Thursday, August 30, 2012

Tacumwah: Chief Richardville’s mother


A second article about Tacumwah by Carmen Doyle

Wallace Brice, in his 1868 History of Fort Wayne gives a detailed account of how Jean-Baptiste Richardville became chief of the Miami Indians:

“A white man had been captured and brought in by the warriors. A council had been convened, in which the question of his fate arose in debate and was soon settled. He was to be burned at the stake, and the braves and the villagers generally were soon gathered about the scene of torture, making the very air to resound with their vociferations and triumphant shouts of pleasure and gratification of the prospect of soon enjoying another hour of fiendish merriment at the expense of a poor, miserable victim of torture. Already the man was lashed to the stake, and the torch that was to ignite the combustible material placed about the same and the victim of torture, was in the hands of the brave appointed to create the flame that was soon to consume the victim of their cruelty. But the spirit of rescue was at hand. The man was destined to be saved from the terrible fate that surrounded him!

Young Richardville had for some time been singled out as the future chief of the tribe, and his heroic mother (Tacumwah) saw in this a propitious and glorious moment for the assertion of his chieftainship, by an act of great daring and bravery, in the rescue of the prisoner at the stake. All eyes were now fixed upon the captive. Young Richardville and his mother were some distance from the general scene, but sufficiently near to see the movements of the actors in the tragedy about to be enacted, and could plainly hear the coarse ejaculations and mingled shouts of triumph of the crowd. At that moment, just as the torch was about to be applied to the bark, as if touched by some angelic impulse of love and pity for the poor captive, the mother of young Richardville placed a knife in her son’s hand, and bade him assert his chieftainship by the rescue of the prisoner. The magnetic force of the mother seemed to have convulsed and inspired the young warrior, and he quickly bounded away to the scene, broke through the wild crowd, cut the cords that bound the man, and bid him be free! All was astonishment and surprise; and though by no means pleased at the loss of their prize, yet the young man, their favorite, for his heroic and daring conduct, was at once esteemed a god by the crowd, and then and thereafter became a chief of the first distinction and honor in the tribe!”

While the dramatic account,which seems designed to be told around a campfire, appears to be about Richardville, the real power is with his mother Tacumwah. She is the one who puts the knife in Richardville’s hand and she is the one who tells him to cut the prisoner free. Tacumwah is also the one who takes care of the former prisoner. She gets the rescued man into a boat and sent to some friendly Indians.

Tacumwah was the major influence on her son. She controlled the portage, a miles long strip of land connecting the Maumee and Wabash rivers. The portage was a profitable one, making her, and later Richardville, wealthy. She retained control of the portage despite a disagreement with Chief Richardville’s father. The Bicentennial Heritage Trail tells how Tacumwah was “the most important woman among the Miami people during the time of the wars between the United States and the Native Americans of the region. Tacumwah was an outstanding businesswoman.”

She was also intelligent. Henry Hay, in his journal from 1790, conveys that Richardville was “very bashful” and never spoke in council- “his mother who is very clever is obliged to do it for him.” Hay also mentions she ran a trading post, and he later purchases a horse from her.

Although Tacumwah is usually only mentioned because of her son being Chief, it is obvious from what Hay and Brice said that she was an important person in her own right, not just as the mother of a powerful man.

Sources:
Wallace A. Brice, History of Fort Wayne, 1868
Fort Wayne Bicentennial Heritage Trail Guide Map  (Site 51)
Henry Hay, Journal from Detroit to the Miami River, 1790

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tacumwah- an 18th century People Magazine story


by Carmen Doyle

If gossip magazines had been around in the 18th century, Tacumwah would likely have been one of the “celebrities” whose every move was followed carefully. Tacumwah was the daughter of an Indian chief and the sister of two chiefs---Pacanne and Little Turtle. Tacumwah and Pacanne had the same father while Little Turtle and Tacumwah had the same mother. This meant she was an important Miami woman.

One reason for her importance was the fact that she and Pacanne traditionally owned and controlled the Long Portage, an eight mile strip of land between the St. Mary’s and Wabash Rivers. This joined two water systems “thereby completing a pathway for commerce that extended from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.”(from The History Center’s website) A portage was a place where the pirogues and the goods traders had in them were carried from one river to the next. Tacumwah and Pacanne charged a fee to carry travelers and their goods from one river to the next. This was extremely profitable. Tacumwah had also inherited money from her mother so she was very wealthy.
           
Many of the traders were French fur traders. Tacumwah married one of them, Joseph Richardville. Together they had four children including Jean-Baptiste Richardville (Peshewa, the future Chief Richardville). Joseph Richardville also had children by other women, but this wasn’t considered a problem. In 1773, after nearly a decade of marriage, all the Richardville children and Tacumwah were baptized as Roman Catholic. Tacumwah became Marie-Louisa.
           
The marriage did not survive another year.

The British, authorities in the region because they had the largest military presence, did not fully trust Joseph Richardville. However, he allied himself in business with the Masionville brothers, who had been loyal to the British for decades. The British did not fully trust the Maisonvilles either (because they were French), but Alexis Maisonville had saved the lives of British officers during an Indian rebellion. The British did not fully trust the Native Americans either.

The British thought the Maisonvilles would be better in charge of the portage than the Miami, but did not want to give the brothers complete authority over it. What the British wanted was for the Maisonvilles to maintain the area around the portage, but actual control over the portage was still given to the Miami, and it was the Miami who made money from the portage.

The Maisonvilles, with help from Joseph Richardville, eventually grew tired of merely managing the portage, and decided they wanted complete control over it as well as the profits. They created a “protection racket” to physically prevent Pacanne and Tacumwah from carrying goods. Richardville wanted the money from the portage and the money outweighed any loyalty he had to Tacumwah and their children. In the ensuing argument, he hit Tacumwah, and she left him, taking refuge with Charles Beaubien, a business rival of her husband.
           
A large scandal resulted. Tacumwah refused to return to her husband and asked Beaubien to retrieve her things from the house she had shared with Richardville. He threatened to kill both Tacumwah and Beaubien. Beaubien responded by causing property damage. Armed, he knocked down Richardville’s garden fence and shouted threats of violence towards the man.
           
The ensuing court case was heard by a British officer from Detroit. A British officer from Detroit hearing a divorce case involving a Native American woman and her French husband gives an idea of how complicated politics were at the time. The real reason a British officer heard the case came down to money. The big issue was which group should maintain control of the profitable and militarily significant portage-the French or the Miami.
             
The divorce was spiteful. Pacanne accused his sister’s spouse of being lazy and failing to provide for his family. Pacanne claimed that Richardville had provided for his sister and her family, by only giving her skins which she traded for rum. The rum was then sold and the money used to buy needed supplies. It wasn’t unusual for a Miami man to sit around while his wife worked but British standards considered a husband not providing for his family unacceptable. Pacanne, speaking for his sister, invoked British standards in order to win the case and retain control of the portage.
           
Richardville denied that he and Tacumwah were married and attempted to play the victim. He complained about being threatened by Beaubien and Pacanne. According to Miami customs, once Tacumwah left him, the marriage was over. However, Richardville used British customs to try and claim Tacumwah’s wealth, both from the portage and money she had inherited, and money she had made trading the rum and skins.
           
The British in 1774 were divided between reliance on the French settlers and traders and the Indians in the region. The dilemma then became which group to keep happy in this divorce case: the Miami or the French. The reliance on the Miami proved stronger and the British Captain Lernoult decided in favor of Tacumwah. The Miami would retain control of the portage. To make the Miami even happier, Lernoult took away management of the portage from the Maisonvilles and gave it to Beaubien, the man with whom Tacumwah had taken refuge.
           
Tacumwah did not speak during the proceedings. Despite her status and intelligence, she left behind no words of her own. Her biggest legacy was her son, Jean-Baptiste Richardville, who became Chief Richardville. Chief Richardville inherited the portage from Tacumwah and she was the person who helped him become chief.
           
Although Tacumwah is best remembered as a mother, it is worth remembering that she was an important person in her own right.

Sources:

Birzer, Bradley J. French Imperial remnants on the middle ground: The strange case of August de la Balme and Charles Beaubien. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Summer 2000.

History Center website www.fwhistorycenter.com

Marrero, Karen. "'She is Capable of Doing a Good Deal of Mischief': A Miami Woman's Threat to Empire in the Eighteenth-Century Ohio Valley". Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History Volume 6, Number 3, Winter 2005.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Allen County and Its Diversity of Manufacturing


We talked to a number of people on Saturday during Taste of the Arts about our new exhibition gallery and the inventions that were created and produced here in Fort Wayne. For many of us who didn’t grow up here (and for many who did), the list is rather amazing. THAT was created in Fort Wayne? Really? Here?

When Allen County Innovation opens in late September, you’ll be able to see for yourself. In the meantime, just for the fun of it, we’re providing a partial list of some of the items in our collection that pertain to manufacturing in Allen County and the name of the company that produced or used  the item for marketing. Look at the diversity of manufacturing that came about in our city and county.




Item
Company
Spool Wire
Aerometal
Sign, Trade
Aurentz Chocolate
Sign, Trade
Baker Cigar Co.
Can, Beer Berghoff Brewing Co.
Bottle, Beer
Berghoff Brewing Co.
Screwdriver, Ratchet
Bowser, J. C. & Co.
Pump, Fuel
Bowser, S. F. & Co.
Bottle
Brames & Ehrman
Bottle
Brames, L. & Co.
Can
Burdsal-Haffner Paint Co.
Television
Capehart Farnsworth Co.
Television
Capehart-Farnsworth Corp.
Radio
Capehart-Farnsworth Corp.
Radio-Phonograph
Capehart-Farnsworth Corp.
Bottle, Beer
Centlivre Brewing Co.
Box, Candy
Columbia's Fine Chocolate
Radio
Continental Radio Corp.
Box, Cigar
Cooney Cigar Co.
Bottle, Pop
Crystal Bottling Works
Book, Ledger
Davis and Brother, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Bait
Dickens Bait Company
Box, Bait
Dickens Bait Company
Lure
Dickens Bait Company
Spool, Wire
Dudlo Mfg. Co.
Wire, Radio
Dudlo Mfg. Co.
Ornament, Christmas Tree
Dudlo Mfg. Co.
Sales Sample, Tinsel
Dudlo Mfg. Co.
Spool, Wire
Dudlo Mfg. Co.
Package, Wire Spool
Dudlo Mfg. Co.
Box, Cigar
Eckert, J. C.
Spool, Wire
Essex
Radio
Everyhome Radio Co.
Bottle
F. Hake & Co. Works
Pipe
Falcon Pipes
Pipe, Bowl
Falcon Pipes
Pouch
Falcon Pipes
Can
Falstaff
Television
Farnsworth Television & Radio Corp.
Tube, Vacuum
Farnsworth Television & Radio Corp.
Tube, Electron
Farnsworth Television & Radio Corp.
Radio-Phonograph
Farnsworth Television & Radio Corp.
Radio
Farnsworth Television & Radio Corp.
Bottle, Pop
Felger, D. C. Bottling Works
Dental Floss
Flossrite Corporation
Bottle
Fort Wayne Bottling Works
Rule, Folding
Fort Wayne Brick Co.
Plaque
Fort Wayne Cement Stone Co.
Commutator Dresser
Fort Wayne Electric Co.
Fan, Electric
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Paperweight
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Ammeter
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Transformer, Bell
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Electrometer
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Fan, Electric
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Rheostat
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Transformer
Fort Wayne Electric Works
Wire, Recording
Fort Wayne Metals
Puzzle
Fort Wayne Paper Box Co.
Tin
Fred Eckart Packing Co.
Bottle
Fremion, J.  F.
Fan, Electric
General Electric
Club, Golf
General Electric
Motor, Electric
General Electric
Engine, Diesel
General Electric
Chopper, Food
Griscer
Bottle
Haines, H. H.
Bottle
Hake, F. & Co.
Hat, Top
Harper & Fitz
Violin
Heath, Oren V.
Wrapper, Candy
Heit-Miller-Lau Co.
Box, Candy
Heit-Miller-Lau Co.
Tin
Heit-Miller-Lau Co.
Box
Hermans Ice Cream Co.
Sack
Hermans Ice Cream Co.
Crate, Shipping
Hires Root Beer
Brick
Hoagland Brick and Tile Co.
Keg, Beer
Hoff-Brau Brewing Corp.
Fork, Clothes
Home Specialty Co.
Can
Hoosier Paint Works
Planter, Hand
Horton Manufacturing Co.
Machine, Washing
Horton Manufacturing Co.
Mangle
Horton Manufacturing Co.
Sprinkler Head
Huth Machine Shop
Fan
Imperial Adv. Co.
Tube, Vacuum
ITT
Tube, Electron
ITT
Blouse
Julliard Gowns, Fort Wayne
Skirt
Julliard Gowns, Fort Wayne
Form, Glove
Killfish Mfg. Co.
Bottle
Kline & Baker Bottling Works
Rod, Fishing
Kruse, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Eggbeater
Kunkle and Bostick
Bottle
Laurent, J. H. & Son
Tin
Laurents & Hartshorn Packing Co.
Bottle
Lenz Bros. Bottling Co.
Painting
Loomis, Andrew
Reamer, Juice
Magnavox
Radio
Magnavox
Projector, Film Strip
Magnavox
Television
Magnavox
Television-Radio-Phonograph
Magnavox
Radio-Phonograph
Magnavox
Phonograph
Magnavox
Speaker
Magnavox
Microphone
Magnavox
Speaker
Magnavox
Box, Control
Magnavox
Capacitor, Electrolytic
Magnavox
Transceiver
Magnavox
Amplifier
Magnavox
Transformer
Magnavox
Solenoid
Magnavox
Box
Mar-Velo Products Co.
Box
Mar-Velo Products Co.
Trundle Toy (Automobile)
Mattel Fort Wayne
Charger, Battery
Mattel Fort Wayne
Bottle
Maumee Beverage Co.
Bag
Mayflower Mills
Hat
Mergentheims Millinery
Dryer, Hair
Miracle Hair Dryer Co.
Dryer, Hair
Miracle Vac Co.
Reel, Fishing
N. Fries Mach. Works
Iron, Soldering
National Specialties Co.
Miter Guide
National Specialties Co.
Massager, Nerve
Nerve Massage Co.
Reel, Fishing
O. K. Machine Co.
Vacuum
O. K. Machine Co.
Box
Old Country Remedy Co.
Bottle, Whiskey
Old Fort Distilling Co.
Organ
Packard Organ Co.
Organ, Reed
Packard Organ Company
Melodeon
Packard Piano Co.
Piano, Upright
Packard Piano Co.
Propeller
Packard Piano Co.
Organ
Packard Piano Co.
Piano Leg
Packard Piano Co.
Piano, Player
Packard Piano Co.
Piano Bench
Packard Piano Co.
Novelty
Packard Piano Co.
Chair, Folding
Packard Piano Co.
Tin
Parrot Meat Market
Can
Parrot Packing Co.
Box
Perfection Biscuit Co.
Tin
Perfection Biscuit Co.
Can
Perfection Varnish Co.
Spool, Wire
Phelps Dodge Corp.
Bottle
Pinex Co.
Box, Patent Medicine
Pinex Co.
Tin
Pinex Co.
Music, Sheet
Powell C. C.
Measure, Liquid
Progress Medicine Co.
Bottle
Puraq Co.
Bottle, Water
Puraq Co.
Chair, Folding
Rastetter, Louis & Sons
Box, Candy
Raunek, Clara, Chocolates
Spool, Wire
Rea Magnet Wire
Wrapper, Soap
Rub-No-More
Box
Rub-No-More
Box, Soap
Rub-No-More Company
Pants
Rubus, Fort Wayne
Hoop
S & S Enterprises
Ornament, Christmas
Saf-T Santa Co.
Bottle
Scheele, William
Bottle, Pop
Scheele, William
Can
Seyfert Foods
Radio
Slagle Radio Co.
Pillow, Throw
Sorg, Arthur
Speaker
Stark Electrified Pipe Organ
Box, Cigar
Steckbeck Cigar Co.
Box, Cigar
Steckbeck, W.J. & Sons
Bottle
Strasbourg Brewing Company
Bottle
Studers Mineral Water Works
Box, Soap
Summit City Soap Works
Box
Summit City Soap Works
Spool, Wire
Superior Essex
Pants
Theime Bros.
Stocking
Theme Hosiery
Socks
Theme Hosiery
Stool, Step
Toidey Company
Toilet, Childs
Toidey Company
Pump, Fuel
Tokheim Corporation
Repellant
Twee Chemical Co.
Box
Wayne Candies
Box
Wayne Egg Mash
Stocking
Wayne Knitting Mills
Pump
Wayne Oil Tank Co.
Bottle
Wayne Pharmacal Supply Co.
Bottle, Medicine
Wayne Pharmacal Supply Co.
Jar
Wayne Pride
Can
Wilkens Bros.
Piston
Zollner Corporation
Pin, Piston
Zollner Corporation
Rings, Retainer
Zollner Corporation