Khwe All, Grateful acknowledgement is made to Raymond Rheinbolt for the following contribution. I look forward to seeing the completed work. Ishgooda

Subject: History of Wyandot in Ohio

To whom it may concern:

I will be putting Wyandot History of the Net for all my sister's and brother to learn what went on it Ohio in the Spring of 1796 to the when the government moved my people to Kansas. I have been working on the History of our people for over 6 years and have come up with a lot of information. One of my greatest fine's was a letter from Rev. James B. Finley (The Old Chief, or Ra-Wah-Wah) to General Cass, head of the War Department on the removal of the Indian's from Ohio and other state in the northwest area.

Raymond Rheinbolt

The Letter is dated December 15, 1825 From Upper Sandusky, Ohio, In On Indian land:

"Honored Sir, I take this opportunity of writing to you on the claims of the Indians under my care, at this place; and am happy to state that the work of civilizing this nation (Wyandots) is progressing as fast as can be reasonably expected. The Indians, in general, and the chiefs particularly, are using every exertion to improve their lands, and to follow the instructions of the general government, especially the advice given by yourself, to divide the lands, agreeable to the provisions made in the treaty of Fort Meigs. This plan of division, I think, is fully agreed on the the whole nation; and last summer they employed ba surveyor to lay off a certain portion into sections and half sections. And it is the request of the chiefs, that you would use your influence to obtain some aid to finish this work. It is agreed by all, that individual possession will facilitate the great work in which we are engaged. In making these people and agricultural people, it is to be hoped that all the necessary aid, both in money and advice will be furnished. And, I think it will not be doubted or disputed that this handful of Indians have great and lasting claims on this Government.

(1) As a conquered, subdued enemy, who were once a strong and powerful nation, to whom the pleasant homes we now enjoy once belonged, they have strong claims on our generosity. They contended for their country- as we would have done has we been in their places- as long as they could. But the overwhelming population of whites has well-nigh swallowed them up. They have given up their whole country, except a small reserve, on which the bones of their fathers sleep. This they would never have done willingly, but because they could not help themselves: and it would seem as though we were making a contract with them, but they must submit to our proposition in view of their helplessness, forlorn, and dependent state. In view of what they have been, they posses some strong claims.

(2) Since Wayne's treaty at Greenville, Ohio, the Wyandots have been faithful to our Government; and, in the last war (1812), did their past in resisting, as agents, the combined power of Indian and British warfare. Many of their men fell in battle, or died with sickness, and left their families and friends destitute.

(3) They have claims from this consideration, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. The Wyandots, although not behind the first in battle, were more merciful than their neighbors. They saved more prisoners, and purchased many from other Indians, and adopted them into their families, till they are much mixed with white blood; and some of the best families in our country are allied to them; namely, the Browns, and old Virginia family; the Zanes, another well-known family; Walker, of Tennessee; Williams, Armstrong, M'Cullough, and Magee, of Pittsburg. This handful of Indians are mostly the descendants of our own people. Their fathers were citizens, and why not their children, Shall we not show mercy to our own?

(4) Their present prospect for civilization is very promising; and little doubt can be entertained but, in a short time, these people will be well prepared to be admitted as citizens of the state of Ohio; and to remove them just at this time, contrary to their wishes, would be, in my judgement, a most cruel act. It would be undoing what has been done, and throwing them again into a savage state.

(5) The promises made by the commissioners, in the name and faith of the President and Government of the United States, that if they would cede all their fertile lands but this spot, the Government would never ask them for a foot more, or to sell it and move: but that the Government would build a strong fence around their land, which should never be broken....