Little Turtle (Michikinikwca). A chief of the
Miami tribe.
Born at his village on Eel River, Ind., in 1752. His
father was a Miami chief and his mother a Mahican; hence,
according to the Indian rule, he was a Mahican and received no
advantage from his father's rank, that is, he was not chief by
descent.
However, his talents having attracted the notice of his
countrymen, he was made chief of the Miami while a
comparatively young man. Little Turtle was the
principal leader of the Indian forces that defeated Gen.
Harmaron on the Miami River in Oct. 1790, and Gen. St Clair, at
St. Marys, Nov. 4, 1791, and he and Bluejacket were among the
foremost leaders of the Indians in their conflict with Gen.
Wayne's army in 1795, although he had urged the Indians to make
peace with this "chief who never sleeps."
After their defeat by the whites he joined in the
treaty at Greenville, Ohio, Aug. 3, 1795, remarking, as he
signed it, '' I am the last to sign it, and I will be the last
to break it.'' Faithful to this promise he remained passive and
counseled peace on the part of his people until his death at Ft
Wayne, July 14,1812.
Early in 1797, accompanied by Capt. Wells, his
brother-in-law, he visited President Washington at Philadelphia,
where he met Count Volney and Gen. Kosciusko, the latter
presenting him with his own pair of elegantly mounted pistols.
Although Tecumseh endeavored to draw him away from his Peaceful
relations with the whites, his efforts were in vain.
Little Turtle's Indian name as signed to different
treaties varies as follows: Greenville, Aug. 3,1795,
Meshekunnoghquoh; Ft Wayne, June 7, 1803, Meseekunnoghquoh;
Vincennes, Aug. 21, 1805, Mashekakahquoh; Ft Wayne, Sept. 30,
1809, Meshekenoghqua. Consult Drake, Inds. N.
Am., 1880; Brice, Hist. Fort Wayne, 1868; Appleton's Cyclop. Am.
Biog., III, 1894.
Papakeecha (`flat
belly', i. e. a bed-bug). A Miami chief whose village, commonly known
as Flat Belly's Village, was east of Turkey Lake, at the present
Indian Village, Noble County, Ind.
