"After the death of his father, William Walker was the most influential man in the Wyandot Nation. Intellectually he was one of the greatest men of that tribe of Indians, a tribe acknowledged strong in Council.
He was an eloquent speaker, and as a forceful writer on political subjects he has been surpassed by few men. He wrote many valuable papers on passing events from the time of his removal West to the beginning of the war; these were published in the newspapers in Ohio and Missouri, and few of them can be found now. He wrote some excellent papers for literary publications.
He was an ardent Democrat, and a slave holder. He hated abolitionism and contended for the rights of slavery as he understood those rights, to the commencement of the war. But he was never in favor, so far as I have been able to learn, of secession. I have a speech which he delivered on the 4th of July, 1864, in which he says that the war was uncalled for and without any justification. He was loyal to his country. He was elected a member of the Lecompton Constitutional Convention, and was present and participated in the proceedings."
The Provisional Government of Nebraska Territory and the Journals of William Walker Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory
THE WALKER FAMILY.
5
WILLIAM WALKER, SENIOR.
"The subject of this brief sketch was born in 1770, in or near Green Brier, some of his relatives say, Rockbridge County, Va. He was captured by a war party of the Delawares in the early part of the summer of 1781, being then eleven years of age. There was in the neighborhood a small stockade or temporary fort, to which the inhabitants fled for safety whenever an alarm was raised. The settlers, at the time this attack was made, were entirely off their guard; nothing calculated to excite their alarm had occurred for a long time, and all, old and young, male and female, were busily engaged in their fields. Young Walker and (I think) his Uncle were ploughing corn, the former riding the horse and the other holding the plough. When coming out at the ends of the rows and in the act of turning they were fired upon from behind the fence, wounding the man in both arms. The lad sprang from the horse and both fled towards the fort. He was captured before getting out of the field and the wounded man overtaken and killed within a few yards of the Fort. No attack was made upon the Fort, tho' there were only a few women and children in it. The invading party commenced a rapid retreat and after traveling four or five miles halted in a thick wood, from which a reconnoitering party returned to the invaded district. In the afternoon the party returned to the place of rendezvous laden with plunder and accompanied by another party of Delawares which the prisoner had not seen before, and to their mutual astonishment Aunt and nephew here met. Mrs. Cowan was captured in another part of the neighborhood by this second party. This was a distinct party, tho' they moved and travelled [sic] together. These two were the only prisoners they took.
"Then commenced the return march, which was attended with much fatigue and suffering, and to add to their distress, notwithstanding the country abounded with game, yet the warriors ware singularly unfor-
6
tunate in their bye hunts. They travelled [sic] several days on a very small allowance of dried meat, still urging their way as fast as they could consistently with the power of endurance of the prisoners; still fearing a pursuit and rescue. To their great joy the warriors killed a fat Buffalo just as they were camping.
"During their march to the Ohio River he availed himself of the opportunity of breaking to his aunt his intended attempt at an escape; but she promptly interposed her objections to so rash an act, which could not be otherwise than a failure, and which would, in all probability, bring upon them fatal consequences; pointing out to him the impossibility of successfully eluding pursuit and recapture, and the certainty of his perishing from hunger, even if he eluded recapture. Crossing the Ohio all hope of a rescue died within them. They ejaculated a long farewell to home, family, and dear friends; their hearts sickened and sank within them; but their cup of anguish was not yet full, for here the two parties separated. The Aunt and nephew bade adieu to each other. It was the last sad adieu--they never met again.
"The party having the young captive proceeded direct to the Indian settlements on the Sciota, where, resting a few days, proceeded to their villages on the Whetstone, now Delaware, Ohio, where he underwent the discipline of running the gauntlet; out of which, as he frequently stated, he came with very little bodily injury. He was then adopted into, as he said, 'a very good family and treated with kindness.' The clan to which he belonged seemed more inclined to the chase and other peaceful pursuits than 'following the war path.' How long he remained with his adopted relatives I am unable to determine,--four or five years, at least. While his party attended a council at Detroit, the subject under Consideration being the treaty concluded at Fort McIntosh the winter before, these Delawares there met with a large body of Wyandotts, among which was an adopted white man named Adam Brown, who, when a man grown, had been captured by the Wyandotts in Dunmore's war in Greenbrier County, adopted and was married, was influential and respected by the tribe. The youth attracted his attention and a conversation in English ensued, the latter not having entirely forgotten his native language. Brown, finding out where he was from, and knowing his family, determined upon ransoming him. Negotiations for this purpose were opened, but here
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an almost insurmountable obstacle presented itself. It was contrary to Indian customs and usages to sell an adopted person on account of the reputed ties of relationship. This, with the unwillingness of the family into which he was adopted to part with him, rendered the project a hopeless one. The influence of the Wyandott Chiefs and that of the Military Commandant were invoked. An official speech to be delivered to the Delawares by Skan-ho-nint (One bark canoe), was agreed upon. If this proved unavailing, the attempt was to be abandoned as fruitless. The points taken may be thus briefly stated: 'We Wyandotts are your uncles and you Delawares are our nephews. This you admit. Where, then, would be the violation of our law and custom if, all parties being agreed, an adopted nephew should choose to reside in the family of his uncle? This would be only an interchange of those social amenities which are proper among relations; there would be no purchase in the case; your uncle would be loath, indeed, to insult his nephews by an offer to purchase their adopted son. Our father, the Commander, who joins with us, promises, as an earnest of his good will towards his Delaware children for their compliance with his and your uncle's wishes, to make your hearts glad (with Rum) and bestow upon you, and especially upon the immediate family of the youth, valuable presents out of the King's Store house, such as Blankets, Cloths, guns, ammunition, &c.' (Here the Com'dt confirmed the promise.) After the delivery of the speech, time for deliberation was asked for and granted. Whether the argument was deemed conclusive against the objections, or the promised presents acted as a salve to their consciences, it is sufficient to state that the Delawares acceded to the proposition and next day the transfer was duly made. The subject of these negotiations knew but little about the details of these doings beyond the transfer, and being content to remain with his newly formed acquaintances, gave himself but little concern about them." 1
THE RANKIN FAMILY.
James Rankin was born in Tyrone, Ireland. At an early age he engaged in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company,
1) This sketch is taken from Governor Walker's account of his father, in the William Walker Correspondence in the Draper Manuscript Collection in the Library of the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
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and was for many years high in position with that great corporation. He had charge of many important branches of their extensive business in the fur trade of the North. Having mastered the intricate details of the Indian trade, and acquired a sufficient sum to enable him to do so, he embarked in the business for himself. He was very successful in this venture, and in the course of time accumulated a large fortune. For many years Detroit was the point from which he directed his business.1
THE MONTOUR FAMILY.
"About the year 1667 a French gentleman named Montour settled in Canada. By a Huron Indian woman he had three children--one son and two daughters. The son, Montour, lived with the Indians, and was wounded in the French service, in a fight with some Mohawks, near Fort La Motte, on Lake Champlain, in 1694. He deserted from the French, and lived with 'the farr Indians'--the Twightwees (Miamis) and Diondadies (Petuns or Wyandots). By his assistance Lord Cornbury prevailed on some of these tribes to visit and trade with the people of Albany in 1708. For his endeavors to alienate the 'upper nations' from the French, he was killed in 1709 by the troops under Lieutenant le Sieur de Joncaire, by orders of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada, who wrote that he would have had him hanged, had it been possible to capture him alive.
"Of the two daughters of the Frenchman Montour, one became conspicuously known as Madame Montour. She was born in Canada about the year 1684, captured by some warriors of the Five Nations when she was but ten years old, taken to their country and brought up by them. It is probable that she lived with the Oneidas, as, on arriving at maturity, she was married to Carondawana, or the "Big Tree," otherwise Robert Hunter, a famous war-chief of that nation.
1) This is the best account I have been able to make up from documents in possession of Mrs. Lillian Walker Hale of Kansas City, Kansas, and some letters written to the "Wyandotte Gazette" in 1870. I feel that more should be said, but I have been unable, so far, to obtain the information necessary to make a more detailed statement. Mr. Rankin was a remarkable man in many respects, and was held in high esteem by the Wyandots.
JOEL WALKER.
9
He was killed in the wars between the Iroquois and Catawbas, in the Carolinas, about the year 1729."
So great became the influence of Madame Montour with the Indian tribes, and so proficient was she in their various languages, that she was for many years in the pay of the Colony of New York, and her influence was ardently sought by the Government of Canada. No important Council between the colonies and the Indian tribes was held without her being present. She lived at various places in the West, from the country of the Iroquois to that of the Miamis at the western extremity of Lake Erie. She had a sister, married to a Miami. Count Zinzendorf was the Bishop and head of the Moravian Church. In the fall of 1742 he visited the village of Madame Montour. "He preached therein French to large gatherings." It is said that she was deeply affected when she saw Zinzendorf and learned the object of his visit. "She had entirely forgotten the truths of the Gospel, and, in common with the French Indians, believed the story originated with the Jesuits, that the Saviour's birth-place was in France, and His crucifiers Englishmen."
Many strange things are told of this remarkable woman. It was persistently maintained that she was the daughter of a former governor of Canada. There was never any governor of Canada named Montour, and her ancestry is well established. It is not certainly known how many children she had. We have definite accounts of three. Her daughter was known as "French Margaret." It is reasonably certain that she had another daughter, who was "one of the converts of the Moravian Mission, at New Salem, Ohio, * * * and that she was a living polyglot of the tongues of the West, speaking English, French and six Indian languages." Her two sons were Andrew, alias Henry, and Louis. Andrew Montour's work is a part of the history of the exploration and settlement of the Ohio Valley and the Great West, and
10
so important and extensive were his services that no account of them can be attempted here.1
I have been, as yet, unable to trace definitely the ancestry of Gov. William Walker to any particular descendant of the French gentleman, Montour. But that he is descended from this French gentleman there can scarcely be a question. This original Montour married a Huron woman, and his son lived with the "Diondadies" (Petuns or Wyandots). The Wyandots of history are the descendants of the Petuns, or "Tobacco Nation" of the Huron Confederacy. When the Wyandots lived in Wyandotte County, Kansas, there were still Montours belonging to and living with the tribe, and they were allotted their proportion of the land belonging to the Nation when the holdings were assigned in severalty. The name was erroneously written "Monture" by the allotting agent.
James Rankin married Mary Montour. She belonged to the Big Turtle Clan of the Wyandot tribe. They were married at Detroit. There is reason to believe that Mary Montour was the descendant of Catherine, a granddaughter of Madame Montour. This accords with the best information 1 have been able to obtain from the old people of the Wyandot tribe. By Indian law the child always belongs to the clan of the mother, and in the instance of so noted a name, it is more than probable that the name Montour was always retained by her children.
Mary Montour was born in 1756. After their marriage James Rankin became a Wyandot by adoption, and he spent most of his life from that time, with the Indians; but at the same time pushed forward his business of trader. He gave his children a good education, and for this purpose removed to Pennsylvania, in his last days, and there died.
1) The foregoing account of the Montours is taken and compiled from "Christopher Gist's Journals," by William M. Darlington.
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Mary Montour Rankin, like her ancestors, had great influence in the Councils of her people. Many interesting accounts and traditions of her hospitality and influence in the tribes about Detroit are remembered to this day by her descendants.
Of the children of James and Mary Montour Rankin I know of but two, James and Catherine. James came west with the Wyandots, and died in what is now Wyandotte County, Kansas. Catherine married William Walker, Sr.
Catherine Rankin was born June 4, 1771.1 I have not been able to determine the date of the marriage of William Walker and Catherine Rankin, but their first child was born October 14, 1789. Walker had lived with Adam Brown until his marriage. He took the side of the Americans in the war of 1812, and rendered valuable service to his country. Many of the Wyandots espoused the cause of Great Britain, and Walker was in constant danger of death. He was afterward Indian sub-agent for the Ohio tribes, and it was under his administration that Methodism was introduced into the Wyandot Nation. For an account of his valuable services in this work see the "History of American Missions; Worcester, 1840": and Finley's" History of the Wyandot Mission." He died at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, January 22, 1824.1 His wife died at the same place, in December, 1844.
WILLIAM WALKER.
William Walker was the son of William and Catherine (Rankin) Walker. He was born in what is now Wayne County, Michigan, March 5, 1800.2 He belonged to the
1) Manuscript letter from Governor Walker to his mother. Now in my possession.
2) There are two dates given. In the old family Bible of William Walker, Sr., now owned by Mrs. Mary Haff, the date is put down as March 5, 1799. This date is used by Mr. Lane in his obituary notice of Governor Walker's death. Governor Walker always says when writing of the matter that he was born March 5, 1800. In his Jour-
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Big Turtle Clan of the Wyandot tribe.1 He had two Indian names. The first was Häh-shäh'-rêhs, meaning "the stream over full"; the second was Sêhs'-täh-rôh, meaning "bright," and is taken. from the brightness of the turtle's eye as seen in clear water.2
As much of his life will develop in this work, little need be said here. He was given a good education at a Methodist school at Worthington, Ohio. Besides the English, he read and spoke Greek, Latin and French. He spoke the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Miami, and Pottawatomie Indian languages. He was Head Chief of the Wyandot tribe while it was yet in Ohio,3 and was Postmaster of the town of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.4 He was for a time a teacher in the Mission school there.5 He was twice married.6 His first marriage was to Miss Hannah Barrett, at Upper Sandusky; she was at the time a student in the Mission school. The date of this marriage is April 8, 1824. Of this marriage were born five children, two sons and three daughters. Hannah Walker died December 7, 1863.
April 6,1865, he was married at Dudley, Hardin County, Ohio, to Mrs. Evelina J. Barrett. She was the widow of a
nals he mentions this date as his birthday. He was certainly correctly informed in the matter of the date of his birth. The entries in the family Bible of William Walker, Sr., have the appearance of having been made all at the same time. If they were it is possible that an error was made in recording the date of Governor Walker's birth.
1) His mother belonged to the Big Turtle Clan. By Wyandot law the children belong to the clan of the mother. Two persons belonging to the same clan are not permitted to marry. 2) I have not been able to find any record left by Governor Walker in which he had written his Indian names. But that they are correctly written here a hundred Wyandots or more have assured me. 3) Governor Walker was a modest and retiring man. He left little of record that concerned himself, except as to his health. That he was Head Chief of the Wyandots in 1835-6 is established by Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio (Cincinnati, 1847), 445. 4) Manuscript letters of the late John Johnston, of Piqua, Ohio, for many years Indian Agent for the Ohio Indians. These letters are now in my possession. 5) History of the Wyandot Mission -- Finley. 6) His family Bible so states. It is owned by his grandson, William McMullan, Kansas City, Kansas.
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brother of his first wife. She died August 28, 1868. No children by this marriage.1
After the death of his father, William Walker was the most influential man in the Wyandot Nation. Intellectually he was one of the greatest men of that tribe of Indians, a tribe acknowledged strong in Council.
He was an eloquent speaker, and as a forceful writer on political subjects he has been surpassed by few men. He wrote many valuable papers on passing events from the time of his removal West to the beginning of the war; these were published in the newspapers in Ohio and Missouri, and few of them can be found now. He wrote some excellent papers for literary publications.
He was an ardent Democrat, and a slave holder. He hated abolitionism and contended for the rights of slavery as he understood those rights, to the commencement of the war. But he was never in favor, so far as I have been able to learn, of secession. I have a speech which he delivered on the 4th of July, 1864, in which he says that the war was uncalled for and without any justification. He was loyal to his country. He was elected a member of the Lecompton Constitutional Convention, and was present and participated in the proceedings.2
Governor Walker was kind and gentle in his demeanor and bearing towards others. He was a lover of his home and was devoted to his family. He had the French love for company and conversation and all social enjoyments.
Of his selection as Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory it is unnecessary to speak here. The facts are set forth in another part of this work.
1) All these facts were taken from his family Bible, except the statement: "She was the widow of a brother of his first wife." This I ascertained, by inquiry, from his and her relatives. 2) Wilder's Annals of Kansas, 127. He says so in his correspondence now in the Library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
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The last years of life were sad and sorrowful ones for Governor Walker. He had lost both his wives and all his children by death. There is little doubt that he welcomed death as a friend. He was heart-broken by the loss of his family. He speaks of himself as being "stricken with grief," and says, "and now I stand like a blasted oak in a desert, its top shivered by a bolt hurled from the armory of Jove."
The poem "Oft in the Stilly Night" was a favorite one with all the Wyandots.' One of the last entries ever made in his journal is a quotation from this poem, and is as follows:
"Oft in the stilly night,
E'er slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond mem'ry brings the light
Of other days around me:
1 The late Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong's favorite stanza is as follows:
3. Yet when I look above
This mansion thus forsaken
To that where God in love
My friends so dear has taken,
My doubts are quelled,
My fears dispelled;
For faith's sweet pledge is given
That those so dear
Are hovering near
To welcome me to Heaven.
CHORUS.--Thus oft in the stilly night
E'er slumber's chain hath bound me
Religion pours her light
Of heavenly joys around me.
The smiles and tears
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken,
The eye that shone,
Now dimmed and gone,
The cheerful heart now broken.
When I remember all
The friends so link'd together,
I've seen around me fall
Like leaves in wintry weather,
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but be departed.
Thus oft in the stilly night,"
Again he says:
"It costs me a pang to break up housekeeping, having kept house for forty-five years with so many pleasing associations. . . . . Whatever fortune may betide me in the future, I will say--
"'Sweet vale of Wyandott, how calm could I rest
In thy bosom of shade with the friends I love best.
When the storms which we feel in this cold world shall cease,
Our hearts like thy waters shall mingle in peace.' "1
The following is copied from the Wyandott Herald2 of February 19, 1874:
OBITUARY.
GOVERNOR WILLIAM WALKER.
The distinguished gentleman whose name heads this article was for many years as well known in Kansas as any citizen in the State.
He was born at Gibralter, Michigan, March 5th, 1799, and died at the residence of Mr. H. H. Smalley in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, the 13th inst., having accomplished seventy-five years of useful and eventful life.
Governor Walker received a thorough education at Worthington, Ohio, under the immediate instruction of the venerable Bishop Chase.
1) From his Journal.
2) Hon. Vincent J. Lane established the Herald in 1872. He is still its editor and proprietor.
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After acquiring his education, William Walker entered almost at once upon an active life in behalf of the North American Indians in general, and of the Wyandott Nation in particular, among whom he became leader and counselor, devoting the best years of his life to their interests.
As early as 1831 he visited the "Platte Purchase" as agent of the Wyandott Nation with a view to purchasing a new location for it. He was at the treaty of St. Marys and rendered efficient services to all contracting parties.
He was for some years the private Secretary and friend of Gen. Lewis Cass, his secretaryship beginning after the close of the war of 1812, and the friendship continuing until the death of the General.
In 1843 William Walker came to Kansas with his tribe, where he has remained ever since, except when he was called away on business or for his health which for some years has been feeble.
He acquired his title of Governor in 1853, when he was appointed Provisional Governor of Kansas Territory.
With him died more Indian archaeological knowledge than has been preserved by any writer on the subject. Indian antiquity and history were his special study, and being an Indian himself, highly educated and with a natural taste in that direction, his success was not surprising.
He furnished Schoolcraft with a large amount of information contained in his works on the Indians of North America, and also gave General Butterfield many incidents contained in his new work on Crawford's campaign against Sandusky.
Governor Walker wrote much himself for newspapers and periodicals but unfortunately has left none of the results of his deep research in a form to be used by the historian or antiquary.
He was buried on Saturday last in Oak Grove Cemetery, with Masonic honors, having been one of the Charter Members of Wyandott Lodge No. 3, and for many years an honorary member thereof.
So has passed away one of our oldest and most valued citizens.
He who first bore the title of Governor of that territory embraced within the present bounds of Kansas and Nebraska sleeps upon the banks of the Missouri River, at the mouth of the Kansas. To the shame of both States, be it said, no monument of any kind marks his last resting place.
