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The Menomonee Indians
The Menomonee Indians have resided since
first discovered by white men, and still reside between the Wolf river and
Green Bay or Fox river. Nicolet, Allouez, Andre and Marquette all met them
on the western shore of Green Bay. They advised Marquette not to visit the
southern tribes as they were ferocious and would kill strangers and there
were demons that would devour him. Before this they had promised to
furnish him with a canoe for the voyage. They are reported to have four
women to every man, to be good natured, not keen of intellect, selfish and
avaricious, but brave warriors, and do not steal or lie. They were great
canoe men and fished sturgeon with a spear. Their language was Ojibwa, but
they had a secret language of their own besides.
Their war parties traveled far. They aided the French at the
battle of Detroit against the Fox and Mascoutins; joined Charles De
Langlade in his journey to Fort Du Quesne, where they ambushed and killed
Braddock on the Monongahela; and were with Langlade fighting under the
banner of France when Montcalm fell before the plains of Abraham. And they
fought under the "Bravest of the brave," in Burgoyne's invasion and at
Bennington. They refused to join Pontiac's conspiracy, but Old Carron, the
head chief, guarded and conducted the English garrison safely away from
the post at Green. Bay, for which service he had a medal.
Two centuries ago they were said to number but eighty
warriors, or 400 people, and since have grown to upwards of 4,000 people.
In 1820 when the New York Indians, under Eleazer Williams' guidance, made
a visit to Green Bay to treat with the Menomonee for lands, that tribe
claimed to possess a good portion of northern Wisconsin, which they could
not have made good as against the Winnebago and Chippewa. But they
pretended to sell the New York Indians a joint right to a five mile strip
of many miles in length, which, however, was never occupied by them, nor
conceded by the government.
The Menomonee and Fox and Sacs were friends on Green Bay and the lower
Fox river, but about seventy-five years ago or earlier some Menomonee
joined the Prairie du Chien and killed their chief, Kettle. Soon after,
the 'Menomonee being all very drunk in their camp on an island in the
river near Prairie du Chien, the Foxes fell on them and killed great
numbers before being driven away.
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