Relating to your inquiry of the old Indian's part in the battle: It is said the he spoke of it often to his friend. In one of the histories he pictured it. He was a boy; his duty was to look after the horses, to be ready when retreat was sounded

Richard Dillon, of Fairmount, in a letter dated January 27, 1917, offers this interesting b it of information.

"Phineas Henley came to Indiana in 1837 and settled on forty acres now a part of the farm owned by Alice Thomas.

"The writer, a grandson of Phineas Henley, has often heard him speak of being acquainted with Me-shin-go-me-sia, and of hearing him tell about the Battle of the Mississinewa, stating that he was twelve years old at the time, and was hid in the woods behind a log, where he could hear the bullets whiz over him."

In a letter written on August 26, 1909, to Hon. John T. Strange, of Marion, Indiana, Mrs. John Flitcraft, who lived at the time the communication was written at Macy, Indiana, says:

"Me-shin-go-me-sia told my father that he was fourteen years old at the time of the battle and held four ponies during the fight and then he run and run and run and hid in sycamore log long time."

It is exceedingly difficult, owing to the well-known diffidence of the Indian, to obtain from him information which he sees fit to whithhold from the white man. It is said that few Indians care to discuss in any way a battle in which he has been defeated. It may be stated, however, that Me-shin-go-me-sia was a man of considerable ability, firm, but not obstinate. His grave may be seen in the Indian burying ground near Jalapa.

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