And though the warrior's sun has set,
Its light shall linger round us yet.
Translation from the Spanish by
H. W. Longfellow. |
Winneshiek, who seems to be a somewhat shadowy
character, was a notable chief of the Winnebagoes. It appears that there
was a family, like the Decorah family, that took that name. The name
Winneshiek is evidently not a Winnebago name, but an Algonquian (that is,
Fox) name, and is properly Winnishiga and signifies "a dirty person who is
lying down." He was commonly known by his Pox name. In his own language he
was called "Wa-kon-ja-goo-gah," meaning "Coming Thunder;" he was also
called "We-lou-shi-ga," meaning "ties them up," or "has them tied up." It
is also said that his name in his own language was "Maun-wau-kon-kaw;"35 regarding the last two names Little
Winneshiek says, "I understand that this name [We-lou-shi-ga] is a Sioux
word for Wa-kon-ja-goo-gah, or Coming Thunder. The name, Maun-wau-kon-kaw,
is unknown to us." The following treaty signatures show the name to be
variously written: August 25, 1828, Green Bay, Michigan Territory,
"Wee-no-shee-kaw ;" February 27, 1855, Washington, D. C., "Wau-kon-chaw-koo-haw,
the Coming Thunder, or Win-no-shik," (the first Indian to sign the
treaty.)
From A. R. Fulton, in "Red Men of Iowa," we learn that,
"He was promoted to the rank of a chief when quite young, and always
maintained popularity among his people. Both physically and
intellectually he was a remarkably fine specimen of his race. As a man he
was modest, kind, and courteous; as a chief, dignified, firm and just in
the exercise of his authority. Winneshiek was made head chief of the tribe
in 1845 [at the Turkey river, Iowa], an appointment that did not affect
his position as chief of his own particular band." Alexander states:36
"He was made chief by order of the United States War Department, on
account of his ability and fitness for the position. Under him as head
chief, there were several chiefs of respective bands into which the tribe
was divided." When the tribe was removed to Long Prairie, Minn.,
Winneshiek was the head chief, and in 1857, when they were at Blue Earth,
he was called a worthy chief and ruler of his tribe.37
Old chief Winneshiek was an intelligent and very kind
man,
and had perfect control over his people. He belonged to the
Thunder clan, and was a member of the Upper phratry. Mr.
Lamere says: "He is said to have been of medium size, had
black mustache and chin whiskers. He was very handsome, and it is said
that he always wore goggles, or dark glasses. He always carried a pipe,
which was made out of a round stick abouta foot and a half long with the
stem hole bored through it, and the bowl bored into the other end; he
carried this most all the time; and especially at council meetings would
he have it with him: "
Mr. Kingsley says: "We-no-shee-kah was strictly a
pagan; he did not believe in the white man's way, therefore his band of
followers, which consisted of about one-half or two-thirds of the tribe,
were known as blanket Indians. He was a very shrewd, wise, and stubborn
man, but free-hearted to everybody; no person ever left or entered the
chief's great lodge without receiving something to eat. These were his
teachings; he regarded all the Winnebagoes as his children and treated
them as such. We-noshee-kah was no orator, therefore in council with the
government, or otherwise, he always had a speaker. He was no traveler,
although he made a trip or two to see his Great Father at Washington,
President Polk, who, as a token of friendship, gave We-no-shee-kah a
medal; struck on the reverse side were two hands clasped, an Indian's in
that of a white man's [regarding this medal see statement by Little
Winneshiek]. Chief We-no-shee-kah was a great father as well as a head
chief. He had four wives, who, with himself and family, lived in one
lodge. His principal home was about seven miles west of the village of
Houston, on the Root river, Houston county, Minnesota here he lived,
during the winter, in a dirt wigwam." Fulton states:38
"He had four wives, one of whom was the reputed daughter of Colonel
Morgan, a former officer in the United States army;" there is no further
authentic mention which corroborates this statement by Fulton.
That Winneshiek also had a camp on the Upper Iowa river
is evident, as Antoine Grignon says, "While he [Winneshiek] was camped on
the Iowa river my brother Paul and one James Reed visited his band to find
out about some cattle the young Winnebagoes had stolen from the Sioux.
They were given in compensation an equal amount of cattle, or a number
corresponding to the number that had been stolen, and Winneshiek warned
his band not to molest the cattle as they were being driven out, as the
young men were making preparations to stampede the herd by waving red
blankets in front of them."
P. V. Lawson, a Wisconsin historian, says:39
"The Indians in a drunken pow-wow at Prairie du Chien had killed his
brother. Word of this tragedy being sent to him, he coolly loaded his
pistol, and with it concealed beneath his blanket, went to the place
where his brother lay. He had the murderer brought beside his victim and
then suddenly shot him dead;" there is no further mention made of this
incident. It is stated,40 however, that
Winneshiek was in 1829 head chief of the Winnebago village at La Crosse.
35 Wisconsin Historical Collections.
36
In his History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties. There is no
further authentic mention regarding this statement.
37 Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 166.
38 "Red Men of Iowa," pg. 158.
39 Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 156; taken
from Wisconsin Historical Collections 3, 287.
40 Wisconsin Archeologist, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg. 166:
taken from Wisconsin Historical Collection 8, 287.
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