1874 - The Oldest Inhabitant - Golden Hair Girl Honored Old Lady - Indian Life - Historical Facts

THE OLDEST INHABITANT. The Golden-Haired Girl Now an Honored Old Lady. Incidents of Indian Life Other Interesting Historical Facts- A Lesson for Our Indian Pence Commissioners. An item which appeared in the SENTINEL, a few days ago, with regard to the "oldest inhabitant,' brought to light some interesting facts concerning the early settlement this city, which are herewith given to the reader. At the time of which we write, there was not house in Fort Wayne. Here and there a 1 small log shanty, and an Indian trading log store or two were the only - marks of civilization which had yet been made outside the fort, which was garrisoned by United States soldiers. But every morning might be heard the shrill whistle of the coming red man, ever on the alert to destroy the straggler from the Camp of "white dogs." The Bourie family, of which some are here now, were represented by a pioneer ancestor. Angeline Chaptaun was born at Detroit in the year 1792, of French parents. In the fall of 1808 Angeline, being a benuitiful blonde of sixteen, came to Fort Wayne with her grand-parents, Molloch by name, to see A daughter of theirs, who had married 1 a Mr. Bourie. In this trip was the hand of fate, for Angeline was destined never to return. | Now an old lady, wearing the wrinkles of time, the twinkle in her eye at the age of 82 shows her to have been somewhat of a beroine in her youth. From the first she became attached to the "noble Indians." After the trip from Detroit in a pirogue, by way of Lake Erie and the Maumee river, which was made in ten days, the old couple and their grand-daughter were met at the landing by a band of Indians and soldiers from the United States garrison, it having been rumored among them that white girl was coming. The Indians were struck with ber beauty, especially admiring her hair, which _was. of the blonde type, and threw over her m pail of water, christening her " Golden Hair," which they always after called her. She was the special pet of the Maumee tribe, and often made herself useful as an interpreter between the soldiers and In• diana in subsequent times of war and bloodshed. An attachment sprang up between her and an Indian trader named Peltier, which resulted in their marriage about a year after Angeline's arrival at this port. They were blessed with seven children,' thrèe of whom are living at present. James and Salvador Peltier are well-to do farmers living on the Bluffton road, about three miles from Fort Wayne.: Louis Peltier is our well-known Undertaker of the firm of 'Peltier &amp; Caril. West Wayne street. All three brothers are getting on in years, being in the neighborhood of sixty. James Peltier, sr., died about the year 1839, and his body rests somewhere in the vicinity of the Roman Catholic Cathedral with hundreds of others, that 'being the locality of the first cemetery. In about year Mrs. Peltier married Edward Griswold, a carpenter, now quite an old man, and the aged couple now live with Mr. Louis, Peltier, at 49 East Lewis street, where the family and a circle of friends often gather to hear the stories of the past from human lips. The old lady is quite smart, and talks and laughs as hearty as any. In order to make the readers of the SENTINEL more familiar with the first white girl who ever came to Fort Wayne, a reporter of this journal paid her a visit. "We used to have lots of fun," said the bright old lady. "I went to Chicago on horseback with my husband with a drove of cattle to the garrison there." We will give her stories as she gave them. "When the Indians and soldiers were fighting, about fifteen Indians came to my log house and knocked at the door. was alone. I says, 'Who is there ?' Indiana says, 'Friend.' I opened the door. Indiana came in, and I gave them some: thing to eat, and they went to sleep, telling me to watch for the white dogs. The next day, when the Indians were gone, the Major came from the garrison and asked me to go to camp. I went, but did not like it, and came out to my house again. I was not afraid of Indians." Mrs. Peltier now Mra. Griswold, used to live quite intimate with the Indians and their squaws. The latter used to take her children away for days at a time and bring them back. To continue her story: "I used to have lots of fun, ba, ha, ha / Once when I buried a squaw the box was too short, her feet stuck out of the end and we buried ber like that. Oh! I buried many of them. Once a drunken Indian came to me with a knife and said, I am going to kill you! I tied him down with a clothes line and beat him well. Next day other Indians came and asked what I did that for. I told them, and they said I was brave, and liked me for. it. Another time, when the Indians were coming on the war path to my house, I went out with some whisky, and they went away. The Indians used to make a noise like turkeys and whistle. One day sergeant named Stokes, Mr. Peltier and another man went out to bunt turkeyw. I told them to stay, but they wouldn't, so the Indisne took Stokes a prisoner and kept him two years. My husband took some whisky and tobacco to the Chiefs and released Stokes at Cedar Creek, one day before he was to be burned." The old lady enjoyed telling the stories of the past, and would burst out laughing, saying, "We used to have lots of fun, ha, ha; Indians say! Tami pi wishami ? (which means, Where are you going ?) 'Kee Ki Onga,' they would say; that means Fort Wayne. Oh, it sounds so good! I like Indians. They are good .if you treat them good. Indiana know a good deal. If you sweep the house when the Indians come in, it makes them mad. say it is not polite. Indians know whatia polite. Indians are noble." Abont ten years ago some Indian chiefs called on the old lady, when on their way to Washidgton, and had a long talk in Indian language, which all parties seemed to enjoy very much. The Godfreys, out on the Bluffton road, are the only remnant left of the Maumee Indians. They are now very intelligent farmers- -owners of about two sections of land, which they cultivate well. Mrs. Griswold named several old residents who have been here about the longest. Among them. she named Hedges, Mrs. Lee, who has a grandson a conductor on the Pittaburgh® road, Mra. Suthenfield and others. Such in the story of the oldest inhabit tant. Of the origin of the 'Peltiers, but little is known. The name has figured prominently in French history, -and in an honored one in Fort Wayne. The family has had a representative in all the A merican wars. Mr. Louis Peltier has been in the undertaking business over thirty years. His son, Jumes Peltier, was a soldier during the late war. The family often gather to hear the incidents of the past from their mother, grandmother abd great grand-mother, respectively, in the person of Mra. Griswold. She tells her story, sings an Indian song, and dances an Indian dance alternately, and no one enjoys it more than herself. She says, "Oh, it is so good." Our Charches Yesterday. BERRY STREET M. E. CHURCH. Rev. A. Marine preached yesterday on the subject of "Blood and Water." After reviewing the old heathen religions, which have long since died away, he proceeded to show that blood and water, material elements of the Hebrew religion care also important in the Christian religion, with the difference that they were used often types in the old, religion, but only once in the Christian religion. Christ died once for all- man is baptized, once for all. While he would say nothing against the Roman Catholic Church, which he called the grand old church which preserved Christianity, through so many centuries, he depreciated her superstitions, to the real presence of Christ in the sacrament, and confession of sins. He contended that confession should be made to God alone. He characterized the Catholie church as the egg-shell out of which came the great reformation. And if the present Protestant religion should hatch the grand and glorious religion of the future, the sooner the better the old shell is thrown away. He likened the Christian church to a fam• ily living in a house where there was corpse decaying in a closet, causing sickness, and concluded that what is wanted is to cleanse and purify thejhouse, so that the fainily may have: health. He says Christiacity may change as new light appears, but the blood of Christ will retain its ef| fioacy throughout the succeeding ages, for man will always need Savior. In the evening Mr. Marine preached on "Pleasing My. Neighbor," when he contended that churches should be frescoed, people should dress well, and everything well appointed with the object of pleasing the eye. He condemned low dramas for their corrupting influence on the mind. SECOND PRESBYTERIAN. The Rev. W. J. Erdman was the recipient, a few days ago, of letter signed "Many Seekers,", in which several texts of Scripture were referred to which are apparently contradictory in terms, with the request that he should preach upon them from time to time. Mr. Erdman reviewed them all last evening. He accounted satisfactorily for the apparent discrepancies. On the question of Trinity he referred to the scene after the baptism of the Lord Jesus, when Jesus as the Son (one person), came up out of the river, the Holy Ghost descended like a dove (second person), and the voice spoke from heaven, "This is my beloved Son,' etc., (third per• son.) As to the salvation of children, Mr. Erdman said he never saw a line or heard word stating that infanta are lost. On the contrary, he believed that being innocent of, sins, Christ's death atoned for sin And they were saved. He remarked on the Scriptural difference between "sin" and sins, the former referring to our state by nature, the latter to our seta, resulting from a sinful nature. "Honor thy Father and Mother,", says the commandments; a passage in Luke quotes the Lord AB saying, "Except mAn hate his. father and mother he cannot become my disciple." This discrepancy 'he accounted for by showing that this hatred was only required when father, mother, or wife became an obstacle, and that having become Christ's disciple, men could turn around and love them as he never loved them before. A man must not only hate his relatives, but himself, As to the Lord commanding the unjust stewart, he said the word lord being pointed with a small 44," and not a capital, showed that the noun referred to the steward's master, not Jesus; and also that the steward was -not commended for his dishonesty, but for shrewdness. Jesus recommended his followers to be equally shrewd, and to lay up. treasuaes in Heaven, etc. Two conflicting passages in the, 102d and 104th Psalms, were plained. The earth will not be annihilated or burned up, but given new vesture. St. Augustina said, "the world will have on its earth- day garments six thousand years, and its Sunday garments on one thousand years. The earth will be. changed as a vesture- the surface, but the foundation will remain. The words, "It is written again," will explain many difficult passages; so that one passage interprets another. Mr. Erdman said he would be very bappy to answer any ques: tions in the future from the pulpit or privately. Want of space prevents is from giving his explanations of the texts in full, which were exceedingly interesting. The reverend gentleman showed much deep study by his ready explanations of what appeared to *Many Seekers" doubtless very difficult and perplexing passages. Free of Charge. Call at Meyer Bros. &amp; Co.'s, T. M. Biddie's, E. H. Nill &amp; Co.'s, Dreier &amp; Bro.'s, or Daniel Vollmer's drug stores, Fort Wayne, Ind., and get sample, bottle of Dr. A. Boschee's German, Syrup, Free of Charge. It has lately been introduced in this country from Germany, and for any person suffering with a severe cough heavy cold settled on the breast, consumption or any disease of the throat and lungs it has no equal in the world. Our regular size bottles 75 cents. Two/doses will relieve any case. Try it. 16 a Fact. It is a fact that while Dr. Price's Cream Baking Powder and Special Flavorings, Lemon, Vanilla, etc., have been made for seven years without reducing their standard of perfect purity, not another Baking Powder or Flavoring Extract in the market is free from adulteration. There are 'no coloring, poisonous oils, or acids in Dr. Price's Flavors, nor Chalk, Alum or other injorious substances in his Cream Baking Powder. We know the Manufacturers take pride in having their articles strictly pure.

The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel

1874 - The Oldest Inhabitant - Golden Hair Girl Honored Old Lady - Indian Life - Historical Facts

1874 - The Oldest Inhabitant - Golden Hair Girl Honored Old Lady - Indian Life - Historical Facts

The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel