Interesting Anderson History 1801-1806

Can anyone name these people? ;)

I was a history major at Ball State and specialized in Colonial American  History which also includes the musts of British, French and Irish history. Oddly enough, you can't grasp what happened in America without studying Irish history...  I also took an Indian History class that was really good.

This time frame is just a wee bit out of my time scope but interacts with it greatly. Much of the problem these people had here was due to the Revolution. I also spent my youth doing historical re-enactments that very much was within this time frame. So while I am a computer geek for a living, I am a history geek at heart and very much for this era.

Hey, as a side note...do you know the easiest way to get a history major's attention?????

Wait for it.....

 Hey Waiter!!!

Really... I hope they don't take offense to any of this!!! There is some really unflattering stuff! I would encourage and welcome the input greatly!!

Alright then, on to today's entries. As I told you yesterday today's entries aren't pleasant but they were a cold fact of life. Death is the central role for today. We'll start on a more positive note and go from there.

November 13th, 1801

The body of the deceased Sr. Magdalena who passed away on the 11th was interred after the usual manner. A number of heathen were present at the ceremony. There must be mentioned yet that Br. Lukenbach went to Cincinnati on the 6th in order to draw money from Mr. Zeigler for our necessary subsistence, wherefore we wish him the presence and protection of our Saviour.

While it's hard to see the immediate positives, the entry for Nov 11th helps in that Magdalena is the first Indian baptized in the mission. This was a nice success for them. Unfortunately she lived but a very short time afterwards and her baptisim was clearly to all of them a righting of her spirit just before death. She was 30 years old at her death. 

While we are talking death, we should probably note that Moravian cemeteries are called God's Acre. The folks living at the top of the hill in the Chestrfield Place addition are most likely camped on them. Another historian in town who is very interested in this topic, Steve Jackson, found enteries in the records of the Indiana Hydraulic Canal Co. in the 1870's that indicate a large number of human remains being found in that area when the canal was dug through.

 Mr. Zeigler's introduction - he is a dear friend to the missionaries and of invaluable service to them. Major David Ziegler's store on Front Street, Cincinnati, was at this time about two years old. Born in Heidelberg in 1748 , he came to America when he was about 27 years of age, with several years of military service already behind him. He served in the Revolution, and during this period visited Bethleham PA. After the war he operated a store at Carlisle PA for a time then re-entered the army serving under Harmar and St. Clair. In 1792 he resigned and about five years later he moved to Cincinnati.

Here's the bad entry and is the beginning of the end for the mission.

ARGGGH! I just realized that I hyped the entry from OCTOBER 13th....well I can't disappoint you all now so here it is.

OCT. 13th 1803

In the morning, Charlotte, the youngest child of the Indian Br. John Thomas, who has been sickly for some time, became so weak that one could expect her end soon. Br. Kulge was called and after the singing a number of verses, the blessing of the Lord was imparted to the child in preparation for its going home, and it was comitted to the arms of the Savious. The Indian members who were present were deeply moved. An hour later the little girl passed away in peace. Her age was one year less eight days.

What a sad part of life during that time period. I think this event had a devestating effect on this family. While they travelled from the east with the missionaries this test of faith was very bad for them. Ultimately this one family will provide the means to get rid of the mission. We will eventually learn what they thought of the child dying by the rumors that John spreads.

Nov 13th 1803

On account of the heavy rain our two old Indian brethren, Jacob and Joshua, could not return home (they are hunting about a mile away). For this reason there could be no meeting hold. Br. and Sr. Kluge who were at home alone (Br. Lukenbach had not yet retruened from Cincinnatti), joinedin spirit with our dear congregations and prayed to the dear Saviour that He should likewise reveal Himself graciously to us His servants, on this festival day and fill our hearts with His peace; that as hitherto He should in the days to come be to us our Lord and Elder and graciously bless our work. We pledged Him anew our obedience and faithfulness, as His poor servants, and surrendered ourselved wholly unto Him to do whatever He would have us to do. The Saviour  was very near unto us and consciously filled out hearts with comfort.

I don't know what the festival was that they were celebrating. It is a good time to point out that while these missionaries had real dedication to these Indians there prime motive was their conversion and they failed to really connect with the Indians by learning much at all about them. Their daily interaction with them seems to be mostly a one way endevour. In the later years they finally begin to learn some of the language. Because nothing is ever that simple, a hindering factor to their learning much of anything about the Indians was due to the fact that the Indiana were quite unwilling to assist the missionaries in their setting up camp. The Indians seemed to be entirely unwilling to do their own work any more than absolutely needed. Doing something for someone else was completely foreign. It was a viscous circle that did not end the entire time.

Nov 13th 1804

Joshua come home. He had been lost in the woods and was unable to find his camp, for which reason he decided he would come straight home because he had no more to eat.

As a side note, these folks had lots of little camps. We'll see more of them this winter.

The Nov 13th 1805 entry is very much like the 1803 entry so I won't reprint it.

One last note, people are going to be moving around alot to some funky name places. You'll be lost if you don't have a map so here is the one for the job - MCCC

That site is a treasure trove in itself. For some interesting stories hit the HOME button. The main page gives some great topics.

I don't know.

I found this in a search and though I would post it. We won't meet the main guy really until the end of the Missionaries stay, he does appear in the diaries and his family arrangement connects a couple of other players.

KIKTHAWENUND--William Anderson is the English name for Delaware Chief KikThaWeNund, also spelled as Kechkawhanund, Kechlawwhenind, Kithteellund, and Kithtuwhelund, all of whom may be the same person. He was born in the 1740s in Anderson's Ferry (present Marietta) Pennsylvania. His father was a Swedish trader and his mother was a Delaware, the daughter of Delaware Tribal Chief Netawatwees. During the Revolutionary War, Anderson sided with pro-American, Chief White Eyes. After the war, when Anderson was the chief of the Turkey Clan, the Delaware made an arrangement with the Miami to settle on their land along the White River in present Indiana, Chief Anderson settled in a small village in what is now Anderson in a two-story log house. Kikthawenund was an important leader who helped keep the Delaware out of the uprising led by the Shawnee Prophet and his brother. In 1818, he signed the Treaty of St. Mary's for the Delaware and made his preparations for relocation. He was with the tribe on their journey to Kansas and spent much of his life trying to negotiate a better settlement for the  Delaware. Chief Anderson had four known sons and daughters. According to some, his daughter Mekingis married William Conner, a white trader, and had six children by him. [We are seeking the proof for that. Editor]. Conner decided to remain behind in Indiana when his wife and six children left with the tribes to receive their land in the west. Although he re-married a white woman three months later while Mekingis was still in Indiana, her reportedly paid her a fair price for her Indian lands in Indiana, gave half of his money and a large number of horses.  A missionary in 1823 described Anderson as "a very dignified man in character and appearance, upward of six feet tall, well proportioned, a man of great benevolence and power, of excellent understanding, but not a public speaker." [To be continued.] For more detailed information, see Ruby Cranor, KIK-Tha-We-Nund, The Delaware Chief. (Based on an article in the Conner Prairie web site http://www.connerprairie.org/cp/connbiol.html ) Researcher: Tom Swiftwater Hahn  

Another version of the life of Kikthawenund or Chief William Anderson has been provided by Laurence D. Heady:

Kikthawenund or Chief William Anderson was principal chief of the Delaware Nation during the period of our "Diaspora" from Pennsylvania to Ohio and Indiana, or the Northwest Territory, and finally to the Trans-Mississippi-Missouri and Kansas. Kikthawenund was born in the 1740s in Anderson's Ferry (now Marietta). Pennsylvania. His mother was a daughter of the Delaware's principal chief Netaawatwees and his father was the Swedish Indian trader John Anderson, of the Susquehanna country. Throughout his life, went by both his Lenape name and his father's name. Not much is known about his early life, but he was much influenced by his grandfather [Netaawatwees] with whom he spent much of his time. Tribal strife during the Revolutionary War divided the Delaware. Kikthawenund sided with Wicocalind, who was pro-American. After the war, increasing white settlement in Pennsylvania drove the tribe west. The Delaware struck a bargain with the Miami to settle some of their territory and Kikthawenund (by then the Head Chief of the Turkey Clan of the Unami Delaware) and his tribe settled in several villages along the White River [in Indiana]. Kikthawenund himself settled in a small village located in what is now downtown Anderson, Indiana. During the uprising of Tecumseh and his brother The Prophet, he kept his tribe out of war. In 1818, he sign the Treaty Of St. Mary's for the Delaware and reluctantly prepared to be relocated. The tribe left Indiana and had a troubled journey to Kansas, where they settled briefly [ about thirty five years] before the final removal to Indian Territory. He spent most of the rest of his life trying to  negotiate a better settlement for our people. Kikthawenund had four known sons and one daughter. His sons became famous scouts and guides for the western-bound wagon trains. His daughter, Mekingees, was born of his union with his second wife, Achechelungunaqua, the daughter of Chief Captain Patterson. Mekinges, also known as Elizabeth Anderson, married William Conner, a white trader, and had six children by him. When the Delaware left Indiana, Conner decided that his wife and children should go to receive their land in the West, but that he would stay. He re-married (to a white woman) before Mekinges left Indiana, but otherwise was fair to her, giving her half his money and a large group of horses. He also bought the family's Indian lands, and gave a fair price for them. A missionary who met Kikthawenund described him as "A very dignified man in character and appearance, upward of six feet tall, well proportioned, a man of great benevolence and power, of excellent understanding, but not a public speaker." He was probably a wise businessman as well. When the Moravian missionaries living in the Anderson area lefty after a five-year residence, the Chief charged them "one young ox, three hogs and a table made from the wood of the place," as rent before he would allow them to go. In Indiana, romantic legends abound about Chief Anderson. It is told that he died there, by riding his pony off a high bluff into the White River. Another story credits him with a second daughter who also married a trader and who stayed in Indiana when the tribe left. Kikthawhenund is said to have returned to visit her and to have died during the visit. In the 1890's, when  the Anderson Hotel was being built, a skeleton was found which many locals were convinced belonged to him. However, tribal historians record that he died 1831 in the tribe's new home in Missouri. (Laurence "Larry" D. Heady, a descendant of Kikthawhenund,  is a Member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. He lives in Minnesota. Any comments regarding this entry should be sent to him, lenapelh@hotmail.com, with a copy to the Editor  swiftwater@lenapedelawarehistory.net) [There is as yet no proof of where he was buried. Editor]

The cemetery site is WONDERFUL. I have read over it quite a few times in the last year, being a transplant to the area I have learned quite a bit of history. 

Anyway. Nothing to add here. Thanks.  

Irish History? 

I would say the endorsement for the cemetery is certainly adding something. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

There are a lot of things mentioned in the pioneer history that you can still very easily go see.  Little tell-tale signs exist all over the place.

Yep, they have a history there too!

What's your question? The fact that it is important for American History?